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Copa MX

The Copa MX, also known as the Copa por México, was a premier knockout cup competition in Mexican , featuring teams from the top-tier Liga MX and the second-tier Liga de Expansión MX in a format that combined group stages with single-elimination playoff rounds. Established as a prestigious domestic , it provided an opportunity for underdog clubs to challenge established powerhouses and offered winners qualification to international events like the . Originating in the amateur era in 1907 as one of 's earliest organized competitions, the tournament evolved through various formats and interruptions, with its professional incarnation beginning in 1943 and running annually until 1976, followed by revivals from 1987 to 1997. Discontinued amid scheduling conflicts, it was successfully relaunched by in 2012 to revive the cup tradition, featuring a group stage followed by a knockout phase that culminated in a single-match final. By 2019, the format shifted to one annual edition spanning July to May, but the competition was ultimately suspended after the 2019–20 season due to the and fixture congestion from expanded international commitments, with no editions held since. Over its 113-year history, the Copa MX crowned 33 unique champions across amateur and professional eras, with holding the all-time record at nine titles (primarily in the 1930s and 1940s), followed by with eight and with six. In the modern professional revival from 2012 to 2020, and each won two titles, underscoring the tournament's role in highlighting emerging talents and intense rivalries. The competition's legacy endures as a symbol of Mexican football's depth, having influenced player development and club prestige despite its current hiatus.

Overview

Competition Format

The Copa MX has evolved significantly in structure to align with changes in Mexican professional football, transitioning from simple formats to more complex group and playoff systems while incorporating teams from both Liga MX and the second division (formerly , now ). In its early professional phase during the 1940s and 1950s, the competition functioned as a tournament, with teams eliminated after accumulating two losses until a final match crowned the champion. Following periods of suspension in the mid-20th century, the tournament was revived in various forms, often adapting to league expansions and scheduling demands. It was reintroduced in as part of efforts to revitalize play, featuring 28 teams—14 from and 14 from Liga de Ascenso—divided into 7 groups of 4. Each team played a double in their group (6 matches total), with the 7 group winners and the best-performing runner-up advancing to a single-elimination phase starting from the quarterfinals; all knockout matches, including the final, were single-leg contests hosted by the higher-seeded team based on group performance. From 2012 to 2018, this group-plus-knockout model was replicated biannually to match the league seasons, maintaining the balance between top- and second-tier clubs while emphasizing compact scheduling to avoid overburdening teams. The edition marked a pivotal shift to a unified annual format, reducing the number of editions per year to streamline the calendar; it included 27 teams (15 from out of 19 total, excluding the four committed to the —América, , León, and Tigres—and 12 from ), organized into 9 groups of 3 for a double group stage (4 matches per team ending in early ). The 9 group winners and 7 best runners-up progressed to the of , where the knockout phase consisted of home-and-away two-legged s (introduced for this edition), with the higher hosting the and aggregate winners advancing; the final was a single neutral-site or higher-seed-hosted match scheduled for . Teams were required to include at least two players under 20 years old from their in each match. These adaptations highlighted the tournament's focus on inter-division rivalry and efficiency, with knockout progression determined by seeding from the group stage to ensure competitive balance, though the 2019–20 edition was ultimately canceled due to the before completing its final.

Participating Teams and Eligibility

The Copa MX, during its amateur era from 1932 to 1942, restricted participation to teams from Mexico's top amateur leagues, primarily the Liga Mayor de la Ciudad de México, with 10 to 16 clubs competing based on their standing in regional amateur competitions. Eligibility was limited to Mexican clubs without professional status, emphasizing regional representation from central Mexico, as the tournament aimed to crown the national amateur champion among semi-professional sides. Upon transitioning to the professional era in 1942, the competition expanded eligibility to include professional clubs from the newly formed Liga Mayor Profesional, initially incorporating 10 to 14 teams from various regional leagues before standardizing to the top two divisions by 2012. Core rules prohibited foreign teams and barred youth or reserve squads from participating, focusing solely on senior professional and select semi-professional Mexican clubs, with quotas typically allocating spots from the second division based on regular-season performance or playoffs. In the 2010s, for instance, contributed the top 12 to 14 teams via league position or a playoff, ensuring a balance between elite and aspiring professional sides. In most later editions, nearly all teams received automatic qualification (e.g., all 18 in seasons prior to 2019–20), supplemented by lower-division selections to promote nationwide coverage across Mexico's football pyramid. A notable example is the 2019–20 season, which featured 27 teams: 15 from (excluding four for Concacaf Champions League), and the top 12 from based on the 2018–19 aggregate table, highlighting the tournament's role in integrating clubs from diverse regions like the north and south. This structure evolved to reflect the professionalization of Mexican football, prioritizing competitive depth while maintaining a domestic focus.

