Rafa Marquez embraces the Mexico-USMNT rivalry, including his role as leading villain

Mexico head coach Rafael Márquez addressed his history as a rivalry villain ahead of coaching his third match against the USMNT at State Farm Stadium. Márquez, who is seeking his first win as manager, brushed off past red cards against the United States and emphasized the profound importance of the Concacaf rivalry for his squad.

Márquez confirmed that 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora is eligible to play after recovering from an ankle knock suffered in training. Both Márquez and USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino also reflected on their long-standing mutual respect dating back to their playing days in the Catalan derby.