Club de Fútbol América S.A. de C.V., commonly known asClub América, is a professionalfootball club based inMexico City. NicknamedLas Águilas (The Eagles), it competes inLiga MX, the top tier ofMexican football. The club was founded in 1916, and since 1959 has been owned by mass media companyTelevisa.[4] The team plays its home games atEstadio Azteca, the largest stadium inLatin America andone of the largest in the world.[5][6][7]
América is one of thefounding members of the Primera División. The club has a long-standing rivalry withGuadalajara, as both are the most successful and most supported teams in the country and are among the sevenclubs to have never been relegated.[8] Matches between them are known asEl Súper Clásico,[9] considered to be the biggest rivalry in Mexico, and one of the biggest in the world.[10][11][12] América also plays derbies againstCruz Azul andClub Universidad Nacional. Together the clubs make up the "Big Four" of Mexican football. In 2024, it became the first football club to be floated on theMexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores).[13]According toSportico, Club América is valued at US$770 million as of May 2025, making it one of the most valuable clubs in North America.[14]
Club América has won more titles than any other team in Mexican football.[15] Domestically, the club has won a record sixteen league titles, a record sixCopa México titles, and a joint-record sevenCampeón de Campeones cups. In international competitions, América has won tenFIFA recognized club trophies, the most for a club fromCONCACAF, with a joint-record seven CONCACAFChampions Cup/Champions League titles, one CONCACAFGiants Cup, and twoCopa Interamericanas.[16][17][18] The club also holds numerous distinctions, including topping the all-time league table in victories, points, and goals scored,[19] most appearances in theliguilla (playoffs) stage,[20] the most playoff final appearances (22)[21] and second-most runner-up finishes, after Cruz Azul.[22] It is one of four clubs to win back-to-back league titles since the introduction of the short tournament format,[23] the only team to achieve athree-peat under the format,[24] and the only one to reach four finals in a row.[25] In 2021, América was named by theInternational Federation of Football History & Statistics as the best North American club of the first decade (2001–2011) of the 21st century.[26]
By 1916 football was already a popular sport in Mexico, particularly amongst college students in Mexico City. College students from Colegio Mascarones and Colegio Marista de la Perpetua formed two football teams with the namesRécord andColón. On 12 October 1916, the two squads decided to consolidate to make a more competitive squad. Many names were considered for this new squad, and team player Pedro "Cheto" Quintanilla suggested the name "América", since they had formed the team onColumbus Day (Día del descubrimiento de América). The players agreed and soon designed a crest which had the map of the Americas centered with a 'C' for "Club" on the left and an 'A' for "América" on the right. In deciding the team's colors,Rafael Garza Gutiérrez got a pair of his father's navy blue trousers and a yellow shirt and it was decided amongst the group that those would be the club's kit and colors.[27]
In 1916, Club América had to prove itself to the Mexican Football League, then known as thePrimera Fuerza.[28] At the time, América was the only club in Mexico City with Mexican-born players.Necaxa,Atlante,Real Club España,Germania, andAsturias were already members of theLiga Mayor de la Ciudad. América's acceptance into the league rested on three games they had to win. América won two games, tied the third and were accepted.
In 1918, the team changed its name to Club Centro Unión, though it would revert to using the name América only two years later.[29]
The Club América team which won the 1924–25 Primera Fuerza, considered the club's first honour in its history. Modern tallies of official honours do not take into account América's four Primera Fuerza titles.[30]
América won their first Primera Fuerza title in the1924–25 season, being crowned champions after defeating Asturias 1–0 in the deciding match.[31] América would win the Primera Fuerza three more times, all of them back-to-back.[32] In 1926, América became the first Mexican club to play outside of Mexico.[29] Aside from broadening their horizons, Club América, along with Atlante petitioned to reduce the number of foreign players in the league. Shortly after theMexican Football Federation was formed in 1928, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez was designated as the head coach of theMexico national team. Most of the national team that participated in the1928 Summer Olympics and1930 World Cup consisted of players from Club América.[33]
Until 1942, Mexico had several leagues, although the league in Mexico City was considered the most developed. In 1942–43, the first National League was established and it was known as the Liga Mayor (Major League). Club América had declined from its then-prime of the 1920s and 1930s: aging players, diminishing financial resources, and resulting lack of interest made the team a bottom-feeder at the start of the beginning stage of the professional era7.
