Club América facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
América

Full name	Club de Fútbol América S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s)	Águilas (Eagles) Azulcremas (Bluecreams) Millonetas (Millionaires)
Short name	AME
Founded	12 October 1916; 108 years ago (1916-10-12)
Ground	Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (temporary)
Ground Capacity	34,253
Owner	Televisa
Chairman	Emilio Azcárraga Jean
Manager	André Jardine
League	Liga MX
Clausura 2025	Regular phase: 2nd Final phase: Runners-up
Home colours Away colours

Club América is a famous professional football club from Mexico City. People often call them Las Águilas (The Eagles). They play in Liga MX, which is the top football league in Mexico.

The club started in 1916. Since 1959, a big media company called Televisa has owned the team. Club América plays its home games at Estadio Azteca. This stadium is the biggest in Latin America and one of the largest in the world!

América was one of the first teams to join the Primera División league. They have a huge rivalry with Guadalajara. These two teams are the most successful and popular in Mexico. Their matches are called El Súper Clásico, which is one of the biggest rivalries in football worldwide. América also has big games against Cruz Azul and Club Universidad Nacional. These four clubs are known as the "Big Four" of Mexican football.

Club América has won more titles than any other team in Mexico. They have won a record sixteen league titles, six Copa México titles, and seven Campeón de Campeones cups. In international games, América has won ten trophies recognized by FIFA. This is the most for any club from the CONCACAF region. They have won seven CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles, one CONCACAF Giants Cup, and two Copa Interamericanas. América also holds records for most wins, points, and goals scored in the league. They have appeared in the most playoff finals (22 times).

Club América's History

How Club América Started

By 1916, football was very popular in Mexico, especially among college students in Mexico City. Students from two colleges, Colegio Mascarones and Colegio Marista de la Perpetua, had their own teams called Récord and Colón. On 12 October 1916, these two teams decided to join forces to create a stronger team.

They thought about many names for their new team. A player named Pedro "Cheto" Quintanilla suggested "América." He thought of this name because they formed the team on Columbus Day (Día del descubrimiento de América). Everyone liked the name. Soon, they designed a crest with a map of the Americas. It had a 'C' for "Club" and an 'A' for "América" on it.

For the team's colors, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez found his father's navy blue trousers and a yellow shirt. The players decided these would be the club's official colors.

In 1916, Club América had to prove itself to the Mexican Football League, then called the Primera Fuerza. At that time, América was the only club in Mexico City with only Mexican-born players. Other teams like Necaxa and Atlante were already in the league. América needed to win three games to be accepted. They won two games and tied the third, so they were allowed to join!

In 1918, the team changed its name to Club Centro Unión, but two years later, they went back to being Club América.

The Club América team that won the 1924–25 Primera Fuerza. This was the club's first major win.

América won its first Primera Fuerza title in the 1924–25 season. They became champions after beating Asturias 1–0 in the final match. América won the Primera Fuerza three more times in a row. In 1926, América became the first Mexican club to play football outside of Mexico.

After the Mexican Football Federation was formed in 1928, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez became the coach of the Mexico national team. Most of the players on the national team for the 1928 Summer Olympics and 1930 World Cup were from Club América.

América in the Mid-1900s

Before 1942, Mexico had several football leagues. The league in Mexico City was the most important. In 1942–43, the first National League, called the Liga Mayor, was created. Club América was not as strong as it had been in the 1920s and 1930s. They had older players and less money, which made them struggle at the start of the professional era.

This was also when the rivalry with Guadalajara began. In the 1945–1946 season, Guadalajara beat América twice. In the 1951–1952 season, América finished almost last, but avoided being moved to a lower league. In 1954, América won their first league cup, the Copa México, by beating Guadalajara in a penalty shootout.

In 1956, a soft drink company called Jarritos bought the club. The new owner wanted to build on the club's recent cup wins. In the 1954–55 season, América won their first Campeón de Campeones championship. But the owner couldn't bring more success. So, on 22 July 1959, Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, who owned Telesistema Mexicano, bought América. After buying the team, Azcárraga told his players, "I don't know much about football, but I know a lot about business, and this, gentlemen, will be a business."

