Cruz Azul, the reigning champions of Mexican football, have once again changed venues. The club’s departure was not announced by them directly; instead, Liga MX issued a terse bulletin on Thursday, 9th July. This development came just weeks after Cruz Azul lifted its tenth star in the Clausura 2026 tournament. The club had sought permission to leave the stadium that was meant to be its definitive home for the foreseeable future.
The club has formally submitted a request to Liga BBVA MX to modify the venue for its matches. Rather than continuing at Estadio Azteca as previously informed, Cruz Azul will now return to the Ciudad de los Deportes. This move signifies Cruz Azul’s request to play their Apertura 2026 season at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.
Reasons for Estadio Banorte Exit
The underlying reason for this change was not football-related. The new administration of Estadio Banorte, previously known as Estadio Azteca, sought to modify commercial and operational conditions that had been previously agreed with the club. These negotiations ultimately broke down just one week before the start of the Apertura season.
Despite a contract being signed until 2031, the club’s board opted to seek an alternative venue. The irony of the situation has an exact date: only weeks ago, Cruz Azul witnessed the World Cup opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca—now Banorte—as a luxury spectator, viewing what was understood to be its own future permanent home. The agreement for them to play there was in place until 2031, with a simple plan for the team, known as La Máquina, to return to the colossus of Santa Úrsula to defend their title at home once the World Cup concluded.
A Club Defined by Movement
For anyone who closely follows Cruz Azul, this latest stadium change comes as no surprise. The club was founded in Hidalgo, intrinsically linked to the cement cooperative from which it derives its name and emblem. Its journey of itinerancy truly began in 1970 when it departed from the Estadio 10 de Diciembre in Jasso. From that point onwards, a nomadic existence became as central to the club’s identity as the blue of its shirt.
Throughout the seventies and eighties, Cruz Azul played at the Estadio Azteca, sharing the ground with Club América, during what proved to be one of its most successful periods. The nineties saw another move, this time to what was then known as Estadio Azul, situated in the Ciudad de los Deportes, Colonia Nochebuena. This is the very same ground the club now intends to return to, having spent years there without lifting a league title.
In 2018, the club made a return to the Estadio Azteca. Three years later, in 2021, Cruz Azul finally broke a 23-year championship drought, a moment that appeared to herald a new era of stability for the club’s history. However, the subsequent renovation of the colossus in preparation for the 2026 World Cup once again forced the team from its home ground.
During this period of displacement, Cruz Azul played at several venues. It passed through the Ciudad de los Deportes again, sharing facilities with América. Subsequently, the team moved to Olímpico Universitario, where it encountered further issues, entering into disputes with the Pumas administration who refused to extend their rental agreement. Finally, against all expectations, the club settled at the Cuauhtémoc stadium in Puebla, where it dramatically secured the Clausura 2026 championship under the management of Joel Huiq.
Future Stadium Plans
While the immediate focus remains on where the team will play its upcoming matches, the Cooperativa is reportedly advancing plans for a more permanent solution. These efforts aim to ensure that the next relocation will be, for the first time in the club’s history, its last. The proposals include the construction of a new arena designed to accommodate 30,000 spectators.
This prospective new stadium is planned for a location alongside Xochimilco, in close proximity to the facilities where the club’s youth players are developed. This initiative suggests a long-term strategy to establish a stable and dedicated home for Cruz Azul.