Copa MX · History

The Copa México has its first recorded edition in the 1932-33 season, when Necaxa beat Germania 3-1 in the final. Mexico’s domestic cup later moved into the professional era, went through several interruptions and returned in 2012 under the name Copa MX, open to clubs from the top flight and the second tier, the Ascenso. Its final edition, 2019-20, ended with Monterrey lifting the trophy in November 2020.

From the amateur era to professionalism

During the amateur era the competition was not held every year; the 1934-35 season, for example, had no edition. The 1942-43 Copa México was the first played under professional status, and it was won by Unión Deportiva Moctezuma, who beat Atlante 5-3 in the final. In the decades that followed, América won the trophy in 1954, 1955, 1964, 1965 and 1974, while León, Puebla, Guadalajara, Atlas, Cruz Azul and Necaxa also joined the list of winners.

Suspensions and the break from 1997

The fixture calendar weighed on the cup more than once. Between 1976 and 1987 it was suspended entirely to ease the load of matches, and it was not played between 1992 and 1994 either. Cruz Azul won the 1996-97 edition, 2-0 against Toros Neza, and the tournament then stopped: the entry of Mexican clubs into the 1998 Copa Libertadores meant dates had to be shared between commitments in two confederations, and the cup stayed off the calendar for fifteen years.

The return as Copa MX in 2012

The tournament came back for the Apertura 2012 with a six-month format. Twenty-eight teams took part, 14 from the top flight and 14 from the Liga de Ascenso, split into seven groups of four. The seven group winners and one runner-up selected on points went through to the quarter-finals. The competition began on 24 July 2012, and the final, at the Estadio Marte R. Gómez in Ciudad Victoria, was contested by two second-tier clubs: Dorados de Sinaloa drew 2-2 with Correcaminos UAT and won the penalty shoot-out. Twenty-four teams played in the Clausura 2013, and Cruz Azul beat Atlante on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo in Cancún.

Six-month champions from 2013 to 2016

With two editions a year, the trophy was shared among many clubs. Monarcas Morelia won the Apertura 2013 against Atlas on penalties after a 3-3 draw; Tigres UANL beat Alebrijes de Oaxaca 3-0 in the Clausura 2014; Santos Laguna overcame Puebla on penalties in the Apertura 2014, and Puebla took the Clausura 2015 by beating Guadalajara 4-2. Guadalajara won the Apertura 2015 with a 1-0 victory over León at León’s ground, and Veracruz beat Necaxa 4-1 in the Clausura 2016 at the Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente. From the Apertura 2016 the group stage switched to eight groups of three teams; that edition went to Querétaro, who beat Guadalajara on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Corregidora.

The finals from 2017 to 2019

Guadalajara won the cup again in the Clausura 2017, beating Morelia on penalties at their own stadium. Monterrey won the Apertura 2017 with a 1-0 win over Pachuca, Necaxa took the Clausura 2018 by beating Toluca 1-0 at the Estadio Victoria, and Cruz Azul won the Apertura 2018 with a 2-0 victory over Monterrey at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer. In the Clausura 2019, América beat FC Juárez 1-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez to reach six cup titles in the professional era, one ahead of León and Puebla with five each.

The 2019-20 edition and the end of the tournament

The 2019-20 Copa MX moved to an annual format, with nine groups of three teams followed by a knockout phase. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the final, which was played between Tijuana and Monterrey in the autumn of 2020. Monterrey won the first leg 1-0 in Tijuana on 21 October; the second leg, at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, ended 1-1 with a penalty converted by Vincent Janssen, and Monterrey were crowned champions 2-1 on aggregate. The 2020-21 edition was cancelled: priority was given to the Mexico national team’s calendar and no dates were left for the cup. The second leg in November 2020 was the last match played in the Copa MX.