The cycle never really ends, does it? If you follow the Mexican National Team, you know the drill by heart. One week we’re convinced the project is dead in the water, and the next, a single friendly in a half-empty NFL stadium convinces everyone that maybe, just maybe, "El Vasco" has found the secret sauce. Right now, everyone is asking about the siguiente partido de México, and honestly, the answer is more about the process than the result.
We are currently looking at a squad in transition. Again. Javier Aguirre is back for his third stint, and he’s brought Rafa Márquez along for the ride. It’s a weird dynamic. You’ve got the old-school grit of Aguirre mixed with the tactical ambitions of Márquez, who everyone assumes is just waiting in the wings to take over after the 2026 World Cup. But before we get to the big show on home soil, there are games to play.
The schedule: When is the siguiente partido de México?
Mexico is currently navigating a mix of CONCACAF Nations League fixtures and those "Moletour" friendlies that fans love to hate. The siguiente partido de México is officially set against the United States in a high-stakes friendly that feels like anything but an exhibition. It’s happening in Guadalajara at the Estadio Akron. This is a big deal. For years, the FMF (Mexican Football Federation) has parked the team in US cities like Arlington or Charlotte to chase the "pocho" dollar. Bringing them back to Jalisco is a statement. They need to win back the domestic crowd.
The date is locked in for October 15. If you're looking for the kickoff time, it's usually the standard 8:30 PM local time, though TV networks love to push that back by twenty minutes for extra commercials.
Why does this specific game matter more than the others? Because the USMNT has been "dos a cero-ing" Mexico for far too long. With Mauricio Pochettino now leading the Americans, the tactical gap is the main talking point. Mexico isn't just playing for a trophy or FIFA points; they are playing to prove they haven't fallen to second-best in their own region.
Breaking down the roster depth
Aguirre isn't playing around with the call-ups. We’re seeing a mix that feels like a "greatest hits" album with a few indie tracks thrown in. Guillermo Ochoa is back. Yes, Memo is still here. People have opinions about that—strong ones. Some think he’s a legend who deserves to lead the locker room; others think he’s blocking the path for Luis Malagón.
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Then you have the European contingent. Santiago Giménez’s fitness is always the headline. When he’s healthy, he’s the undisputed number nine, but his production for the national team hasn't always matched his Feyenoord form. It’s a weird curse. Raúl Jiménez is also seeing a resurgence at Fulham, which complicates things for Aguirre in the best way possible.
- The Goalkeepers: Malagón is the future, but Ochoa is the ghost that won't leave.
- The Defense: Johan Vásquez is the anchor now. If he’s not on the field, the backline looks shaky.
- The Midfield: This is where Mexico usually loses the plot. Luis Romo and Edson Álvarez provide the muscle, but who provides the vision? That’s the question for the siguiente partido de México.
The tactical shift under Javier Aguirre
Aguirre isn't a "tiki-taka" guy. He’s a "bite your ankles and win the second ball" guy. In his previous stints, he relied on a very rigid defensive structure. He wants the team to be "canalla"—a bit nasty, a bit difficult to play against.
In the recent matches against New Zealand and Canada, we saw a glimpse of this. The press was higher. The players looked exhausted by the 60th minute because they were sprinting to close down spaces. It’s a massive departure from the stagnant possession play we saw under Jaime "Jimmy" Lozano. Aguirre knows that Mexico doesn't have a prime Hugo Sánchez or a prime Rafa Márquez on the pitch anymore. He has to win through collective grit.
There's also the "Márquez factor." Rumors from inside the camp suggest Rafa is handling the offensive transitions. He wants the center-backs to play more adventurous diagonal balls. It’s a "good cop, bad cop" routine. Aguirre yells at you for missing a tackle; Márquez shows you how to bypass the midfield with a 40-yard pass.
