Rafa Márquez opened his tenure as Mexico head coach on Thursday by naming his first senior squad, a 30-player roster for four friendlies across the United States that begin the post-World Cup cycle.
The headline news is the return of Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. The LA Galaxy winger has not played for Mexico since November 15, 2025, when he started against Uruguay and left before halftime with a muscle injury. He was left out of Javier Aguirre’s World Cup plans entirely and missed the tournament Mexico hosted. Ten months later, Márquez has brought him straight back into the fold.
Lozano is one of three notable recalls. Álex Padilla, the Athletic Club goalkeeper, returns for the first time since May 2025 and is still waiting for his senior debut after making Aguirre’s preliminary World Cup list but missing the final cut. Germán Berterame is back too. The Inter Miami striker played 31 minutes against Portugal on March 28 and was one of the last players cut from the World Cup squad.
Their returns come with notable absences. Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones and César Huerta, all part of the World Cup attack, were left out of Márquez’s first list, reopening competition across the front line.
Márquez had promised continuity rather than revolution. “Para mi primera convocatoria no habrá grandes cambios de la lista que enfrentó el Mundial. Vamos a darle continuidad al trabajo,” he said last month, and the roster reflects that. The core of the World Cup squad remains, with the door reopened in a handful of positions.
Chivas leads all clubs in representation, underscoring the Guadalajara club’s strong start to the Apertura. Twenty-five players report to camp on September 21, while five will join after playing Liga MX Jornada 10: Diego Campillo, Luis Romo, Hugo Camberos and Santiago Sandoval of Chivas, plus América’s Isaías Violante.
The youth pipeline is visible as well. Three U-20 players, Yohan Ernesto Orozco of Chivas, Juan Echilvestre of Santos and Henrique Simeone of Tigres, will train with the senior team at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento.
Mexico’s four friendlies
- September 26 vs Colombia, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- September 29 vs Peru, Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey
- October 3 vs United States, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- October 6 vs Chile, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
The October 3 meeting with the United States is the early marquee date, the first Clásico de la Concacaf of the new cycle, in a stadium that has hosted some of the rivalry’s biggest nights.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel, Óscar García, Álex Padilla.
Defenders: Johan Vásquez, César Montes, Víctor Guzmán, Israel Reyes, Everardo López, Jorge Sánchez, Jesús Gallardo, Mateo Chávez.
Midfielders: Erik Lira, Luis Chávez, Obed Vargas, Jeremy Márquez, Orbelín Pineda, Álvaro Fidalgo, Alan Cervantes, Denzell García, Gilberto Mora.
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado, Hirving Lozano, Santiago Giménez, Armando González, Germán Berterame.
Joining after Jornada 10: Diego Campillo, Luis Romo, Hugo Camberos, Santiago Sandoval, Isaías Violante.
