Final 1987 vs América
The Cement Machine – a working-class legend with a record seven CONCACAF titles.
Club de Futbol Cruz Azul S.A. de C.V., commonly known as Cruz Azul, is a Mexican professional football club based in Mexico City. The club competes in Liga MX and plays its home matches at Estadio Azteca. Founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, the club relocated to Mexico City in 1971. It was renamed Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C. in 2012, before adopting its current name in 2022.
Quick Facts
- Venue series
- Estadio Azteca (first leg), Estadio Azteca (second leg)
Lore & Background
Cruz Azul was founded in the late 1920s in Jasso, Hidalgo, where cement company Cooperativa La Cruz Azul fostered a connection with football. The club's formation was driven by Carlos Garcés López, a footballer and dentist employed by the cooperative. After a referendum on 22 March 1927, football was selected as the company's official sport, and the team was formally established on 22 May 1927. The club's working-class identity was solidified when 192 workers took ownership of the plant in 1932 after a financial crisis. Cruz Azul won 15 consecutive amateur league titles in Hidalgo between 1932 and 1943 and gained professional status in 1961, earning promotion to the Primera División in 1964.
Reader's Guide
Cruz Azul has won ten league titles, four Copa MX, four Campeón de Campeones, one Supercopa de la Liga MX, and one Supercopa MX. In international competitions, the club holds the joint-record for the most successful club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League with seven titles. The club achieved a continental treble in the 1968–69 season and later became the first club worldwide to win the continental treble twice. Cruz Azul maintains a long-standing rivalry with América, known as the Clásico Joven, and is considered the third-most popular team in Mexico.
Did You Know?
- The club holds the record for the most league runner-up finishes (12).
- Cruz Azul was the first team from CONCACAF to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores.
- In 2026, Cruz Azul was named the 71st-best club in the world and the highest-ranked club in CONCACAF for the 2025 calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 1987 Final between Cruz Azul and América?
This Liga MX championship clash featured the dominant Celestes facing off against their historic city rivals, Club América. The competition was played across Estadio Azul and Estadio Olímpico Universitario during a time when Cruz Azul ruled Mexican football.
Who emerged as champions in this classic matchup?
Cruz Azul secured the title after winning the decisive second leg to become champions. This victory crowned their second consecutive dynasty in Mexican football history.
Which key players defined the tactical battle?
The series is defined by the battle between América star Hugo Sánchez and the organized Cruz Azul defense tasked with stopping him. Their individual performances showcased the strategic brilliance required to win this high-stakes tournament.
How did the two-leg series ultimately conclude?
The tournament ended with Cruz Azul claiming victory in the second leg, shutting down América's title hopes at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario. This outcome confirmed the Celestes as the dominant force within Mexican football during that specific period.
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