Why the venue matters
Playing in Guadalajara is a double-edged sword. The fans there are knowledgeable and, frankly, impatient. If the siguiente partido de México starts with twenty minutes of back-passes, the whistling will be deafening. The Estadio Akron is a beautiful venue, but it can become a pressure cooker if the home team doesn't show "huevos" early on.
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Mexico has struggled to find a true "home" advantage lately. The Estadio Azteca is undergoing renovations for the World Cup, so the team is touring the republic. This move to Guadalajara is a test run for the atmosphere they hope to cultivate in 2026.
What most people get wrong about the Nations League
A lot of fans dismiss the Nations League as a "fake" tournament. They call it a glorified friendly. They’re wrong. For Mexico, this is the only way to get competitive minutes against teams that actually want to beat them. Since Mexico is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, they don't have to go through the grueling AFC or CONMEBOL-style qualifiers. They are essentially playing friendlies for the next two years.
The Nations League provides a bracket, a trophy, and a sense of consequence. If Mexico loses the siguiente partido de México in a knockout stage, the press will call for Aguirre’s head. That pressure is vital. Without it, the players get complacent. We saw it in the 1994 cycle and the 1986 cycle—host nations often arrive at the World Cup underprepared because they haven't played a game that "mattered" in years.
The player to watch: Germán Berterame
The inclusion of naturalized players is always a hot-button issue in Mexican soccer. Germán Berterame is the latest name to spark the debate. The Monterrey striker has the physical profile that Aguirre loves. He’s a workhorse. He’s not a "pure" Mexican by birth, and for a segment of the fanbase, that’s a problem. But for Aguirre, a goal is a goal.
If Berterame starts in the siguiente partido de México, expect him to be the focal point of the press. He’s there to make life miserable for opposing defenders, allowing guys like "Chucky" Lozano or Alexis Vega to find space in the channels.
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The logistics of following the Tri
If you're trying to watch the game, it's the usual suspects. In Mexico, it's Televisa (TUDN) and TV Azteca. The rivalry between Christian Martinoli and the TUDN broadcast crew is almost as intense as the game itself. In the US, it’s Univision and FOX Sports.
Tickets for the Guadalajara game sold out almost instantly. Resale prices are hovering around triple the face value. This tells you that despite the frustration, the "Incondicionales" are still there. People want to believe in this team. They want a reason to wear the green jersey again instead of the black or maroon alternates that Nike and Adidas keep churning out.
Final thoughts on the road to 2026
The siguiente partido de México isn't just a date on the calendar. It’s a data point. We are looking for signs of life. Is the defense coordinated? Does the midfield have a pulse? Can the strikers actually finish a chance created from open play?
Javier Aguirre has a reputation for being a "fireman"—someone you call to put out the flames when a project is burning down. But this time, he’s supposed to be the architect. It’s a different role for him. The game against the US in Guadalajara will tell us if his "old school" methods can still work in a modern game that prizes speed and tactical fluidity over everything else.
Actionable insights for fans
- Monitor the injury reports: Keep an eye on the Friday training sessions. Aguirre is notorious for hiding his starting XI until the very last second, but minor knocks in training usually dictate who gets dropped from the bench.
- Check the FIFA rankings impact: While friendlies have a lower "weighting" in the ELO and FIFA systems, a loss to a lower-ranked CONCACAF opponent can tank Mexico's seeding for future tournament draws.
- Watch the youth integration: Look at how many minutes Obed Vargas or other dual-nationals get. The FMF is desperate to "cap-tie" talented youngsters before the US or other nations can grab them. The siguiente partido de México is often used as a tool for this long-term recruitment strategy.
Basically, don't just look at the scoreline. Look at the intensity. If Mexico looks bored, we're in trouble. If they look angry, we might actually have a team worth watching in 2026. Keep your eyes on the Guadalajara weather too; October rain in Jalisco can turn a tactical match into a muddy scrap real fast. Which, honestly, might be exactly what Javier Aguirre wants.