Historical Development

Amateur Era (1932–1942)

The Copa México was inaugurated in the 1932–33 season by the Federación Mexicana del Centro, receiving official government support as part of efforts to foster organized football in Mexico. This marked the first official national cup competition in the amateur era, building on earlier precursor tournaments by adopting a structured knockout format for top clubs. The tournament operated as an annual single-elimination event, typically involving 10 to 16 amateur teams drawn mainly from the Liga Mayor (also known as Primera Fuerza) in and surrounding central regions, such as , Necaxa, and América. Matches were scheduled alongside the regular league season, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final (often a single match or ) determining the champion, emphasizing competitive play among non-professional sides. Necaxa claimed the inaugural title in 1932–33, defeating Germania FV 3–1 in the final held at Parque Necaxa on , 1933, in front of a notable that underscored growing in the . Subsequent editions saw dominance by , who secured five victories, while Necaxa repeated as winners in 1935–36. The competition produced nine editions over the decade, crowning various clubs and highlighting rivalries that contributed to football's cultural embedding as a unifying activity in urban .
SeasonChampionScoreRunner-up
1932–33Necaxa3–1Germania FV
1933–343–0Necaxa
1935–36Necaxa2–1 (aet)
1936–375–3América
1937–38América3–1España
1938–394–1España
1939–401–0Necaxa
1940–412–2 (w/o)España
1941–42Atlante5–3, 5–0Necaxa
The amateur Copa México remained confined to central Mexico's clubs due to travel limitations and organizational constraints, limiting broader national participation. By 1942, evolving logistics and the shift toward professionalization paused the tournament after Atlante's victory, paving the way for its revival in a paid-player format the following season.

Professional Era (1942–2020)

The professional era of the Copa México commenced with the 1942–43 edition, aligning with the launch of the Liga Mayor, Mexico's inaugural professional football league comprising 10 teams drawn from the Primera Fuerza, Liga de Occidente, and Liga Veracruzana associations. This marked a pivotal shift from the amateur phase, integrating paid players and establishing a national knockout format to complement the league structure. Moctezuma secured the first professional title in 1942–43, defeating Atlante 5–3 in extra time in the final. Subsequent editions included Atlas's victory in the 1945–46 campaign after defeating Atlante in the final. Throughout the mid-20th century, the competition experienced intermittent scheduling, held annually in most years but with notable pauses, including the 1972–73 season and a prolonged hiatus from 1976 to 1987 amid league expansions and economic factors. During the 1963–70 period, it was rebranded as the Copa Presidente, a name honoring successive Mexican presidents such as and , reflecting the era's political influences on sports governance; it reverted to Copa México in 1970–71. By 1997, following editions that occasionally incorporated second- and third-division clubs for broader participation, such as in 1995–96 and 1996–97, the tournament concluded its pre-revival phase with claiming the title in the latter year, after which it entered a 15-year suspension due to fixture congestion and shifting priorities in Mexican football. The Copa returned in 2012 amid growing fan demand for a domestic cup competition, rebranded as Copa MX to modernize its image and align with the Liga MX's branding overhaul under the Mexican Football Federation. The revived tournament's first edition, Apertura 2012, was won by . This revival adopted an split-season format, mirroring the league, and expanded eligibility to include (second-division) teams, resulting in 28 participating clubs per edition and enhancing competitive depth. won the subsequent Apertura 2013 title, defeating in the final, while subsequent years saw diverse champions like América (Clausura 2013) and (Apertura 2014). In 2019, the format unified into a single annual tournament for the 2019–20 season to streamline the calendar and reduce player fatigue, with Necaxa emerging as champions before the competition paused. Over its professional run through , the Copa MX encompassed approximately 55 editions marked by evolving formats and inclusivity, fostering rivalries and opportunities for underdog successes. Title distribution highlighted dominance by established clubs, with América leading at six wins, followed by León and with five each; , Atlas, , and Necaxa each secured four, underscoring the tournament's role in balancing league hierarchies and promoting nationwide engagement.

