Charly Rodríguez Eyes Redemption With Mexico After 2022 World Cup Exit

Carlos “Charly” Rodríguez hasn’t forgotten the pain of Mexico’s early World Cup exit in 2022. Now, with less than a year until the 2026 tournament kicks off, the Cruz Azul midfielder is motivated by a sense of unfinished business and a desire for redemption.

Speaking with mediotiempo, Rodríguez praised head coach Javier Aguirre and assistant Rafael Márquez for creating a demanding, detail-oriented atmosphere. “Javier focuses on the small things. He knows they can change the outcome of a match, and we’re working on perfecting them,” he said.

Rodríguez reflected on Qatar as both a dream and a disappointment. “I was left with the feeling of wanting to play more. That motivates me to give everything at my club to earn my place in the national team,” he explained. For him, each call-up should be treated with the excitement of the first: “That’s something Javier has instilled in us, and the group has embraced it.”

The Mexican national team will face Saudi Arabia this Saturday in the Gold Cup quarterfinals. After an inconsistent start, the squad showed marked improvement against Costa Rica. For Rodríguez, finding consistency is key: “If we play the way we’re capable of, we’ll be very close to winning it.”

With the countdown to 2026 underway, Rodríguez and his teammates are determined to make this cycle different—and to ensure Mexico doesn’t miss out again.