Cruz Azul faces Club America in a friendly on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, with kickoff at 10:30 PM ET. The match will air in the United States on UniMás and TUDN, according to TelevisaUnivision’s official programming announcement. The Clasico Joven returns less than three weeks after Cruz Azul’s 4-3 league win over America, though both squads will be missing players away on international duty. Although the match will not stream on ViX in the United States, it can be watched online through the TUDN app and tudn.com, as well as live TV streaming services that carry UniMás and TUDN, such as DirecTV Stream.
| Match | Date | Kickoff | Competition | U.S. TV | U.S. Stream | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruz Azul vs Club America | Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 10:30 PM ET (9:30 PM CT, 7:30 PM PT) | International club friendly | UniMás and TUDN | Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California |
Where to Watch Cruz Azul vs Club America
TelevisaUnivision has confirmed that the friendly will air in the United States on UniMás and TUDN, with a Fútbol Central preview show at 10:00 PM ET. Both clubs and the Snapdragon Stadium event listing confirm the 7:30 PM PT kickoff. This page will be updated if ViX option is confirmed.
For Liga MX season viewing options beyond this friendly, see FutnSoccer’s complete Liga MX viewing guide.
Why this match matters
This is the second Clasico Joven in 19 days. On September 12, Cruz Azul beat Club America 4-3 in Jornada 8 of the Apertura 2026, a wild finish in which the home side led 4-1 in the closing minutes before America nearly completed a comeback. That result kept Cruz Azul near the top of the table and ended America’s unbeaten start.
With Liga MX paused for the FIFA window, both teams are using the San Diego showcase to stay sharp before the final stretch of the tournament. Cruz Azul also faces the LA Galaxy in Carson on October 4 as part of the same short U.S. tour.
Recent form: Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul’s last five Liga MX matches (Jornadas 6 through 10): three wins, one draw, one loss.
- September 26: Cruz Azul 3-3 Toluca (home)
- September 19: Monterrey 1-0 Cruz Azul (away)
- September 12: Cruz Azul 4-3 Club America (home)
- September 6: Cruz Azul 1-0 Santos Laguna (home)
- August 28: Necaxa 1-3 Cruz Azul (away)
The defending champions have been leaky at the back recently, conceding in each of their last two games, but coach Joel Huiqui has used the international break to rest injured players and test younger options.
Recent form: Club America
Club America’s last five Liga MX matches: two wins, one draw, one loss, with the Jornada 7 match against Xolos Tijuana postponed.
- September 27: Necaxa 2-4 Club America (away)
- September 19: Club America 2-2 Chivas Guadalajara (home)
- September 12: Cruz Azul 4-3 Club America (away)
- Jornada 7 vs Xolos Tijuana: postponed
- August 29: Club America 2-0 Puebla (home)
America is level on 20 points with Toluca near the top of the Apertura 2026 table, with the postponed Tijuana match still in hand. Miguel Borja has carried the attack through the last two games, scoring twice against Chivas Guadalajara and three times against Necaxa, including two penalties.
Team news
Cruz Azul will be without several players in San Diego. Coach Joel Huiqui confirmed that Rodolfo Rotondi and Amaury Garcia are still recovering and did not make the trip: Rotondi has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, while Garcia suffered a muscle injury that has kept him out of the last two league games. Both are rehabbing in Mexico City with a targeted return on October 11 against Pumas UNAM. Christian Ebere is also unavailable.
International call-ups take more out of the squad: Jeremy Marquez and Erik Lira are with Mexico, goalkeeper Kevin Mier is with Colombia, and Emmanuel Ochoa and Rogelio Gonzalez are with Mexico’s under-23 team. Huiqui has brought young players for the U.S. tour to cover the absences.
Club America is similarly depleted by the FIFA window. Israel Reyes, Isaias Violante, and Dagoberto Espinoza are with Mexico, Oscar Perea is with Colombia, and Brian Rodriguez is with Uruguay. Alan Cervantes, who was dropped from Mexico’s squad with a muscular injury, and Raphael Veiga, who picked up a recent knock, are both uncertain for the friendly. No suspensions have been reported for either side.
What to watch
The headline storyline is Guillermo Almada’s rebuild. Hired on June 7, 2026 after Andre Jardine’s departure, Almada is reportedly set to hand debuts to center backs Santiago Ramos Mingo and Santiago Bueno in San Diego. Ramos Mingo arrived in September to replace the departed Sebastian Caceres, while Bueno joined on loan from Wolverhampton. Lineups are not yet official, so treat the debuts as expected rather than confirmed.
Borja’s form is the other question. The striker has five goals in his last two league games and could be the difference against a Cruz Azul defense missing Rotondi.
Head to head
The most recent meeting was the September 12 league clash, when Cruz Azul defeated Club America 4-3 in Jornada 8 of the Apertura 2026. America lost an unbeaten record that night despite closing a 4-1 deficit to 4-3 in the final minutes.
Prediction
Prediction: Club America 2-2 Cruz Azul. With both coaches rotating heavily and testing new faces, an open, high-scoring friendly feels likely.
FAQ
When is Cruz Azul vs Club America? Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 10:30 PM ET (9:30 PM CT, 7:30 PM PT).
Where can I watch Cruz Azul vs Club America in the U.S.? Unimas and TUDN.
Where is the game being played? Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
Does this match count toward the Liga MX standings? No. It is an international club friendly played during the FIFA window.