It was also during this time that the rivalry withGuadalajara was born; especially during the 1945–1946 season when Guadalajara beat América by 6–4 and 4–2 scorelines. The 1951–1952 season saw América finish in 11th place out of 12, with a 3-point-advantage overVeracruz, who were relegated. In 1954 América defeated rivals Guadalajara on penalties after a 0–0 draw in theCopa México final, thus winning their first league cup.[34]
In 1956, the club was sold to soft drink manufacturerJarritos. The new owner was trying to build upon the club's National Cup titles in 1954 and 1955 against Guadalajara.[35] During the 1954–55 season América won their firstCampeón de Campeones championship, defeatingZacatepec 3–2.[36] The owner failed to build upon previous success and on 22 July 1959,Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, owner ofTelesistema Mexicano, bought América from Isaac Bessudo.[37] Following the acquisition, Azcárraga told his players, "I do not know much about football, but I do know a lot about business, and this, gentlemen, will be a business."[38]
The 1959–1960 season saw América reach second place in the league, behind Guadalajara. On 21 April 1964, at theEstadio Olímpico Universitario, the team, now coached byAlejandro Scopelli, defeatedMonterrey 6–5 in the final match of theCopa México. During the match Alfonso Portugal scored five of América's six; José González scored the other goal to win the championship.[39]
After Mexico hosted the1970 FIFA World Cup, the league tournament format was changed in response to the championship's disputed winners,[clarification needed] hence the Liguilla (play-offs) format was started. The first play-off final was in 1971 betweenToluca and América, leaders of Groups 1 and 2, respectively. After a 0–0 draw in Toluca, América obtained their second league title after winning the second-leg 2–0 at the Estadio Azteca.[41] The following season saw América eliminated from the playoffs byCruz Azul. América would defeat Cruz Azul in the 1973 Copa México final.[42] A few years followed in which América did not qualify for the playoffs. They finished in first place during the 1975–1976 season, and defeatedTecos UAG and Union de Curtidores in the quarter-finals and semi-finals to reach the final againstUniversidad de Guadalajara. América won the championship after beating UDG in theJalisco Stadium 3–0 and 1–0 at the Estadio Azteca.[43] They also won the Campeón de Campeones title by beatingTigres UANL 2–0.[44]
In1978, América participated in their firstCopa Interamericana, playing against Argentine clubBoca Juniors, winners of the1977 Copa Libertadores. After losing the first-leg and winning the second, América would win the championship in a playoff match by a score of 2–1 after extra-time, with a last second free-kick goal by midfielderCarlos Reinoso.[45] América became the first team from Mexico and from the CONCACAF region to win the competition. América also became the first confederation side to earn the "double" in a single year as it won the delayed1977 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.[46]
The 1980s are generally considered América's "golden decade".[47] During this period, América won the league titlefive times, including three consecutive titles; the 1983–84 season, the 1984–85 season,[48] the Prode-85 tournament, the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons.[49] They also won the Mexican Super Cup twice, in 1987–88 and 1988–89,[50] as well as the1987 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
The 1983–1984 season saw América reach the top of the table and reach the finals, where they would face arch-rivalsGuadalajara, who the previous season had eliminated América in the semi-finals. Following a 2–2 draw at theEstadio Jalisco, América defeated Guadalajara in the Azteca Stadium 3–1, and a 5–3 aggregate score.[51] To date, it is the only match between these two teams in the league finals, though they would face each other in other phases of the playoffs. The series has since been dubbed the"Final del Siglo" ("Final of the Century").[52][53] The following season América once again reached the finals, this time against city-rivalsPumas UNAM. After two draws in both the Azteca Stadium and theMexico '68 Stadium, the last game was played in theEstadio Corregidora inQuerétaro, whereDaniel Brailovsky secured the championship for América by scoring two goals with the final score of 3–1.[54]
Due to Mexico hosting the1986 World Cup and stadium and infrastructure preparations, the tournament was split in two short tournaments: Prode-85 and Mexico-86. América clinched the top of their group in the Prode-85 and defeatedUniversidad de Guadalajara and Atlante (which was rescheduled following theearthquake suffered in Mexico City)[55] to reach the final, where they facedJaibos Tampico Madero. The game in Tampico was a 4–1 victory for Tampico, but at the Azteca Stadium, América beat Tampico Madero 4–0 to win the championship.[56]
For the 1987–88 season, América met UNAM in the final, in a replay of the 1985 final. They defeated UNAM by an aggregate score of 4–2.[57] The following season, América once again reached the league final and faced Cruz Azul, which was the first time the two clubs met in the final since 1972. The first-leg finished in a 3–2 victory for América. A 2–2 draw in the second-leg meant América won the championship by a 5–4 aggregate score.[58]
During the 1990s, América only managed to win the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in1990[59] and1992,[60] and the1990 Copa Interamericana.[61] During the 1990–1991 season, América dominated its group and reached the playoffs to eliminate Universidad de Guadalajara in the quarter-final round and Guadalajara in the semi-final round, only to reach the final and lose to UNAM.
