Pumas can’t catch a break as their eternal home dilemma drags on

Changes have been made, but they never seem to be enough. Pumas have gone from the scorching “Inferno” to a full-blown “Storm,” still unable to find any peace when playing at home in Mexico City’s Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

Without looking for excuses or blaming outside factors, it’s clear that Pumas have yet to feel comfortable on their own turf. Whether it’s the club’s traditional midday slot or the so-called “magical nights of C.U.,” one thing always seems to work for - or against - them: the weather.

When the sun was Pumas’ secret weapon

For years, the team from El Pedregal tried to make the blazing midday sun an ally. The 12 p.m. kickoff was designed to wear down visiting teams unaccustomed to the dry heat and high altitude of southern Mexico City. It worked at times, especially since Pumas players trained under those same punishing conditions. But the strategy also took a toll on everyone involved, home players, opponents, and fans baking in the stands.

From heat to havoc

In recent seasons, the club opted for evening games to escape the harsh sun. The problem? They traded heat for rain. Of their six Liga MX home matches this season, four have been played at night, and three of those were marred by heavy downpours that disrupted play and soaked the field.

• Pumas 2-3 Pachuca (Week 1): Played under the blazing midday sun.
• Pumas 1-1 Necaxa (Week 4): The heaviest rainstorm since 1952 flooded the field, delaying the second half.
• Pumas 1-0 Atlas (Week 7): Another storm forced fans to take shelter in tunnels; coach Diego Cocca couldn’t even reach the press room due to flooding.
• Pumas 1-2 Chivas (Week 12): Kickoff was delayed 38 minutes to clear standing water from the pitch.

Pumas search for home-field gains in impossible conditions

The only matches played without major weather issues were against Puebla and Tigres. In the end, the “Inferno” of noon games has been replaced by a string of rain-soaked nights, with delays, slippery conditions, and growing concerns over player safety.

For Pumas, home-field advantage at C.U. seems to have vanished, lost somewhere between the sun and the storm.

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