The report says Colombia beat Mexico 4-0 in their most recent meeting, in Arlington, and ranks the South Americans 11th in the world. That makes them a significant benchmark for Márquez’s opening assignment, though the broader rivalry is closely balanced: the report puts the teams level on 10 wins apiece, with nine draws.
For Mexico, the result will matter less as a verdict on a new coach than as an early indication of how the side responds to a difficult opponent. Colombia, meanwhile, can test themselves against familiar Concacaf opposition on US soil.
The match is also the first Baltimore stop in the MexTour’s 23-year history, according to the report. M&T Bank Stadium has hosted major football before, including Gold Cup quarter-final doubleheaders and an Arsenal-Everton exhibition. A reported sell-out for Inter Miami’s visit earlier this year adds to the case that the city can draw a crowd for high-profile fixtures.
But Baltimore still lacks a permanent outdoor professional team. A proposed stadium and football complex did not advance during the latest state legislative session, leaving big one-off matches as the city’s main route to top-level outdoor football.
The first measure will be the squad Márquez assembles and how Mexico handles Colombia’s challenge. The September fixture also opens a three-match autumn MexTour, giving the new coach a short run of games to establish his approach before the next stages of Mexico’s build-up.