Pablo Coraza: A UNAM journey that began at seven, with Europe in sight

The Mexico international speaks to YARE WATER POLO about the university he calls his second home, the uncertainty before his national team opportunity and the ambitions still ahead of him.

Pablo Coraza Estrada began playing water polo at UNAM when he was seven. Long before he became a university student, the pool at the National Autonomous University of Mexico was already part of his everyday life. That early connection became a journey to the Mexican national team and a bronze medal at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Today, as a UNAM player and a student in its Faculty of Accounting and Administration, he describes a relationship that extends beyond his development in the water.

“Being a Puma is part of my identity”

“My water polo journey began at the age of seven at UNAM, an institution I consider my second home and where I have had the opportunity to grow both as an athlete and as a person,” he tells YARE.

When he explains what those years have given him, he points to discipline, commitment and teamwork as essential parts of his development.

“Being a Puma is a very important part of my identity, and I will always be deeply grateful for everything this institution has given me.”

That connection to his team was also evident after he finished as the leading scorer at the Copa de la Independencia in Costa Rica in September 2026. UNAM won bronze, and in comments to the university’s publication, Coraza placed the team’s result ahead of individual awards.

The uncertainty before representing Mexico

Playing for Mexico was an ambition he carried for years. What he could not know was whether the opportunity would ever arrive.

“For many years, I lived with the uncertainty of not knowing whether I would ever have the chance to represent Mexico, but I never stopped working or believing in that dream.”

In 2026, he was part of the Mexican team that won bronze at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo. For Coraza, the meaning of that medal is inseparable from the years that preceded it.

“It was a dream come true and one of the most special moments of my life. Winning the bronze medal was the reward for so many years of effort, dedication and sacrifice.”

He acknowledges his family, the people who believed in him and the importance of his faith.

“It is an achievement for which I am deeply grateful to God, my family and everyone who always believed in me. I am proud to have come this far, but it also motivates me to keep working towards even bigger goals.”

Looking towards Europe

Coraza wants to keep developing, establish himself within the national team and compete at the highest international level. Playing professionally in Europe is part of that ambition.

“I would like to have the opportunity to play professionally in Europe and continue representing Mexico in future international competitions.”

It is a personal goal, with no specific club or agreement mentioned in his answers. He also recognises how much there is still to learn.

“Beyond results, I want to write my own story in this sport, enjoying every stage of the journey and appreciating how fortunate I am to dedicate myself to something I truly love.”

His next opportunity may take him far from the pool where he started. Yet UNAM remains central to the way he describes himself: a place of education, a team and the community in which he grew up. It is the starting point for a player who now wants to discover how far he can go.