Mexican football clubs in international competitions
This is a list of Mexican football clubs in international competitions. Mexico's clubs have participated in international competitions since the 1959 Campeonato Centroamericano, which was the first official international competition for clubs from North, Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament was organized by CCCF, which was a predecessor confederation of CONCACAF.
The first continental club competition organized by CONCACAF was the 1962 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Mexican clubs have dominated the CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League, winning 40 titles and finishing as runners-up twenty times.
Mexican clubs also participated in CONMEBOL continental competitions, Copa Libertadores (1998–2016), Copa Sudamericana (2005–2008), Recopa Sudamericana (2007), and Copa Merconorte (2000 and 2001). The first appearance was in the 1998 Copa Libertadores. The best performances in Copa Libertadores was finishing as runners-up three times, Cruz Azul in 2001, Guadalajara in 2010, and Tigres UANL in 2015. The best performance in Copa Sudamericana was achieved by Pachuca, winning the title in 2006.
In intercontinental competitions, Mexican clubs participated in the Copa Interamericana, jointly organized by CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, which was contested between the winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Copa Libertadores. Since 2024, they have also participated in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, including the secondary intercontinental trophies contested whitin the competition (FIFA Derby of the Americas and FIFA Challenger Cup).
In worldwide competitions, Mexican clubs have participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, the best performance was achieved by Tigres UANL, finishing as runners-up in 2020.
Qualification for CONCACAF competitions
For the CONCACAF Champions Cup, up to nine Mexican football clubs are eligible for entry into the competition.[1]
- Liga MX (6):
- Champions and runners-up of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments
- Two highest-ranked clubs in the aggregate table points of the season, that have not already qualified
- Leagues Cup (3):
- Champions, runners-up, and third place
If one or more Liga MX clubs were to qualify through multiple methods, then the next Liga MX club with the most aggregate table points would qualify in the remaining slot. If the Leagues Cup champion were to win the Apertura or Clausura, then both the Apertura and Clausura champions would qualify to the round of 16; should the Leagues Cup slot(s) have already qualified, then Liga MX would be awarded with one additional slot to be given to the next best non-qualified team in the aggregate table.[2]
International honours
Worldwide/Intercontinental competitions (FIFA)
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA Club World Cup | ||||||
| UANL | 0 | 1 | — | 2020 | ||
| FIFA Intercontinental Cup | ||||||
| Pachuca | 0 | 1 | — | 2024 | ||
| FIFA Challenger Cup | ||||||
| Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 2024 | — | ||
| FIFA Derby of the Americas | ||||||
| Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 2024 | — | ||
| Cruz Azul | 0 | 1 | — | 2025 | ||
Intercontinental competitions (CONCACAF-CONMEBOL)
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copa Interamericana (discontinued) | ||||
| América | 2 | 0 | 1978, 1991 | — |
| UNAM | 1 | 1 | 1981 | 1990 |
| Toluca | 0 | 1 | — | 1969 |
| Cruz Azul | 0 | 1 | — | 1972 |
| Atlético Español | 0 | 1 | — | 1976 |
| Puebla | 0 | 1 | — | 1992 |
Continental competitions (CONCACAF)
