After a disappointing group stage exit at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Mexico made the decision to fire Tata Martino as their coach. This led to a short and unsuccessful stint from Diego Cocca before Jaime Lozano, a Mexico City native and former national team player, took over. Lozano had impressed while leading the federation’s under-23 men’s team and secured the main job after leading Mexico to a 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup win as an interim coach.
However, Lozano’s first major cross-federation tournament as the head coach ended in disappointment, with Mexico exiting the Copa América at the group stage after a hard-fought scoreless draw against Ecuador. This result mirrored the outcome under Martino, raising questions about Lozano’s future with the team. Despite Mexico’s talent pool appearing to have diminished in recent years, Lozano was unable to maximize the potential of his players in this crucial test ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
The debate over whether Mexico should fire Lozano intensified, with experts like Jimmy Conrad, Melissa Ortiz, and Wes Morgan weighing in on the situation. Conrad highlighted Mexico’s past success in the Copa América but acknowledged that the team’s current state is different. The decision to retain or dismiss Lozano was up for discussion, especially considering his focus on younger talent in the squad for the tournament.
Ortiz commended Lozano for giving young players experience, which could benefit Mexico in the 2026 World Cup. However, she raised concerns about the team’s overall performance and whether the issues stemmed from coaching, player ability, or systemic limitations within the federation. The need for a reset and reevaluation of the entire setup was emphasized as Mexico faced elimination from the tournament.
Morgan brought a unique perspective to the conversation, drawing parallels to Leicester City’s decision to part ways with their coach after a remarkable season. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a winning formula and questioned how long Mexico should wait before making changes to improve their performance.
As Mexico contemplates the future of their coaching staff, they find themselves in a similar situation to archrivals the United States, who also face uncertainty in the Copa América. The pressure is on for both teams to deliver results and meet expectations as they navigate through challenging tournaments.
The discussion surrounding Lozano’s position as Mexico’s head coach reflects a broader issue within the team and the need for a strategic overhaul to ensure success in future competitions. Whether the focus should be on coaching, player development, or structural changes remains a key point of contention as Mexico evaluates their performance in the Copa América and looks ahead to upcoming challenges.
