Mexico to keep Lozano despite Copa América exit

Mexico sporting director Duilio Davino has stated that coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano will maintain his job despite a disastrous early exit in the Copa América group stage.

Needing a victory in their final group stage match, El Tri failed to qualify for the knockout round after stumbling to a 0-0 draw with Ecuador on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium.

“The project continues,” said Davino in a post-game mixed zone. “In two weeks Jimmy will present us with an evaluation of what happened in the summer…we’ll talk with him about everything we can improve. The areas and opportunities that we have, which are surely many, but there are also positives.”

“The project goes to 2026.”

Mexico closed out their Copa run at third in Group B with a 1W-1D-1L record, while scoring just one goal in 270+ minutes of play. Following the draw, Lozano noted the progress that his roster must make.

“We need to score goals,” said Lozano. “Obviously they have to score goals, but above all, they have to concede as few as possible, and in this tournament, I think the team was very solid defensively.”

The manager, who left out a handful of veterans from his Copa roster, also remained confident about the project he is building for the next World Cup.

“I think that these players in two years can have significant growth and, above all, it creates important competition,” said El Tri‘s coach.

Regarding refereeing decisions, Lozano remained silent about moments in the game that included an overturned penalty for Mexico due to VAR, as well a couple of other in-game situations that could have earned a penalty.

“I don’t like to talk a lot about refereeing, it is what it is,” said Lozano. “There’s VAR, I think we have more and more tools…I don’t know, and even less so after a match that’s over.”

Once two-time finalists in the tournament, Mexico have now earned three group stage exits in their last four appearances at the Copa.

Elsewhere in Group B, leaders Venezuela and runners-up Ecuador have booked their place into the knockout round. Venezuela will face Canada, meanwhile Ecuador will take on Argentina.