The Cantera Rojiblanca is committed to constantly challenging its players and providing them with the tools they need to be competitive and capable of responding to different situations. The FIFA international break opened up opportunities across Guadalajara’s different age groups, allowing several young players to move up a level, take on new challenges, and gain valuable experience in their development.
This opportunity was reflected throughout the Rojiblanco structure, from Chivas U-19 all the way to the First Team. Several academy players competed at higher levels and experienced their first match in a new age group.
Debuts with Milito’s Chivas in El Clásico de México
The friendly against their fierce rivals in Oakland brought several dreams to life for young players who had the opportunity to log minutes with the First Team.
In the starting XI, the Argentine manager deployed two Rojiblanco academy players: Carlos Hernández at left back and Leonel Calderón as a left wing-back. Both delivered solid performances throughout the match.
Both players have experience in the youth ranks. Hernández currently plays for Tapatío, where he has made six appearances and logged 446 minutes in the Liga de Expansión. Meanwhile, Leonel Calderón played Matchday 1 of AP26 with the U-21 side, where he scored one goal, before moving up to the Joven Rebaño. With the Expansión team, he has now made eight appearances and played 412 minutes.
Also coming from Tapatío, Rodrigo Parra came on as a substitute to record his first minutes with the First Team. The defender is a regular in José Meléndez’s system and has made seven appearances and played 516 minutes in the Liga de Expansión this tournament.
Another academy player to see action was Jesús Hernández. The center forward is also part of Tapatío’s squad, where he has recorded seven appearances, 431 minutes, and three goals. In addition, during the Apertura 2026, he has been included in several First Team call-ups.
Meanwhile, Emiliano Rodríguez and Aarón Correa also made their debuts under the Rojiblanco coaching staff. Emiliano plays in midfield and has made nine appearances and logged 688 minutes with the U-21 side.
Correa plays as a forward and has split his AP26 appearances between the U-19 and U-21 teams. With the former, he has six appearances and 326 minutes, while with the latter he has three matches and 199 minutes. Across both age groups, the forward has scored three goals.
Three Debuts with Tapatío
Tapatío also opened the door to three young players from the Cantera Rojiblanca. Jorge Lewis, Diego Rosales, and Diego Ponce made their first appearances for Guadalajara’s top youth-team representative in the Liga de Expansión.
Lewis normally plays in midfield with the U-19 side, where he has made eight appearances and logged 638 minutes. Ponce is also part of that team as a defender and has recorded six appearances and 167 minutes.
Meanwhile, Rosales plays in defense with the U-21 side, where he has made three appearances and logged 262 minutes so far.
In addition, Ponce, at just 15 years old, became one of the youngest players to make his debut in the Liga de Expansión.
Debuts in the U-21 Victory
The U-21 side also featured new faces in its match against Juárez. Jorge Lewis and Diego Ponce also recorded their first minutes at this level, while Erick Aguilar joined the Rojiblanco back line in the starting XI.
Aguilar normally plays as a defender with the U-19 team. In AP26, he has made two appearances and played 180 minutes at that level.
First Minutes with the U-19 Side
The emphatic U-19 victory also featured several Rojiblanco debuts. Dilan Padilla, a forward who normally plays with the U-17 team, started the match and made his first appearance at this level. In AP26, Padilla has made eight appearances, logged 460 minutes, and scored three goals with the U-17 side.
Domenico Giacopello and Lucián Castro also recorded their first league minutes with the U-19 team. Giacopello has also featured for Chivas TDP, where he has made two appearances, played 146 minutes, and scored two goals. Meanwhile, Castro plays with the U-17 side and has made three appearances and logged 263 minutes in AP26.
All three academy players had the opportunity to compete at a higher level and did so in an ideal setting, with a 4-1 rout of Juárez.
The presence of new faces at different levels of the Cantera Rojiblanca highlights the importance of creating opportunities for young players. Every step up represents a new challenge and an experience that strengthens their preparation to represent Guadalajara in any situation.