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League | ||||
| Cruz Azul | 7 | 2 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2013–14, 2025 | 2008–09, 2009–10 |
| América | 7 | 1 | 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2014–15, 2015–16 | 2021 |
| Pachuca | 6 | 0 | 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2024 | — |
| Monterrey | 5 | 0 | 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2019, 2021 | — |
| UNAM | 3 | 2 | 1980, 1982, 1989 | 2005, 2022 |
| Toluca | 2 | 3 | 1968, 2003 | 1998, 2006, 2013–14 |
| Guadalajara | 2 | 2 | 1962, 2018 | 1963, 2007 |
| Atlante | 2 | 1 | 1983, 2008–09 | 1994 |
| UANL | 1 | 3 | 2020 | 2015–16, 2016–17, 2019 |
| León | 1 | 1 | 2023 | 1993 |
| Necaxa | 1 | 1 | 1999 | 1996 |
| Atlético Español | 1 | 0 | 1975 | — |
| UdeG | 1 | 0 | 1978 | — |
| Puebla | 1 | 0 | 1991 | — |
| Morelia | 0 | 2 | — | 2002, 2003 |
| Santos Laguna | 0 | 2 | — | 2011–12, 2012–13 |
| CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup (discontinued) | ||||
| Necaxa | 1 | 0 | 1994 | — |
| Monterrey | 1 | 0 | 1993 | — |
| Tecos | 1 | 0 | 1995 | — |
| CONCACAF Giants Cup (discontinued) | ||||
| América | 1 | 0 | 2001 | — |
Continental competitions (CONMEBOL)
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONMEBOL Libertadores | ||||
| Cruz Azul | 0 | 1 | — | 2001 |
| Guadalajara | 0 | 1 | — | 2010 |
| UANL | 0 | 1 | — | 2015 |
| CONMEBOL Sudamericana | ||||
| Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 2006 | — |
| UNAM | 0 | 1 | — | 2005 |
| América | 0 | 1 | — | 2007 |
| CONMEBOL Recopa | ||||
| Pachuca | 0 | 1 | — | 2007 |
Subregional competitions (CCCF)
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campeonato Centroamericano (discontinued) | ||||
| Guadalajara | 0 | 1 | — | 1959 |
Subregional competitions (MLS-Liga MX)
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leagues Cup | ||||
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 0 | 2019 | — |
| León | 1 | 0 | 2021 | — |
| UANL | 0 | 1 | — | 2019 |
| North American SuperLiga (discontinued) | ||||
| Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 2007 | — |
| UANL | 1 | 0 | 2009 | — |
| Morelia | 1 | 0 | 2010 | — |
| Campeones Cup | ||||
| UANL | 2 | 0 | 2018, 2023 | — |
| América | 1 | 1 | 2024 | 2019 |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | 2025 | — |
| Cruz Azul | 0 | 1 | — | 2021 |
| Atlas | 0 | 1 | — | 2022 |
International records
FIFA Club World Cup
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Necaxa | 3rd place | 1–1 (4–3 p) |
Real Madrid |
| 2006 | América | 4th place | 1–2 | Al Ahly |
| 2007 | Pachuca | 5th place (shared) | 0–1 | Étoile du Sahel |
| 2008 | Pachuca | 4th place | 0–1 | Gamba Osaka |
| 2009 | Atlante | 4th place | 1–1 (3–4 p) |
Pohang Steelers |
| 2010 | Pachuca | 5th place | 2–2 (4–2 p) |
Al Wahda |
| 2011 | Monterrey | 5th place | 3–2 | Espérance de Tunis |
| 2012 | Monterrey | 3rd place | 2–0 | Al Ahly |
| 2013 | Monterrey | 5th place | 5–1 | Al Ahly |
| 2014 | Cruz Azul | 4th place | 1–1 (2–4 p) |
Auckland City |
| 2015 | América | 5th place | 2–1 | Mazembe |
| 2016 | América | 4th place | 2–2 (3–4 p) |
Atlético Nacional |
| 2017 | Pachuca | 3rd place | 4–1 | Al Jazira Club |
| 2018 | Guadalajara | 6th place | 1–1 (5–6 p) |
Espérance de Tunis |
| 2019 | Monterrey | 3rd place | 2–2 (4–3 p) |
Al-Hilal |
| 2020 | UANL | Runners-up | 0–1 | Bayern Munich |
| 2021 | Monterrey | 5th place | 3–1 | Al Jazira Club |
| 2023 | León | 5th place (shared) | 0–1 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| 2025 | Monterrey | Round of 16 | 1–2 | Borussia Dortmund |
| Pachuca | Group stage | 1–2 1–3 0–2 |
Red Bull Salzburg Real Madrid Al-Hilal |
FIFA Intercontinental Cup
