Juan Carlos Rodríguez’s stewardship of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has come to an abrupt end. The high commissioner, who assumed his position on May 22, 2023, announced his resignation after 19 months of intense scrutiny and mixed results. His departure, confirmed during the Assembly of Owners on December 13, 2025, leaves the FMF grappling with significant unresolved issues.
Upon taking the helm, Rodríguez, affectionately known as “La Bomba,” vowed to revolutionize football in Mexico. His approach, though promising, was riddled with challenges and controversies right from the start. One of his first major actions was dismissing Diego Cocca as the national team’s head coach, just months after Cocca took over. “If I had been there for a year and it had gone poorly, I would be able to say honestly it was my fault. But I was there for seven matches and only lost one,” Cocca reflected on his sudden departure.
Jaime Lozano, who stepped up to lead the team after Cocca, managed to secure the Gold Cup victory but faced his own challenges later on. His tenure was brief as well, with failures at the Copa América leading to his exit. “I am proudly Mexican and come whenever my country needs me. There’s a significant project underway,” Lozano remarked during his presentation as coach. His statement reflected the hope felt by many, yet his exit hinted at the instability pervading the FMF.
Rodríguez’s administration was marked by rapid coaching changes, underscoring the lack of continuity. With Cocca, Lozano, and finally Javier Aguirre at the helm, the national team's leadership saw the highest turnover rate the federation has witnessed since Justino Compeán’s era. Aguirre’s appointment came as he aimed to stabilize the national team's performance on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
Critics of Rodríguez point to several unfulfilled commitments, including the failure to significantly reduce the level of violence occurring within stadiums and not improving the Fan ID system to promote safety and accountability among fans. “I know he’s a great marketer and was successful as a businessman, but we haven't seen those strengths reflected on the sports side,” said José Antonio García, commenting on Rodríguez's tenure.
Key among the controversies is the issue of foreign players within the league. Rodríguez’s time saw only marginal changes, reducing the foreign player quota by one per team. “The situation remains; nothing significant changed under Juan Carlos Rodríguez,” García noted. This lack of progress, coupled with heightened disciplinary actions against outspoken figures within the football community, painted Rodríguez's approach as reactive rather than proactive.
The most significant initiative launched during his tenure was the attempt to create a substantial investment fund aimed at rejuvenation within Mexican football. Yet, this effort fell flat, largely due to Rodríguez's inability to unite various team owners behind the project. Rafael Lebrija captured the sentiment of many when he stated, “Everyone is focused on their own interests rather than the collective benefit of Mexican football.” Rodríguez’s resignation signals the end of what many viewed as a controversial chapter filled with more issues than achievements.
Leading up to his resignation, Rodríguez's focus was heavily invested in aligning with Grupo Apollo for financial backing. David Medrano of Mediotiempo.com highlighted the obstacles he faced: “Discussions around the investment fund led to many complications among club owners, fueling doubt and tensions.” The attempts to secure consensus around the fund fell through before any actionable votes could materialize, reflecting deep-rooted challenges within the governing structure of Mexican football.
With Rodríguez’s departure, the FMF must now seek new leadership capable of addressing the rampant issues facing the country’s football scene. The federation, which will play host to World Cup games within just 18 months, is now at a crossroads needing urgent redefinition of its strategies and goals.
“Juan Carlos Rodríguez exits with more bad moments than positive ones, leaving behind a federation aimlessly drifting and urgently needing to rediscover its path,” one football analyst summarized after his resignation was announced. The reshaping of leadership within the FMF could prove pivotal for the nation’s football aspirations as it gears up for its global stage.