Rafael Márquez thinks that when it comes to being the big dog in CONCACAF, Mexico has lost a step on the U.S. men’s national team.
El Tri has not beaten the USMNT since September 2019, a stretch that has seen the U.S. win two finals and a World Cup qualifier against their biggest rival. At the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT advanced to the knockout rounds, while Mexico fell a goal short of doing the same amid high drama in Group C.
In the meantime, promising dual nationals like Alex Zendejas and Brandon Vazquez have been choosing the USMNT over Mexico. Even as U.S. Soccer has seen their head coach, general manager, and sporting director all either take different jobs, step down, or be left in a sort of post-contract limbo, U.S. Soccer has been succeeding in recruitment battles on a regular basis.
Speaking to Claro Sports, Marquez said it’s a case of U.S. Soccer growing while the Mexican federation (FMF) has stood still.
“In Mexico I think we have stagnated,” declared Márquez. “The United States has developed good players, it has potential, it has a good league, great infrastructure.”
Márquez: Dual nationals a big factor
Another factor in the USMNT’s favor at the moment? For Márquez, it’s that they have more openings to recruit dual nationals. While Mexico has fielded some dual nationals from time to time, many have been veteran players from Argentina or Brazil who became Mexican citizens while playing professionally there. Most of the FMF’s dual national pursuits these days are over players who could play for them or the USMNT.
The USMNT, meanwhile, is routinely pursuing players from all over the world. Yunus Musah, Jesús Ferreira, and Gaga Slonina are all players that could have easily ended up playing for a different national team, and the USMNT is very much in the mix to get Folarin Balogun to commit to them over England and Nigeria.
Márquez said the U.S. “is lucky to have many races in common in the United States, and that also helps to have players with dual nationality.”
Márquez also noted that the FMF has to grapple with corporate interests and powerful clubs all pulling in different directions, making progress slow when it comes to the national team.
“It is difficult because each one wants to have the best for their companies, institutions, [and] teams, and as long as it continues like this it will be difficult for them to agree to try something better for Mexican soccer.”
The bottom line for the longtime Mexico and Barcelona defender/midfielder? “I believe that the United States has an organization, and we don’t.”
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