La Gran Final 1987

Lore & Background

Cruz Azul was founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, by workers of the Cooperativa La Cruz Azul cement company. The club relocated to Mexico City in 1971. It has never been relegated from the top flight and is one of only seven Mexican clubs to achieve that. Domestically, the club has won ten league titles, four Copa MX, four Campeón de Campeones, one Supercopa de la Liga MX, and one Supercopa MX. Internationally, it holds the joint-record for the most CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles with seven. Cruz Azul was the first CONCACAF club to reach the Copa Libertadores final and achieved a continental treble in 1968–69, later becoming the first club worldwide to win the continental treble twice.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at the Azteca hummed with an intensity that vibrated through the concrete stands. The air was thick with the scent of popcorn and the roar of two million voices split down a blue and red divide. As the referee blew the final whistle, silence fell for a heartbeat before erupting into chaos. A sea of blue jerseys surged forward, not just celebrating a win, but claiming destiny. The captain lifted the trophy, his eyes scanning the crowd, knowing that this night had rewritten the history books forever.

Reader's Guide

Cruz Azul maintains a long-standing rivalry with América, known as the Clásico Joven. The club is the third-most popular team in Mexico and the second-most supported in the Mexico City metropolitan area, behind América and ahead of Pumas UNAM. Together with América, Guadalajara, and Pumas UNAM, they form the Big Four of Mexican football.

Did You Know?

• Cruz Azul was founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, after a referendum among cement company workers chose football over baseball.
• The club holds the joint-record for the most CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles with seven.
• Cruz Azul is the first CONCACAF club to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores.
• The club achieved a continental treble in 1968–69, becoming the first CONCACAF club and third worldwide to do so, and later the first club worldwide to win the continental treble twice.

Cooperative Origins and Working-Class Identity

Cruz Azul traces its roots back to the late 1920s in Jasso, Hidalgo, established by a cement cooperative rather than traditional investors. Initially, the organization considered baseball before Carlos Garcés López successfully lobbied for football during a 1927 referendum. The club’s unique foundation is deeply tied to labor rights; when financial troubles threatened bankruptcy in 1931, workers unionized and eventually secured collective ownership of the plant through government decree in 1932. This worker-owned structure defined the team's early identity, with proceeds from football used to improve living conditions for employees. Under General Manager Guillermo Álvarez Macías, who rose from an automotive mechanic role, the cooperative aimed to modernize social progress and raise standards for workers' families. This background fostered a distinct working-class facade that distinguished the club within Mexican football culture during its amateur and early professional years.

Domestic Dominance and International Records

The organization boasts an impressive trophy cabinet, having secured ten league titles domestically alongside four Copa MX victories. They hold a joint-record for Campeón de Campeones wins and have achieved significant success on the continental stage. Notably, Cruz Azul holds the record for the most successful club in CONCACAF Champions Cup history with seven international titles. They were pioneers globally, becoming the first team from their region to reach the Copa Libertadores final. A standout achievement occurred during the 1968–69 season when they completed a continental treble by winning the Primera División, Copa México, and CONCACAF Champions' Cup. This feat made them the third club worldwide to accomplish this at the time, and later one of only five clubs globally to win such a treble twice, cementing their status as historical giants in football.

Rivalries and Fan Support Dynamics

Within the Mexico City metropolitan area, Cruz Azul maintains a fierce competition with América, known collectively as the Clásico Joven. This fixture is central to the club's identity and popularity metrics. According to various polls, they rank as the third-most popular team in all of Mexico, trailing only behind América and Guadalajara. Locally, within the capital region, they are generally viewed as the second-most supported club, sitting ahead of Pumas UNAM but behind their primary rivals. Together with these other major teams, they form what is recognized as the Big Four of Mexican football. This high level of engagement underscores their significance in the national sporting landscape, maintaining a massive following that has persisted through decades of competition and structural changes within the league system.

Modern Recognition and Unbroken Legacy

The club's sustained excellence is highlighted by its unique status as one of only seven Mexican teams never relegated from the top flight. This consistency contributed to their high standing in global assessments; in 2026, they were named the 71st-best club worldwide by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. Furthermore, they held the distinction of being the highest-ranked club in CONCACAF for the 2025 calendar year. Their history includes numerous distinctions, such as holding the record for the most league runner-up finishes with twelve appearances. The organization has undergone several name changes since its founding, evolving from a cultural and social entity to its current professional structure while maintaining its core competitive spirit and historical prestige across nearly a century of existence in Mexican football.