In the 1959–1960 season, América finished second in the league. On 21 April 1964, América won the Copa México again, beating Monterrey 6–5 in the final. Alfonso Portugal scored five of América's goals! On 7 May 1965, América won the Mexican "Copa" championship once more, beating Morelia 4–0.

The 1970s: New Formats and First International Wins

After Mexico hosted the 1970 FIFA World Cup, the league changed its format to include playoffs, called the Liguilla. The first playoff final was in 1971 between Toluca and América. América won their second league title by beating Toluca 2–0 in the second game. The next season, América lost to Cruz Azul in the playoffs. However, América beat Cruz Azul in the 1973 Copa México final.

América finished first in the 1975–1976 season. They won the championship by beating Universidad de Guadalajara in the final. They also won the Campeón de Campeones title by beating Tigres UANL 2–0.

In 1978, América played in its first Copa Interamericana against Boca Juniors from Argentina. After losing one game and winning another, América won the championship in a special playoff match. They won 2–1 in extra time with a last-second goal. América became the first team from Mexico and the CONCACAF region to win this competition. They also became the first team from their region to win two major titles in one year, as they had also won the 1977 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

The Golden 1980s

The 1980s are often called América's "golden decade." During this time, América won the league title five times, including three years in a row! They won in 1983–84, 1984–85, Prode-85, 1987–88, and 1988–89. They also won the Mexican Super Cup twice and the 1987 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

In the 1983–1984 season, América reached the finals and faced their biggest rivals, Guadalajara. After a 2–2 tie in the first game, América beat Guadalajara 3–1 in the second game, winning 5–3 overall. This match is known as the "Final del Siglo" ("Final of the Century"). The next season, América reached the finals again, this time against city-rivals Pumas UNAM. After two tied games, América won the final match 3–1.

Because Mexico hosted the 1986 World Cup, the league season was split into two shorter tournaments. América won the Prode-85 tournament. They beat Jaibos Tampico Madero in the final, winning 4–0 in the second game after losing the first.

For the 1987–88 season, América met UNAM in the final again and won 4–2. The following season, América played Cruz Azul in the final for the first time since 1972. América won the first game 3–2 and tied the second 2–2, winning the championship 5–4 overall.

The 1990s: International Success Continues

In the 1990s, América won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1990 and 1992, and the 1990 Copa Interamericana. In the 1990–1991 season, América reached the final but lost to UNAM.

In 1994, the club hired a famous Dutch manager, Leo Beenhakker. They also signed two talented African players, François Omam-Biyik from Cameroon and Kalusha Bwalya from Zambia. This team was very strong and scored 88 goals that season. Even though they didn't win any trophies, many people remember this América team as one of the best in the club's history.

In 1998, América and Guadalajara became the first Mexican clubs to play in the Copa Libertadores tournament. América made it to the next round but was eventually eliminated by River Plate from Argentina.

The 2000s: More Trophies and Club World Cup

In August 2001, América won the CONCACAF Giants Cup by beating MLS club D.C. United 2–0. The next year, América reached the league final against Necaxa. They won 3–2 overall after a dramatic comeback. They scored a "golden goal" in extra time to win their first league championship in 13 years.

The club reached the league final again in the Clausura 2005 tournament. They won 7–4 overall against Tecos UAG to claim their tenth league title.

On 19 April 2006, América won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. This win allowed them to play in the FIFA Club World Cup that same year. At the tournament, América won their first match but then lost to the famous Spanish team FC Barcelona. They finished the tournament by losing the third-place match.

2007 and 2008 Seasons

After the Club World Cup, América made it to the playoffs of the Clausura 2007 but finished as runners-up after losing to Pachuca in the final.

In the Apertura 2007, América had a tough start. They were eliminated from the playoffs. América also played in the Copa Sudamericana and reached the finals against Arsenal de Sarandí from Argentina. They lost the final because of the away goals rule, even though the total score was tied.

