Cruz Azul asks to move home games to Ciudad de los Deportes
Cruz Azul, champion of the Clausura 2026, requested Thursday that Liga MX shift its home matches for the Apertura 2026 to the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium. The request, filed in an official league statement, includes a review of the pitch and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Why does the club want to leave Estadio Azteca?
The team lacks an owned stadium in the capital and has alternated between the Azteca and Ciudad de los Deportes since 1996. Last season it played at the Olímpico Universitario, while in the Clausura 2026 it used Cuauhtémoc in Puebla and the Azteca toward the end of the tournament. The exact motive for the change remains undisclosed, though a contract existed to stay at the Azteca until 2031.
Impact on the team's current standing
Currently Cruz Azul sits 3rd in Liga MX with 33 points, 9 wins, 6 draws and 2 losses from 17 games, and its recent form is WDWDW. With 31 goals scored and 18 conceded (+13 goal difference), the club is just 3 points behind leaders U.N.A.M. - Pumas in the title race.
What lies ahead for the club and the league
Liga MX will review the request and, once the process is finished, announce its decision. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul's next fixture is against New York City FC at home on August 9, 2026, a match that could affect the championship chase.
Historical context and a future without a home stadium
Cruz Azul is the fourth most successful club in Mexican league history (10 titles), trailing Toluca, Guadalajara and América. It is the only one of those four without its own stadium, fueling ongoing debates about the need for a permanent home. The plea to change venues highlights that concern and may become a turning point in Liga MX's stadium policy.