In 1994, club president Emilio Diez Barroso announced the hiring of Dutch managerLeo Beenhakker. The club also announced the signing of two African players,Cameroon internationalFrançois Omam-Biyik andZambia national team captainKalusha Bwalya. Other Mexican players such asJoaquín del Olmo,Raúl Gutiérrez, among others were signed as well. América finished the season with 51 points, and scoring 88 goals. With only a few matches remaining in the regular season, Beenhakker was abruptly fired as manager. It was rumored that conflict between the coach and Diez Barosso regarding Beenhacker's defending of playing Del Olmo was the reason for his sacking.[62] América reached the semi-finals, losing to Cruz Azul. This América team is considered one of the best in the club's history, despite not winning any silverware.[63]
In 1998 América, along with Guadalajara, became the first Mexican club to participate in theCopa Libertadores tournament. They were inserted in a group where both teams confronted clubs fromVenezuela. América finished in second position of the qualifying stage and advanced to the group stages. América was put in Group 3 along with Guadalajara and Brazilian clubsGrêmio andVasco da Gama. América qualified to the next round finishing in third place, being eliminated by Argentine clubRiver Plate.[64]
In August 2001, América won theCONCACAF Giants Cup after defeatingMLS clubD.C. United 2–0.[65] The following year, América would reach the league final againstNecaxa, winning by a 3–2 aggregate score. After losing in the first-leg 0–2, América won the second by the same scoreline, forcing extra-time to be played. Agolden goal from a Hugo Norberto Castillo header in the 107th minute gave América the victory, and the club its first league championship in 13 years.[66]
The club once again reached the league final during theClausura 2005 tournament, finishing third in the standings and defeatingSantos Laguna andCruz Azul in the quarterfinals and semi-finals to faceTecos UAG. After a 1–1 draw in the first-leg, América was victorious in the second, winning the match 6–3 at the Estadio Azteca – 7–4 on aggregate – to win the club's tenth league title.[67]
On 19 April 2006, América defeated fellow-Mexican side Toluca to win theCONCACAF Champions' Cup, thus qualifying for theFIFA Club World Cupthat same year.[68] At the tournament, América won its first match againstJeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea. América went on to lose the next match against Spanish sideFC Barcelona. It ended its participation in the tournament, losing the match for third place toAl Ahly of Egypt.[69]
After the Club World Cup, América qualified for the playoffs of theClausura 2007 defeating Atlas and Guadalajara in the quarter and semi-finals. They played the final againstPachuca, finishing runners-up.[70]
For theApertura 2007, after starting off the season on a poor run,Luis Fernando Tena was sacked,[71] and was replaced byDaniel Brailovsky.[72] After finishing third in their group and sixth in the general standings, América playedMorelia for the last spot in the playoffs, being beaten 3–0 in the first-leg, and winning 1–0 in the second-leg. With this, América was eliminated from the competition.[73]
América also participated in theCopa Sudamericana, reaching thefinals to play againstArsenal de Sarandí of Argentina. They would lose the first-leg at theEstadio Azteca by a 2–3 score, and win 2–1 in Argentina. The aggregate result was 4–4, but due to theaway goals rule, Arsenal won the championship.[74]
América finished 2007 ranked tenth in theIFFHS's Club World Rankings, becoming the first Mexican club to reach the top ten.[75][76][77]
América started off 2008 winning theInterLiga tournament, defeatingCruz Azul 5–3 on penalties in thefinal following a 3–3 draw after 120 minutes, thus assuring qualification to the Copa Libertadores tournament thatsame year.[78]
TheClausura tournament saw América end in next-to-last place in the general standings. This had not been seen since the mid-1950s. In the first five months of 2008, América was showered with twelve defeats, two draws and three victories, which resulted in the third-straight tournament without qualifying for the playoffs. The manager at the time wasRubén Omar Romano, who was one of the least successful coaches in the club's history.[79] Coincidentally, after being replaced byJuan Antonio Luna,[80] América got their third victory of the Clausura againstMonterrey. Despite their poor domestic form, América fared well in the Copa Libertadores, defeating Brazilian sideFlamengo 3–0 in the round-of-16 at theEstádio do Maracanã, overturning a 2–4 first-leg deficit, and advancing to the quarter-finals.[81] They defeatedSantos FC to reach the semi-finals, being eliminated by eventual championsLDU Quito after drawing 1–1 on aggregate.