At the end of 2007, América was ranked tenth in the world by the IFFHS. This was the first time a Mexican club reached the top ten.

América started 2008 by winning the InterLiga tournament. This allowed them to play in the Copa Libertadores. However, the Clausura tournament saw América finish almost last in the league. Despite their struggles in Mexico, América did well in the Copa Libertadores. They reached the semi-finals but were eliminated by the eventual champions.

The 2010s: More League and Continental Titles

For the Apertura 2010, América brought back former manager Manuel Lapuente. They finished fourth in the league and made it to the playoffs, qualifying for the 2011 Copa Libertadores. They were eliminated in the semi-finals.

In the Clausura 2011, América had a poor start, and their manager was replaced by Carlos Reinoso. América improved but was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Later, Miguel Herrera became the new manager. In his first year, Herrera led the team to two semi-final appearances.

On 26 May 2013, América won their eleventh league title! They beat Cruz Azul in the Clausura final in a very exciting comeback. Their goalkeeper, Moisés Muñoz, even scored a goal in injury time! This win tied América with Guadalajara for the most league titles. In the Apertura 2013, América reached the final again but lost to León.

Antonio Mohamed became América's new manager for the Clausura 2014 tournament. América finished first in the Apertura 2014 tournament. On 14 December, América won a record-twelfth league title by beating Tigres UANL 3–1 in the final. Three days later, Gustavo Matosas became the new manager.

In April 2015, the club won its sixth CONCACAF Champions League title by defeating Montreal Impact. Despite finishing second in the league, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Ignacio Ambríz was then named the new manager. América played in the FIFA Club World Cup but finished fifth.

In April 2016, América won the CONCACAF Champions League again, beating Tigres UANL 4–1. This was their record seventh continental title. América finished the year in fourth place at the Club World Cup and as runners-up in the Apertura championship.

América won its record thirteenth league title after beating Cruz Azul 2–0 in the 2018 Apertura final. In April 2019, América won the Clausura edition of the Copa MX, earning a record sixth title. By winning this cup, América became the record holder for the most titles in the Liga MX, Copa MX, and CONCACAF Champions League. The team also won the 2019 Campeón de Campeones but lost in the 2019 Apertura finals.

2020 to Today: A New Era of Dominance

América started the new decade by finishing third in the Apertura but lost in the quarter-finals to Guadalajara. They finished second in the following Clausura but were again eliminated in the quarter-finals. In the 2021 Apertura, América led the league but lost in the quarter-finals again. From the 2022 Clausura onwards, América consistently reached the semi-finals but faced eliminations.

Under new manager André Jardine, América finished first in the 2023 Apertura with the best offense and defense. They beat Tigres UANL 4–1 in the finals to win a record 14th title, ending a five-year league drought. América successfully defended their title by beating Cruz Azul in the 2024 Clausura finals. This was the first time in the club's history they won back-to-back Liga MX titles in the playoff format. They also became the first team to achieve this after finishing first in both the Apertura and Clausura championships.

In December, América defeated Monterrey 3–2 in the Apertura finals to win their 16th league title. This made them the first team to win three Liga MX titles in a row in the short-tournament era. In the following Clausura, América reached the finals for an amazing fourth time in a row, but they lost to Toluca.

Team Look: Crest and Colors

Club América's Crest

When Club América started in 1916, their crest had a 'C' for "Club" and an 'A' for "América" on top of each other. After a short time when the team was called Club Unión, they went back to Club América in the 1920s. The crest was changed to show a map of the Americas behind the 'CA', all inside a football. The colors were cream and blue.

Since then, the crest has changed very little. In the early 2000s, a line in the middle was removed. In the early 1980s, an eagle was added around the crest because of the team's nickname. The most recent change to the crest was in 2010, making the yellow and blue colors brighter.

Team Colors

Club founder Rafael Garza Gutiérrez chose América's first uniform. He used his father's navy blue trousers and a yellow-cream shirt. The players decided these would be the club's colors. The uniform design stayed mostly the same for a long time.