| Edition | Club | Progress | Result | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pachuca | Runners-up | 0–3 | Real Madrid |
FIFA Challenger Cup
| Edition | Club | Progress | Result | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pachuca | Champions | 0–0 (6–5 p) |
Al Ahly |
FIFA Derby of the Americas
| Edition | Club | Progress | Result | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pachuca | Champions | 3–0 | Botafogo |
| 2025 | Cruz Azul | Runners-up | 1–2 | Flamengo |
Copa Interamericana (discontinued)
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Toluca | Runners-up | 2–1 1–2 0–3 |
Estudiantes de La Plata |
| 1972 | Cruz Azul | Runners-up | 1–1 1–2 |
Nacional |
| 1976 | Atlético Español | Runners-up | 2–2 0–0 (4–5 p) |
Independiente |
| 1978 | América | Champions | 1–0 0–3 2–1 |
Boca Juniors |
| 1981 | UNAM | Champions | 3–1 1–3 2–1 |
Nacional |
| 1990 | UNAM | Runners-up | 0–2 1–4 |
Atlético Nacional |
| 1991 | América | Champions | 1–1 2–1 |
Olimpia |
| 1992 | Puebla | Runners-up | 1–3 1–4 |
Colo-Colo |
CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Guadalajara | Champions | 5–0 1–0 |
Comunicaciones |
| 1963 | Guadalajara | Runners-up | w/o | Racing CH |
| 1968 | Toluca | Champions | Transvaal and Aurora disqualified | |
| 1969 | Cruz Azul | Champions | 1–0 0–0 |
Comunicaciones |
| 1970 | Cruz Azul | Champions | Saprissa and Transvaal withdrew | |
| 1971 | Cruz Azul | Champions | 5–1 | Alajuelense |
| 1975 | Atlético Español | Champions | 3–0 2–1 |
Transvaal |
| 1977 | América | Champions | 1–0 1–1 |
Robinhood |
| 1978 | UdeG | Champions | The final series was canceled and the 3 qualified clubs were declared joint champions | |
| 1980 | UNAM | Champions | Final round | UNAH Robinhood |
| 1982 | UNAM | Champions | 0–0 3–2 |
Robinhood |
| 1983 | Atlante | Champions | 1–1 5–0 |
Robinhood |
| 1987 | América | Champions | 1–1 2–0 |
Defence Force |
| 1989 | UNAM | Champions | 1–1 3–1 |
Pinar del Río |
| 1990 | América | Champions | 2–2 6–0 |
Pinar del Río |
| 1991 | Puebla | Champions | 3–1 1–1 |
Police |
| 1992 | América | Champions | 1–0 | Alajuelense |
| 1993 | León | Runners-up | Final round | Saprissa Municipal Robinhood |
| 1994 | Atlante | Runners-up | 2–3 | Cartaginés |
| 1996 | Cruz Azul | Champions | Final round | Comunicaciones Seattle Sounders |
| Necaxa | Runners-up | Final round | ||
| 1997 | Cruz Azul | Champions | 5–3 | LA Galaxy |
| 1998 | Toluca | Runners-up | 0–1 | D.C. United |
| 1999 | Necaxa | Champions | 2–1 | Alajuelense |
| 2002 | Pachuca | Champions | 1–0 | Morelia |
| Morelia | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2003 | Toluca | Champions | 3–3 2–1 |
Morelia |
| Morelia | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2005 | UNAM | Runners-up | 0–2 2–1 |
Saprissa |
| 2006 | América | Champions | 0–0 2–1 |
Toluca |
| Toluca | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2007 | Pachuca | Champions | 2–2 0–0 (7–6 p) |
Guadalajara |
| Guadalajara | Champions | – | ||
| 2008 | Pachuca | Champions | 1–1 2–1 |
Saprissa |
| 2008–09 | Atlante | Champions | 2–0 0–0 |
Cruz Azul |
| Cruz Azul | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2009–10 | Pachuca | Champions | 1–2 1–0 (a.g.) |
Cruz Azul |
| Cruz Azul | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2010–11 | Monterrey | Champions | 2–2 1–0 |
Real Salt Lake |
| 2011–12 | Monterrey | Champions | 2–0 1–2 |
Santos Laguna |
| Santos Laguna | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2012–13 | Monterrey | Champions | 0–0 4–2 |
Santos Laguna |
| Santos Laguna | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2013–14 | Cruz Azul | Champions | 0–0 1–1 (a.g.) |
Toluca |
| Toluca | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2014–15 | América | Champions | 1–1 4–2 |