For theApertura 2010, América brought back former managerManuel Lapuente, who led the club to the league title in 2002.[82] The return of strikerVicente Matías Vuoso and the signing of UruguayanVicente Sánchez gave América one of the most dangerous front lines in all of the league.[83][84] They finished the tournament in first place of Group 2, fourth in the general standings, with 27 points. With this, they would advance to the playoffs, and automatically qualify for the first time since 2008 for the2011 Copa Libertadores. They would be eliminated in the semi-finals bySantos Laguna by a 4–5 aggregate score.[85]
América had a bad start to theClausura 2011 tournament; a 0–2–1 record in the first three games the tournament led to the sacking of Lapuente.[86] Carlos Reinoso was named his successor,[87] who had already managed the club two times before. His first game was againstAtlas, which América won 2–0.[88] América ended the Clausura with an 8–1–5 record, and would be eliminated in the quarter-finals byMorelia.[89] On 18 September 2011, Reinoso was sacked as manager,[90] withAlfredo Tena taking over as interim manager. América would finish theApertura in 17th place, the second worse finish in the club's history. On 8 November, Michel Bauer stepped down as president.[91] That same day, former América playerRicardo Peláez was named Sporting President, while Yon De Luisa would be named Operations President.[92]Miguel Herrera was presented as the club's new manager, the fourth in a year.[93] In his first year at the helm, Herrera led the team to consecutive semi-finals.
On 26 May 2013, América won theireleventh league title by defeating Cruz Azul in theClausura final 4–2 on penalties after a dramatic comeback from a 0–1 first-leg loss to win 2–1 in the second-leg, and tie 2–2 on aggregate, with goalkeeperMoisés Muñoz scoring the second goal in injury-time.[94][95][96][97][98] With this, América tied Guadalajara for most league titles.[99] For theApertura 2013, América finished the regular phase of the tournament at the top of the standings with 37 points and would again appear in the league final, though failing to achieve a repeat, being defeated byLeón by an aggregate score of 1–5.[100] On 17 December 2013,Antonio Mohamed was announced as América's new manager for theClausura 2014 tournament, replacing Miguel Herrera after two years in charge.[101] América would finish fifth in the standings, and was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Santos Laguna due to the away-goals rule after drawing 6–6 on aggregate.[102]
América finished theApertura 2014 tournament at the top of the general standings with 31 points, and defeatedUNAM andMonterrey in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.[103] Prior to the league final, the club was marred in media speculation regarding the future of Antonio Mohamed (he ultimately admitted he would leave the club after the final) and the separation ofPaul Aguilar from the team prior to the first-leg of the semi-finals.[104] On 14 December, América won a record-twelfth league title after defeatingTigres UANL 3–1 on aggregate in the final, coming back from a 0–1 first-leg loss to win 3–0 in the second-leg at the Estadio Azteca.[105][106][107][108] Three days after winning the final, América announcedGustavo Matosas as Mohamed's successor, signing a two-year contract.[109]
In April 2015, the club won its sixthCONCACAF Champions League title after defeatingMontreal Impact in thefinals by a 5–3 aggregate score.[110] Despite inconsistent displays throughout theClausura tournament, América managed to finish second in the standings, though was eliminated byPachuca in the quarter-finals.[111] Three days later, with various media reports suggesting Gustavo Matosas would be sacked due to differences with the board regarding transfer strategy,[112] it was confirmed in a press conference which was attended by both Matosas and club president Ricardo Pelaéz that he would indeed leave after only six months in charge.[113] On 26 May,Ignacio Ambríz was presented as the new manager, signing a two-year contract.[114] América lost itsFIFA Club World Cup quarter-final match to Chinese teamGuangzhou Evergrande, and defeated African clubTP Mazembe to claim fifth place in the competition.[115]
