The former Mexico international joined Wednesday Convo to discuss team's future, Marquez's chances to be El Tri's manager
MIAMI – Apathy surrounds Mexico's chances in the 2026 World Cup, yet Miguel Layun remains optimistic. The former Mexico international, who earned 71 caps and lifted the Gold Cup in 2015, understands the challenges faces as they attempt to rebuild after recent disappointments.
“They are rebuilding the team,” Layun says. “They’ve merged two generations of players, and when there’s such a significant shift in age and roster composition, you have to expect tough times. That’s what we’re seeing now.”
Layun also expressed confidence in Javier Aguirre – now in his third stint as Mexico’s manager – believing that he is properly testing his squad to ensure they’re prepared for the demands of the 2026 World Cup. And that preparation will be crucial. As one of the tournament's three host nations – along with the U.S. and Canada – Mexico will face immense pressure to deliver on home soil.
In the latest edition of Wednesday Convoa weekly Q&A with key figures in soccer – Layun sat down with GOAL to discuss expectations for El Tri ahead of 2026, the decision to bring back Aguirre, the importance of players challenging themselves in Europe, and Rafa Márquez's potential future as national team manager.
GOALON MEXICO AND JAVIER AGUIRRE
GOAL: As a former Mexico international what are your thoughts on the current squad?
LAYUN: I always try to keep a positive mindset and thoughts between the national team and the fans. It's been hard times because we expect a lot from the national team, and we are not having the results we wanted. But in the end, it's they are rebuilding the team. You know, they have joined [two sets of] generations. So you need to understand when the age or the roster is changing so much, you will have to go through hard times. And that's what's happening right now. In my opinion, for the World Cup, we will have a very good and pretty solid team. I don't have that kind of rush, to pressure the team and pressure the results. I have the mentality to wait until things happen. So basically, yeah, I am still positive on the national team.
GOAL: Was bringing back Javier Aguirre for a third stint the right choice?
LAYUN: Javier Aguirre is a pretty good coach. He used to coach in the European leagues, La Liga, for example. We don't have a lot of head coaches who are the head coaches of teams in the European top three leagues. If he had the career that he made through the years until he came back to the national team, you have to respect that. La Liga teams won't just contract any head coach. I think he's going to do a great job in the World Cup. Right now he's starting players who will be good for different moments. When you create a roster, you need to think about which moments you will experience throughout the tournament… So right now, he needs to [test] different players in different situations to understand which is the roster that he needs for playing in the World Cup.
AdvertisementON WHETHER MEXICO PLAYERS SHOULD PLAY IN EUROPE
GOAL: Do you think Mexico's Liga MX-based players need to test themselves abroad similar to the way you did?
LAYUN: Absolutely, Mexico and Liga MX have very good things about it. They pay good salaries, you're comfortable playing at home. The pressure is there. But it's not at the high level that they need to perform better and better with time. I think they need to challenge themselves. They need to step away from their comfort zone and start doing things that force them to develop. For me, that step is moving forward and trying to reach European leagues and teams, in different situations. It doesn't matter [where]. You don't have to play in the top five La Liga teams or the top five Premier League teams. You need to move away from their comfort zone. And I think it's something that they need to start doing.
GettyON MEXICO PLAYERS TO WATCH
GOAL: Out of the players on the roster, who excites you the most?
LAYUN: Raul Jimenez, right now. He went through a really tough moment when, when he had that header against David Luiz in a Premier League match, and nobody knew if he would be able to recover the performance he had at that moment and right now, Raul he's in his prime, and I really like that player. He can create football for his team and he can score goals.
He has the authority to pressure [opponents]. He can be a leader on Mexico. I also like Luis Malagón, who is an excellent goalkeeper. Johan Vasquez, for me, is one of the toughest that we have a defender. And I like to think that we can have a young player that can develop like Marcelo Flores. I really like the way he plays. Hopefully, he will be to make the roster for the national team and at the World Cup, but we will see. For me, those are the players I want to see.
Imago ImagesON RAFA MARQUEZ'S FUTURE
GOAL: Should current lead assistant Rafa Marquez be the next Mexico coach?
LAYUN: Absolutely, yes. I think he has the credentials to be the next Mexico national team manager. He played on one of the best teams in the world under Pep Guardiola in Barcelona and has played with Ronaldinho. So he knows better than any other Mexican player, the football [needed for El Tri]. He knows the league. He knows the footballers, and being honest, yeah, I think he's the one.