CF Montréal |
| 2015-16 | América | Champions | 2–0 2–1 |
UANL |
| UANL | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2016–17 | Pachuca | Champions | 1–1 1–0 |
UANL |
| UANL | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2018 | Guadalajara | Champions | 2–1 1–2 (4–2 p) |
Toronto FC |
| 2019 | Monterrey | Champions | 1–0 1–1 |
UANL |
| UANL | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2020 | UANL | Champions | 2–1 | Los Angeles FC |
| 2021 | Monterrey | Champions | 1–0 | América |
| América | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2022 | UNAM | Runners-up | 2–2 0–3 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2023 | León | Champions | 2–1 1–0 |
Los Angeles FC |
| 2024 | Pachuca | Champions | 3–0 | Columbus Crew |
| 2025 | Cruz Azul | Champions | 5–0 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Monterrey | Champions | Final Round | RCD España Luis Ángel Firpo Suchitepéquez |
| 1994 | Necaxa | Champions | 3–0 | Aurora |
| 1995 | Tecos | Champions | 2–1 | Luis Ángel Firpo |
CONCACAF Giants Cup (discontinued)
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | América | Champions | 2–0 | D.C. United |
Campeonato Centroamericano (discontinued)
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Guadalajara | Runners-up | Round-robin | Olimpia Alajuelense FAS |
Leagues Cup
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cruz Azul | Champions | 2–1 | UANL |
| UANL | Runners-up | – | ||
| 2021 | León | Champions | 3–2 | Seattle Sounders FC |
North American SuperLiga (discontinued)
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Pachuca | Champions | 1–1 (4–3 p) |
LA Galaxy |
| 2009 | UANL | Champions | 1–1 (4–3 p) |
Chicago Fire |
| 2010 | Morelia | Champions | 2–1 | NE Revolution |
Campeones Cup
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | UANL | Champions | 3–1 | Toronto |
| 2019 | América | Runners-up | 2–3 | Atlanta United |
| 2021 | Cruz Azul | Runners-up | 0–2 | Columbus Crew |
| 2022 | Atlas | Runners-up | 0–2 | New York City |
| 2023 | UANL | Champions | 0–0 (4–2 p) |
Los Angeles FC |
| 2024 | América | Champions | 1–1 (5–4 p) |
Columbus Crew |
| 2025 | Toluca | Champions | 3–2 | LA Galaxy |
CONMEBOL Libertadores
Mexican clubs participated in the Copa Libertadores from 1998 to 2016.[3][4]
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Cruz Azul | Runners-up | 0–1 1–0 (1–3 p) |
Boca Juniors |
| 2010 | Guadalajara | Runners-up | 1–2 2–3 |
Internacional |
| 2015 | UANL | Runners-up | 0–0 0–3 |
River Plate |
CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Mexican clubs participated in the Copa Sudamericana from 2005 to 2008.[5]
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | UNAM | Runners-up | 1–1 1–1 (3–4 p) |
Boca Juniors |
| 2006 | Pachuca | Champions | 1–1 2–1 |
Colo-Colo |
| 2007 | América | Runners-up | 2–3 2–1 (a.g.) |
Arsenal de Sarandí |
CONMEBOL Recopa
| Edition | Club | Progress | Results | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Pachuca | Runners-up | 2–1 0–4 |
Internacional |
See also
References
- ^ "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". CONCACAF. June 30, 2022 [First published June 1, 2022]. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Regulations" (PDF). Concacaf. 25 October 2023. pp. 14–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "CONMEBOL: Las puertas de la Copa Libertadores seguirán abiertas a los clubes mexicanos". CONMEBOL.com. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Mexico officially pulls out of Copa Libertadores". Goal.com. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Concacaf". www.concacaf.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.