In the 1980s, the cream color became a brighter yellow, and a new inverted triangle design was added to the shirt. A third, white and blue shirt was sometimes used later in the decade.

For the club's 95th anniversary in the Apertura 2011 tournament, a special jersey was made. It looked like the original uniform and had a slightly changed crest. This special uniform was worn during the big Súper Clásico match against Guadalajara.

In May 2016, for the club's 100th anniversary, a dark red away kit was shown. This honored the Italian club Torino, who were América's first opponents at the Estadio Azteca when it opened in 1966.

Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors

Period	Kit supplier	Main shirt sponsor(s)
1984–1988	Adidas	None
1988–1990		Bancomer
1990–1993		Coca-Cola
1993–1994	Umbro
1994–2000	Adidas
2000–2005	Nike
2005–2015		Bimbo Coca-Cola
2015–2017		Huawei Coca-Cola
2017–2018		Huawei The Home Depot
2018–2023		AT&T The Home Depot
2023–2025		Caliente
2025–Present	Adidas

Team Nicknames

Club América has had many nicknames over the years. In the beginning, they were called Estudiantes (Students) because the team was formed by students. They were also called Cremas (Creams) and Azul-cremas (Blue-creams) because of their uniform colors.

In the 1960s, after Emilio Azcárraga Milmo bought the club, they got the nickname Millonetas (Millionaires). This was because Azcárraga spent a lot of money to sign famous foreign players and improve the team.

The nickname Águilas (Eagles) came from a special campaign by Televisa in 1981. Along with a new uniform and colors, the "Eagles" nickname was introduced at a press conference.

Home Stadium: Estadio Azteca

A panorama of the Estadio Azteca during a league match against Tecos.

América plays its home games at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This huge stadium was designed by Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez. It opened on 29 May 1966 with a match between América and Torino, which ended in a 2–2 tie. The first goal was scored by Brazilian player Arlindo Dos Santos.

The club has shared the stadium with the Mexico national football team since it opened. Other club teams have also used the stadium as their home at different times.

Besides football matches, the Estadio Azteca has hosted many other big events. These include the 1968 Summer Olympics, two FIFA World Cups (1970 and 1986), and visits from Pope John Paul II.

Big Rivalries

The El Súper Clásico

The biggest rivalry for Club América is against Guadalajara. This match is known as "El Súper Clásico" (The Super Classic). Both teams are the most successful and popular in Mexico, and they have never been moved to a lower league.

The Clásico Capitalino

The rivalry between Club América and Club Universidad Nacional is called the "Clásico Capitalino" (Capital Classic). This is because both teams are from Mexico City. Their first match was on 1 July 1962.

Many people see this rivalry as a fight between two different groups. Club América is often seen as the team for the rich and powerful, especially because it's owned by the big media company Televisa. Club Universidad, on the other hand, represents the National Autonomous University of Mexico and is seen as the team for intellectuals and the middle class. UNAM fans often see América as their main rival, but América fans usually think the match against Guadalajara is more important.

The Clásico Joven

Club América's other rival in the capital is Cruz Azul. Matches between them are called the "Clásico Joven" (Young Classic). This rivalry is also seen as being about social class differences. América is thought to represent the wealthy, while Cruz Azul is said to represent the working class. Cruz Azul fans are sometimes called "Los Albañiles" (bricklayers), which refers to Cruz Azul's parent company, a major concrete and construction company.

Team Support

América supporters at Estadio Azteca in 2019.

Club América is almost always ranked as Mexico's most supported team, along with Guadalajara. In surveys, América is often the most popular club in the country and in Mexico City. As of June 2025, América is Mexico's most supported team. They also have a huge following on social media, being one of the most followed teams in Latin America.

América is also very popular in the United States. A 2020 survey found them to be the ninth most popular team in the U.S., and the only non-European team in the top ten. They are also considered one of the most popular Mexican clubs in Asia.