Precursor Tournaments

Copa Tower (1907–1922)

The Copa Tower, the earliest organized cup competition in Mexican football, originated in 1907 when British ambassador Reginald Tower donated a trophy to promote the sport among expatriate communities and local clubs. This initiative, driven by British expatriates particularly in mining areas like Pachuca and urban centers such as Mexico City, marked the formal introduction of a challenge cup format inspired by English football traditions. The inaugural edition took place in the 1907–08 season, with Pachuca defeating British Club 1–0 in the final held in Mexico City, establishing the tournament as a symbol of early international influence on the nascent Mexican game. The tournament operated as an annual invitational knockout competition, typically featuring 4 to 8 teams drawn from Mexico City's Primera Fuerza league and select clubs from surrounding mining regions, including and occasional participants from farther afield. Matches were played in a single-elimination format, sometimes incorporating elements in preliminary stages, but the event was held sporadically due to logistical challenges like poor transportation infrastructure and regional rivalries. Over its run from 1907–08 to 1921–22, encompassing 15 editions, the competition highlighted emerging talents and club identities, with venues primarily in the capital to accommodate travel limitations. Key outcomes underscored the dominance of a few clubs, with securing four titles between 1914–15 and 1918–19, including a 5–1 victory over Club México in 1916–17 and a 4–0 win against the same opponent in 1918–19. Club México claimed three wins, notably 3–1 over Rovers in 1912–13 and 1–0 against Deportivo Internacional in 1920–21, while and Reforma AC each lifted the trophy twice, with Reforma's 2–1 defeat of in 1908–09 exemplifying early intensity. The final edition in 1921–22 saw triumph 2–0 over Germania FV, after which the tournament waned. This precursor competition played a pivotal role in fostering foundational rivalries, such as those between Pachuca's mining-rooted squad and powerhouses like España and México, while introducing international elements through -led teams like British Club and Spanish-influenced España. By providing a platform for cross-regional play, the Copa Tower bridged informal matches to more structured national tournaments, laying groundwork for the evolution of cup without direct ties to later professional structures.

Copa Eliminatoria (1920–1928)

The Copa Eliminatoria was established in 1921 as an amateur knockout tournament exclusively for clubs from the Mexico City area, functioning as a secondary cup competition to the existing Copa Tower and providing an off-season showcase for local teams. This format emerged after Real Club España secured the Copa Tower outright in 1919, prompting the Liga de la Primera Fuerza to donate a new trophy to sustain cup play among the capital's amateur leagues. Although intended to bridge regional play by including occasional challengers from nearby areas, participation remained confined to 4–6 Mexico City-based teams, such as España, Asturias, Necaxa, América, and Germania FV, due to the era's transportation limitations that hindered broader involvement. Matches were played as single-elimination encounters, often in neutral venues like Parque España or Parque Asturias, emphasizing direct confrontations without preliminary rounds in most editions. The tournament ran for seven editions between 1921 and 1928, with the 1926–27 season skipped amid scheduling conflicts in the amateur calendar. Real Club España dominated with three victories, defeating Luz y Fuerza 2–1 in 1920–21, repeating the feat 3–1 in 1921–22, and capping the series with a 3–1 win over Asturias in 1927–28. Asturias claimed two titles, overcoming Germania FV 2–1 (after extra time) in 1922–23 and España 3–0 in 1923–24, while Necaxa secured the remaining pair, edging América 1–0 (after extra time) in 1924–25 and Asturias 3–2 (after extra time) in 1925–26. These outcomes underscored the competitive balance among the capital's elite amateur sides, with España's triumphs highlighting their early prowess in cup formats. As a short-lived precursor that initially ran alongside the more regionally focused Copa Tower, the Copa Eliminatoria revealed key logistical barriers in early Mexican football, including the exclusion of northern and distant regional teams owing to inadequate rail and road networks. This centralization limited its national appeal and contributed to its discontinuation after 1928, ultimately influencing the creation of a more structured, inclusive Copa México in 1932 under the newly formed Federación Mexicana de Fútbol. By demonstrating the viability of a knockout cup while exposing the need for centralized organization, it laid foundational groundwork for the professional era's national tournaments.

