MEXICO
What did FIFA president Infantino say to Jaime Lozano after Mexico’s Gold Cup win?
The president of FIFA Gianni Infantino took advantage of the award ceremony to have a brief word with ‘Jimmy’.
The Mexican national team was crowned the 2023 Gold Cup champion after defeating Panama by a single goal from Santiago Giménez. The victory resulted in several stories, one of which revolves around Jaime Lozano.
Despite leading El Tri to the championship, Lozano remains uncertain about his future.He was appointed as the interim technical director for the tournament, but his excellent work did not go unnoticed by Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, who expressed to the coach his positive thoughts for the next men’s World Cup.
Infantino points to Mexico’s World Cup
During the award ceremony at the SoFi Stadium, cameras captured the moment when Infantino took the opportunity to have a brief conversation with Lozano before he received his medal. In a subsequent press conference, the Mexican coach shared the words spoken by the FIFA president.
“Jaime, this is your World Cup, 2026,” was the message conveyed by Infantino to Lozano, to which the national team manager responded with a laugh.
“Infantino wasn’t aware that my contract was coming to an end,” Lozano later said. “I believe he assumed I would be involved for the rest of the process. It was a pleasure meeting him, truly a pleasure.”
Infantino’s words and the triumph in the Gold Cup have provided a significant morale boost to Lozano, who remains hopeful of retaining his position as team boss for that upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
“Of course, I would love to stay here. It’s a dream to lead my team in a World Cup, especially when we are the host nation,” he said.
“If given the opportunity, I would be extremely grateful and would work diligently with my coaching staff. However, if not, I will support wherever I am needed. My greatest desire is for Mexican soccer to flourish.”
In the following weeks, it is anticipated that the Mexican Soccer Federation, led by Juan Carlos Rodríguez and Ivar Sisgniega, will make the decision regarding whether to retain Jaime Lozano as the national team coach or opt for someone with a different profile.