However, América is also the most hated team in Mexico. They have been ranked as the most hated club in every annual survey. Since Emilio Azcárraga Milmo bought the club in 1959, América has been known for being both very popular and very disliked. Their spending on top players and their success made rival fans dislike them even more. Because Azcárraga Milmo also owned Telesistema Mexicano, many believed América was the club of the "establishment" and the "wealthy," while other teams represented the "working class." The club and its fans have even embraced being the most hated, with their unofficial slogan being "Ódiame Más" ("Hate me more").

Club América has three main fan groups: La Monumental, Disturbio, and Ritual del Kaos. La Monumental was the first fan group officially recognized by the club in 1999. Some members later left to form Ritual del Kaos. Disturbio was created in 2000 as a group connected to La Monumental. These groups cheer for the team from different sections of the Estadio Azteca during home games.

Team Management and Coaching

Management

Since 2011, Emilio Azcárraga Jean has been the chairman of Grupo Televisa's Committee of Football.

The current chairman of Club América is Emilio Azcárraga Jean. The sporting president, who helps manage the team's sports side, is Santiago Baños.

Coaching Staff

The current manager of Club América is André Jardine. He leads the team on the field.

Players

First-Team Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Luis Malagón 3 DF Israel Reyes 4 DF Sebastián Cáceres 5 DF Kevin Álvarez 6 MF Jonathan dos Santos (vice-captain) 7 MF Brian Rodríguez 8 MF Álvaro Fidalgo 9 FW Henry Martín (captain) 10 MF Alejandro Zendejas 11 FW Víctor Dávila 12 MF Isaías Violante 13 MF Alan Cervantes 14 DF Néstor Araujo

No. Position Player 15 DF Ralph Orquin 19 FW Raúl Zúñiga 20 MF Alexis Gutiérrez 26 DF Cristian Borja 27 FW Rodrigo Aguirre 28 MF Érick Sánchez 29 DF Ramón Juárez 30 GK Rodolfo Cota (on loan from León) 31 DF Igor Lichnovsky 32 DF Miguel Vázquez 34 MF Dagoberto Espinoza 35 MF Santiago Naveda

Famous Players in History

As part of Club América's 100th anniversary in 2016, fans voted for their favorite 'Historic Players'. Here are some of the most famous players who have played for the club:

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Player Records

Top Scorers

All-Time Records

Current players are in bold

Most goals scored Rank Name Nationality Goals 1 Luís Roberto Alves 188 2 Cuauhtémoc Blanco 153 3 Octavio Vial 152 4 Henry Martín 116 5 José Alves 109 6 Enrique Borja 104 7 Eduardo González Pálmer 101 8 Carlos Reinoso 99 9 Salvador Cabañas 98 10 Carlos Hermosillo 94

Most appearances Rank Name Nationality Apps 1 Cristóbal Ortega 711 2 Alfredo Tena 594 3 Germán Villa 527 4 Luís Roberto Alves 490 5 Guillermo Ochoa 433 Gonzalo Farfán 7 Pável Pardo 407 8 Adrián Chávez 402 Duilio Davino 10 Cuauhtémoc Blanco 397

Team Managers

Managers Who Won Trophies

Here are some of the managers who have helped Club América win at least one trophy:

Manager	Period	Trophies
Rafael Garza Gutiérrez	1917–1919 1920–1926 1929–1931 1933–1935 1935–1936, 1937–1942, 1946–1949	2 Primera Fuerza
Percy Clifford	1926–1929	2 Primera Fuerza
Octavio Vial	1949–50 1952–1955	2 Copa México 1 Campeón de Campeones
Alejandro Scopelli	1964–1965	2 Copa México
Roberto Scarone	1965–1966	1 Primera División
José Antonio Roca	1970–1975 1979–1981	1 Primera División 1 Copa México
Raúl Cárdenas	1975–1978	1 Primera División 1 Campeón de Campeones 1 CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1 Copa Interamericana
Carlos Reinoso	1981–1984 1998 2011	1 Primera División
Miguel Ángel López	1984–1987 1992–1993	2 Primera División 1 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Vicente Cayetano Rodríguez	1987	1 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Jorge Vieira	1987–1990	2 Primera División 2 Campéon de Campeónes
Carlos Miloc	1991	1 CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1 Copa Interamericana
Alfio Basile	2000–2001	1 CONCACAF Giants Cup
Manuel Lapuente	2001–2003 2006 2010–2011	1 Primera División 1 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Mario Carrillo	2004–2005	1 Primera División 1 Campeón de Campeones
Miguel Herrera	2012–2013 2017–2020	2 Liga MX 1 Copa MX 1 Campeón de Campeones
Antonio Mohamed	2014	1 Liga MX
Gustavo Matosas	2015	1 CONCACAF Champions League
Ignacio Ambríz	2015–2016	1 CONCACAF Champions League
André Jardine	2023–present	3 Liga MX 1 Campeón de Campeones 1 Supercopa de la Liga MX 1 Campeones Cup