Competition Outcomes

List of Champions and Finals

The Copa MX, originally known as the Copa México, has produced a rich history of finals across its amateur and professional eras, spanning from the 1932–33 season to the 2019–20 edition, with interruptions in certain periods due to external factors such as economic challenges and league restructuring. A total of 63 editions were completed, featuring single-match or two-legged finals resolved by aggregate scores, extra time (aet), or penalty shootouts (pen) where necessary. Venues varied by era, with early finals often held at club grounds or local parks in , while post-1960s editions frequently took place at the , which hosted numerous decisive matches and drew large crowds, underscoring the competition's national significance. No tournaments occurred between the 1971–72 and 1973–74 seasons, from 1975–76 to 1987–88, or from 1996–97 to 2012–13, reflecting pauses for economic reasons and a shift in focus toward the . From the 2012–13 season onward, the format included separate tournaments, resulting in two finals per year until the 2019–20 single edition. No editions have been held since the 2019–20 season, with the competition remaining suspended as of 2025. The following table lists all finals chronologically, including winners, runners-up, and results.
SeasonWinnerResultRunner-up
Amateur Era
1932–33Necaxa3–1Germania
1933–34Asturias3–0Necaxa
1935–36Necaxa2–1 aetAsturias
1936–37Asturias5–3América
1937–38América3–1España
1938–39Asturias4–1España
1939–40Asturias1–0Necaxa
1940–41Asturias2–2 w/o (aet)España
1941–42Atlante5–3, 5–0Necaxa
Professional Era
1942–43Moctezuma5–3 aetAtlante
1943–44España6–2Atlante
1944–45Puebla6–4América
1945–46Atlas5–4 aetAtlante
1946–47Moctezuma4–3Oro
1947–48Veracruz3–1Guadalajara
1948–49León3–0Atlante
1949–50Atlas3–1Veracruz
1950–51Atlante1–0Guadalajara
1951–52AtlanteFinal groupGuadalajara
1952–53Puebla4–1León
1953–54América1–1 aet (3–2 pen)Guadalajara
1954–55América1–0Guadalajara
1955–56Toluca2–1Irapuato
1956–57Zacatepec1–0León
1957–58León1–1, 5–2 aet (replay)Zacatepec
1958–59Zacatepec1–0León
1959–60Necaxa4–1Tampico
1960–61Tampico1–0Toluca
1961–62Atlas3–3, 1–0 (replay)Tampico
1962–63Guadalajara2–1Atlante
1963–64América0–0, 1–1 aet (5–4 pen)Monterrey
1964–65América4–0Morelia
1965–66Necaxa3–3, 1–0 (replay)León
1966–67León2–1Guadalajara
1967–68Atlas2–1Veracruz
1968–69Cruz Azul2–1 aetMonterrey
1969–70Guadalajara3–2, 2–1 (5–3 agg)Torreón
1970–71León0–0 aet (10–9 pen)Zacatepec
1971–72LeónFinal groupZacatepec
1973–74América1–1, 2–1 (3–2 agg)Cruz Azul
1974–75U.N.A.M.Final groupU. de Guadalajara
1975–76U.A.N.L.1–2, 2–0 (3–2 agg)América
1987–88Puebla1–1, 0–0 (1–1 agg, away goals)Cruz Azul
1988–89Toluca1–1, 2–1 aet (3–2 agg)U. de Guadalajara
1989–90Puebla0–2, 4–1 (4–3 agg)U.A.N.L.
1990–91U. de Guadalajara1–0, 0–0 (1–0 agg)América
1991–92Monterrey4–2Cd. Juárez
1994–95Necaxa2–0Veracruz
1995–96U.A.N.L.1–1, 1–0 (2–1 agg)Atlas
1996–97Cruz Azul2–0Toros Neza
2012–13 (Apertura)Dorados2–2 (3–2 pen)Correcaminos U.A.T.
2012–13 (Clausura)Cruz Azul0–0 (4–2 pen)Atlante
2013–14 (Apertura)Morelia3–3 (3–1 pen)Atlas
2013–14 (Clausura)Tigres3–0Alebrijes
2014–15 (Apertura)Santos Laguna2–2 (4–2 pen)Puebla
2014–15 (Clausura)Puebla4–2Guadalajara
2015–16 (Apertura)Guadalajara1–0León
2015–16 (Clausura)Veracruz4–1Necaxa
2016–17 (Apertura)Querétaro0–0 (3–2 pen)Guadalajara
2016–17 (Clausura)Guadalajara0–0 (3–1 pen)Morelia
2017–18 (Apertura)Monterrey1–0Pachuca
2017–18 (Clausura)Necaxa1–0Toluca
2018–19 (Apertura)Cruz Azul2–0Monterrey
2018–19 (Clausura)América1–0FC Juárez
2019–20Monterrey1–0, 1–1 (2–1 agg)Tijuana
Notable examples include the 1932–33 final at Estadio Granjero, where Necaxa defeated 3–1 to claim the inaugural title, and the 2019–20 final, where secured the last pre-hiatus crown with a 2–1 victory over at . The 1945–46 final saw Atlas triumph 5–4 after extra time against Atlante at Parque Asturias, marking an early highlight in the professional era.