In April 2016, América successfully defended the CONCACAF Champions League title after defeating Tigres UANL 4–1 on aggregate in thefinals, and winning a record seventh continental title.[116] América culminated the year with a fourth place finish at theClub World Cup[117] and finishing runners-up in theApertura championship match against Tigres UANL.[118]
América won its record thirteenth league title following a 2–0 aggregate victory over Cruz Azul in the2018 Apertura final.[119] In April 2019, América defeatedAscenso MX sideFC Juárez in the final of theClausura edition of theCopa MX, winning a record sixth title.[120] In winning the cup, América became the outright record holders of the Liga MX, Copa MX, and CONCACAF Champions League.[121] The team followed this up by winning the2019 Campeón de Campeones against Tigres UANL and reaching the2019 Aperturafinals, losing 4–2 on penalties toMonterrey.[122]
América began the new decade by finishing third in theApertura general standings before being eliminated byGuadalajara in the quarter-finals. They finished the followingClausura in second place, only to be eliminated once again in the quarter-final stage, this time againstPachuca. América led the table during the2021 Apertura and faced elimination in the same phase again, losing 3–1 on aggregate toUNAM. From the2022 Clausura onwards, América managed to qualify consecutively to the semi-finals, only to face eliminations against Pachuca,Toluca (2022 Apertura), and Guadalajara (2023 Clausura), respectively.[123]
Under new managerAndré Jardine, América ended the regular phase of the2023 Apertura first in the standings, with the best attacking and defensive records.[124] They defeated Tigres UANL 4–1 on aggregate in thefinals to win a record-extending 14th title and end the club's five-year league drought.[125] América successfully defended the title after defeating Cruz Azul in the2024 Clausura finals, winning back-to-back Liga MX titles for the first time in the club's history since the introduction of the playoff format, and becoming the fourth club to do so under the format.[23] They also became the first team to achieve this feat after having topped the standings of both Apertura and Clausura championships.[126] In December, América defeated Monterrey 3–2 on aggregate in theApertura finals to win their 16th league title,[127] and become the first side to win three Liga MX titles in a row in the short-tournament era.[128] Thefollowing Clausura saw América make an unprecedented fourth consecutive appearance in thefinals,[129] though they lost to Toluca 2–0 on aggregate.[130] After this defeat Club América would also fail to qualify for2025 FIFA Club World Cup, losing toLAFC 2-1 in the playoffs. Later they would lose again to Toluca 1-3 in the2025 Campeón de Campeones.
When Club América was founded in 1916, the crest consisted of the letter 'C', standing for "Club", overlapped by an 'A', which stood for "América".[131] After a brief period in which the team's name was changed to Club Unión, it was reverted to Club América in the mid-1920s, and the crest was modified, with a map of the Americas behind the 'CA', and encased in a football, all in the team's colors – which were cream and blue.[132][133] Since then, the design of the crest has seen minimal change; at the beginning of the 21st century, the vertical line at the crest's center was removed. During the early 1980s, the crest was surrounded by an image of an eagle (due to the club's nickname), and was even enclosed in a triangle.[132] The most recent modification of the crest was in 2010, with the yellow and blue more vibrant and a darker outline and border.[134]
Club founderRafael Garza Gutiérrez chose what would be América's first uniform. He took some of his father's navy blue trousers and a yellow-cream shirt and it was decided amongst the other players that those would be the club's colors.[27] The club's kit design would go largely unchanged, and it would not be until the 1980s that the team colors changed, with the cream color replaced with a more vibrant yellow and blue, along with the introduction of the inverted triangle design on the shirt in 1982. A third, alternate white and blue shirt was introduced towards the end of the decade, but it was not worn frequently.[135]