Club Presidents

Since the club started in 1916, América has had many presidents. The first was Florencio Domínguez. Guillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena was the longest-serving president, from 1961 to 1981. The shortest term was by Filiberto Zapata in 1940. The current sporting president is Santiago Baños.

In 1951, the famous actor and comedian Cantinflas was even named an Honorary President of the club!

Club América's Trophies

Club América has won more titles than any other team in Mexican football.

National Titles

Club América honours

Type	Competition	Titles	Winning editions	Runners-up
Top division	Primera División/Liga MX	16	1965–66, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1983–84, 1984–85, Prode 1985, 1987–88, 1988–89, Verano 2002, Clausura 2005, Clausura 2013, Apertura 2014, Apertura 2018, Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, Apertura 2024	1959–60, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1971–72, 1990–91, Clausura 2007, Apertura 2013, Apertura 2016, Apertura 2019, Clausura 2025
	Copa México/Copa MX	6	1953–54, 1954–55, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1973–74, Clausura 2019	1944–45, 1975–76, 1990–91
	Campeón de Campeones	7s	1955, 1976, 1988, 1989, 2005, 2019, 2024	1954, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1974, 2015, 2025
	Supercopa MX	0	–	2017
	Supercopa de la Liga MX	1s	2024	–

International Titles

Type	Competition	Titles	Winning editions	Runners-up
Intercontinental CONCACAF CONMEBOL	Copa Interamericana	2	1978, 1990	–
Continental CONCACAF	CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League	7s	1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2014–15, 2015–16	2021
	CONCACAF Giants Cup	1	2001	–
Continental CONMEBOL	CONMEBOL Sudamericana	0	–	2007

Regional Titles

Type	Competition	Titles	Winning editions	Runners-up
North America MLS Liga MX	Campeones Cup	1	2024	2019

Amateur Titles

• Campeonato de Primera Fuerza/Liga Mayor: 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28
• Copa Tower: 1919–20
• Copa México: 1937–38

Friendly Titles

• Copa Sport: 1918
• Copa Amistad: 1918, 1927
• Copa Militarización: 1919
• Copa Unión: 1920
• Copa Presidente Álvaro Obregón: 1923
• Copa Covadonga: 1925
• Copa Presidente Plutarco Elías Calles: 1925
• Copa Providencia: 1925
• Copa Vencedores: 1927
• Copa Patria: 1928
• Copa Presidencial Adolfo López Mateos: 1963
• Copa Presidente Gustavo Díaz Ordaz: 1964–65
• Copa Independencia: 1966–67, 1974–75
• Copa Revolución Mexicana: 1980–81
• Torneo Cuadrangular Internacional de la Ciudad de México: 1981
• Trofeo Águila Azteca: 1982
• Los Angeles Nations Cup: 1983
• Torneo Triangular de la Ciudad de México: 1987
• Copa Confraternidad: 1988
• Copa Camel: 1990
• Copa Pachuca: 1995, 1997
• Los Angeles International Quadrangular: 1999
• Serie Mundial de Fútbol: 2006
• Copa Insurgentes: 2010
• DirecTV EuroAmerican Cup: 2014

More About Club América

• Club América (women)
• Club América Premier

See also

In Spanish: Club América para niños