Liga MX

Pumas vs Cruz Azul: A 45‑year wait ends as a classic rivalry returns to decide the Clausura 2026 champion

Two historic Mexican soccer teams that have faced each other twice in a championship series. It has been 45 years since their last one.

David Leah

Carlos Zúñiga

Ciudad de México Update: May 19th, 2026 13:18 EDT

Make us preferred on Google

Pumas and Cruz Azul are set to clash in the Clausura 2026 Final, ending a 45‑year drought since the last time these two giants met with a Mexican league title on the line. Their championship history is perfectly balanced — one title each — and now the long‑awaited tiebreaker is here.

Previous title games between Pumas and Cruz Azul

The first time these two teams faced off for the Mexican league title was in the 1978/79 season. They won their respective groups in the group stage, and as finalists, the first leg ended in a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

However, the return leg at the then-Estadio Azteca was won by Cruz Azul thanks to goals from Carlos de los Santos Jara and Horacio López Salgado, securing the club’s sixth league title.

Pumas vs Cruz Azul: A 45‑year wait ends as a classic rivalry returns to decide the Clausura 2026 champion — Pumas and Cruz Azul in the Mexican soccer final.DAVID LEAH/ARCHIVO HISTORICO MEX

1980–81: Pumas’ epic revenge

Two years later, Pumas got their payback — and in dramatic fashion.

First leg at Azteca: Cruz Azul wins 1–0 (Adrián Camacho)
Second leg at C.U.: Pumas mount a legendary comeback
- Led by icons Hugo Sánchez, Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti, Manuel Manzo, and Enrique López Zarza
Final aggregate: 4–2 Pumas, earning their second national championship

History in leagues (short tournaments)

Quarterfinals | Winter 1998 | Cruz Azul 3-4 Pumas
Quarterfinals | Apertura 2002 | Pumas 3-2 Cruz Azul
Semifinals | Clausura 2004 | Pumas 3-2 Cruz Azul
Quarterfinals | Apertura 2008 | Pumas 1-3 Cruz Azul
Quarterfinals | Apertura 2010 | Cruz Azul 2-3 Pumas
Semifinals | Apertura 2020 | Pumas 4-4 Cruz Azul
Quarterfinals | Clausura 2024 | Cruz Azul 4-2 Pumas

The 2026 showdown

With the historical record tied 1–1, the Clausura 2026 Final becomes more than a title match — it’s the long‑delayed decider of a rivalry that has shaped Mexican soccer for generations.