During theApertura 2011 tournament – what was the club's 95th anniversary – a commemorative jersey was unveiled paying homage to the original uniform, as well as an altered crest. The uniform was used during theSúper Clásico match against Guadalajara.[136]
In May 2016, as part of the club's centenary, a dark red away kit was revealed honouring Italian clubTorino, who functioned as the club's first opponent at theEstadio Azteca in the 1966 inaugural match.[137][138]
Throughout Club América's history, it has been given a number of nicknames. During the club's early years it was given the nicknameEstudiantes (Students),[140] because it had been established as a result of a merger of students from the colleges ofMascarones andLa Perpetua.[141] They were also given the nicknamesCremas (Creams) andAzul-cremas (Blue-creams) in reference to the kit colors. During the 1960s, following businessmanEmilio Azcárraga Milmo's purchase of Club América, it was given its infamousMillonetas (Millionaires) nickname. In an effort to change the fortunes of the club which for years had been struggling financially and was suffering a five-year trophy-less drought, Azcárraga Milmo prioritized high-profile signings of foreign players and executives, notably hiringGuillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena, the successful president ofZacatepec.[142] TheÁguilas (Eagles) nickname was the result of a rebranding and media campaign undertaken byTelevisa in 1981. Along with a new kit and color scheme, theÁguilas nickname was introduced at a press conference held by the club at theEstadio Azteca.[143]
A panorama of the Estadio Azteca during a league match against Tecos
América plays its home games at theEstadio Azteca in Mexico City. The stadium was designed by Mexican architectPedro Ramírez Vázquez, and was inaugurated on 29 May 1966 with a match between América andTorino, which was tied 2–2. The first goal was scored was by Brazilian Arlindo Dos Santos and the second byJosé Alves.[144]Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, President of Mexico, made the initial kick andSir Stanley Rous,FIFA President, was the witness.
The club has shared the stadium as a home ground with theMexico national football team since its inauguration. Other club sides have also used the stadium as their home at different times, namelyNecaxa (1966–70 and 1982–2003),Atlante (1966–82, 1996–2001 and 2004–2007),Universidad Nacional (1967–1969),Atlético Español (1970–1982) andCruz Azul (1971–1996 and 2018-2023).
The rivalry between Club América andClub Universidad Nacional is known as the"Clásico Capitalino",[146] due to the fact that both teams are based inMexico City—the country's capital. The first match between the two clubs took place on 1 July 1962, where América hosted UNAM, who had recently been promoted from the second division. In Mexico the match is often perceived as the representation of a struggle between two antagonistic powers and institutions: Club América is regarded as the club representing the establishment and the wealthy. The fact that the club is owned by the mass media companyTelevisa has further intensified this image. Club Universidad, representing theUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México, identifies itself as the club of the intellectuals and middle-class.[147] The rivalry is particularly fierce from UNAM's side: according to surveys the majority of their supporters consider América as their main rival. However, America's fans see it as an important match but deem the match against Chivas as more important.[148]
Club América's other capital-based rival isCruz Azul, with matches between the two known as the "Clásico Joven" ("Juvenile Classic" or "Young Classic" in Spanish).[146] In a similar perspective between América and UNAM's rivalry, the rivalry between América and Cruz Azul is also seen as based on social class differences: América representing the wealthy and powerful while Cruz Azul is said to represent the working class,[149] hence fans of Cruz Azul and the team itself being dubiously referred to by the nickname of "Los Albañiles" (bricklayers in Spanish), a reference to Cruz Azul'seponymous parent company, which is one of Mexico's major companies specializing in concrete and construction.
Club América has consistently ranked, along with rivals Guadalajara, as Mexico's most supported team. In December 2013, the newspaperReforma had América as the country's most popular club with 25 percent in a nationwide survey, and the most popular in Mexico City.[150][151] In a February 2015 poll conducted by the firmConsulta Mitofsky, América was named the most popular club with 31.1 percent of the population being supporters,[152] more than rivals Guadalajara (17.9) and Cruz Azul (12.7) combined.[153] In 2016 and 2017 America was the country's most supported team, and in 2018 fell to second behind Guadalajara. In 2019 América regained the top spot with 32 percent, doubling the amount of Guadalajara supporters for the first time.[154][155] As of June 2025, América is Mexico's most supported team with 21 percent, and the most hated with 46.2 percent.[156] Its extensive fan base also makes Club América among the most followed teams on social media, ranking third in all of Latin America behind only Brazilian sidesFlamengo andCorinthians.[157] Additionally, it generates the most social media interactions in Mexico, and among the most in Latin America.[158]
América is also among the most popular teams in the United States. According to a 2020 survey by Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing, América is the ninth most popular team in the U.S., the only non-European in the top ten, and the only one from Latin America.[159] Also, a 2014 study conducted by EuroAmericas Sports Marketing ranked América as the most popular Mexican club in Asia.[160]
Conversely, América is the most hated team in Mexico, ranking first in that metric in every annual survey.[154] Ever since the club was bought by media mogulEmilio Azcárraga Milmo from Issac Bessudo in 1959, the club has had the unique distinction of being both one of the most popular clubs and the most hated.[161] An emphasis on heavy spending on Mexican and foreign players and managers in subsequent seasons, as well as success in domestic and international competitions, created an increasing sense of enmity from rival fans. The fact that Azcárraga Milmo was also the owner of telecommunications companyTelesistema Mexicano furthered the notion that América was the club of the "establishment" and the "wealthy", while others were considered teams representing the "working class".[149] Being reputed as the most hated club in the country has been embraced by the club and its fans, with the phrase "Ódiame Más" ("Hate me more" in English) being known as one of the team's unofficial slogans.[162]
Three Club América supporters' groups (barra bravas in Spanish) exist:La Monumental,Disturbio, andRitual del Kaos.La Monumental was established in April 1999 as the firstbarra brava officially recognized by the club, however internal conflicts led some members to leave the group and establishRitual del Kaos that same year. The group is not officially recognized by Club América.Disturbio was created in October 2000 as an affiliate group ofLa Monumental. Both groups occupy a section of the lower north zone of the Estadio Azteca during home games, whileRitual occupies a section in the upper north zone.[163]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
As part of Club América's centenary celebrations in 2016, a public vote was taken via the club's website in which the following players were chosen as 'Historic Players'. Players whose names appearitalicized played for the club at the time the votes were taken.
Since the club was established in 1916, América has had 27 club presidents, with the first being Florencio Domínguez, who served from 1916 to 1920. Guillermo Cañedo de la Bácerna is the club's longest-serving president who served from 1961 to 1981. Filiberto Zapata had the shortest term in the club's history – serving less than year – in 1940. The current sporting president is Santiago Baños.[183]
In 1951, actor and comedianCantinflas was named Honorary President of the club.[184]
Club América is the most decorated side in Mexican football.[185] The club has won 16league titles,[186] 6Copa México championships, 7Campeón de Campeones cups, and 1Supercopa de la Liga MX. They hold the record for most league and cup titles,[121] and their record Campeón de Campeones wins are tied withGuadalajara.[187] In international competitions América has won 10 titles, the most for a club from theCONCACAF region.[18] The club has won 8 continental championships, including a joint-record 7 CONCACAFChampions Cup/Champions League titles (shared with Cruz Azul),[188] and 1 CONCACAFGiants Cup.[189] Additionally, the club has won 1Campeones Cup, a regional competition held between Liga MX andMLS clubs. In intercontinental competitions, América has won 2Copa Interamericanas, a record amongst CONCACAF clubs.[189] From 2019 to 2025, América held the distinction of being the outright record winner of its domestic league, cup competition, and confederation.[190]
^"El Ame se enracha" (in Spanish). Plano Informativo. 20 April 2022.Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved24 April 2022.
^"Grupo Televisa, S.A.B."Internet Securities, Inc. Euromoney Institutional Investor company.Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved20 July 2011.
^"Club World Rankings 2007". International Football Federation of History and Statistics. 10 April 2020.Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved3 February 2012.
^abArchibold, Randal C. (25 October 2013)."Mexican Writer Mines the Soccer Field for Metaphors".The New York Times.Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved26 October 2013.With Cruz Azul and América taking to the field on the television behind him at the cantina, Mr. Villoro sought to put the game, a traditional matchup between dominant teams in the capital, in context. "This is the Mexico City classic," he explained. "The game itself is one thing, who scores, who wins. But Cruz Azul represents the working class here; that is their following. América is the upper class, the rich or wannabe rich. So this condenses into the workers versus the wannabes."
^"Anexos: Jugadores con más partidos jugados".Águilas del América: cronología de un equipo campeón. AM Editores S.A. de C.V. 2003. p. 183.ISBN968-5336-35-0.
"Anexos: Jugadores con más partidos jugados".Águilas del América: cronología de un equipo campeón. AM Editores S.A. de C.V. 2003. p. 183.ISBN968-5336-35-0.