Performances by Club

Club América and hold the record for the most Copa MX titles with six each, achieved between 1937–38 and 2018–19 for América, followed closely by , , and Puebla FC with five each. Other prominent clubs include , Atlas, and , each with four titles. These achievements reflect a mix of historical dominance and consistent performance across nearly nine decades of the competition. The following table summarizes the top 10 clubs by titles won in the Copa MX from 1932–33 to 2019–20, including finals appearances and win percentage in finals (titles divided by finals appearances).
RankClubTitlesFinals AppearancesWin Percentage
1América61060.0%
1Necaxa6966.7%
355100.0%
3León5955.6%
35683.3%
6Atlas4666.7%
64666.7%
641233.3%
93560.0%
93475.0%
Data compiled from historical records. In the early amateur era (1932–1942), clubs from Mexico City, such as Necaxa and Asturias, exerted strong dominance, with the 10 titles distributed among just five clubs, highlighting centralized control in the capital. Following professionalization in 1943, success broadened geographically, with provincial teams like León (Guanajuato) and Puebla rising prominently from the 1950s onward; for instance, Monterrey claimed the final title in 2019–20 as a northern powerhouse. The professional era saw 53 titles shared among over 20 clubs, underscoring greater competitive parity. América leads in total finals appearances with 10, while holds a notable streak of three consecutive titles from 1938–39 to 1940–41. has appeared in the most finals overall with 12, accumulating eight runner-up finishes. A distinctive feature of the Copa MX was its multi-division eligibility, enabling upsets by lower-tier teams; three non-Liga MX clubs triumphed, including Zacatepec (twice in the –60s from the second division) and (2012–13 Apertura from ).

Discontinuation and Legacy

Reasons for Hiatus (2020 Onward)

The 2019–20 Copa MX edition was disrupted by the , with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) suspending all competitions, including the cup, on March 15, 2020, following the completion of round 10 in the Clausura phase, due to escalating health concerns. The tournament's final between and was postponed and eventually played on November 4, 2020, with winning 2–1, marking an early end to the season amid ongoing restrictions. In May 2020, president Enrique Bonilla announced the cancellation of the entire 2020–21 edition, citing the need to accommodate a congested fixture list resulting from pandemic-related disruptions, including rescheduled league matches and international commitments for the national team, such as qualifiers, the , and Olympic preparations. This decision prioritized the formats of , which generate higher revenue through broadcasting and sponsorships, over the cup competition, as the FMF sought to mitigate economic losses estimated at around $196 million for the league during the pandemic. The hiatus extended indefinitely beyond 2021, with the FMF confirming no return amid persistent scheduling pressures from national team duties for 2022 World Cup qualifying matches and the introduction of new inter-league tournaments like the , which filled the calendar slot previously occupied by Copa MX. Broader structural issues in Mexican football, including player fatigue from saturated schedules—exacerbated by the shift to a winter World Cup in 2022 and additional obligations—further discouraged revival efforts. In May 2024, the FMF began analyzing a potential return of the Copa MX as a means to boost engagement in , particularly to support Sub-23 development projects amid uncertainties in rules; however, this remains an initial under consideration with no final decision as of November 2025. By November 2025, no editions had been held since , solidifying the indefinite suspension, especially following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's September 2025 ruling to reinstate for the 2026–27 season.

Impact and Successor Tournaments

The Copa MX left a significant legacy in Mexican football by fostering underdog narratives and increasing fan engagement through its knockout format, which allowed smaller clubs to compete against top-tier teams. A notable example is Veracruz's 4-1 victory over Necaxa in the Clausura 2016 final, securing their second title after a 66-year drought and highlighting the tournament's role in creating memorable triumphs for underresourced sides. This structure promoted competitive balance, filling a domestic void amid heavy emphasis on competitions like the Champions Cup. The competition also contributed to talent development, serving as an early showcase for stars such as , who debuted for Pumas UNAM in the 1976–77 season and helped the club achieve success in subsequent years, including international breakthroughs. Economically and culturally, the Copa MX boosted attendance at smaller venues by drawing crowds to neutral-site matches and regional finals, enhancing visibility for lower-division clubs and sustaining interest in cup-style play. Its hiatus since has diminished Mexico's domestic cup tradition, leaving a gap in opportunities for non-league fixtures and underdog upsets. In the absence of the senior Copa MX, the —launched in 2019 and revamped for 2023—has acted as a partial successor by pitting teams against MLS opponents in a summer tournament that pauses domestic seasons, addressing some scheduling pressures that led to the original cup's suspension. Complementing this, the youth-oriented Copa Promesas MX, established in 2024, features U-19 and U-17 squads from alongside teams from Liga Premier and , with its second edition's final phase running from October 2025 to nurture emerging talent in a cup format. As of November 2025, no direct senior-level revival has occurred, though the tournament's absence underscores lost chances compared to enduring European cups like the , which continue to drive broad participation and cultural resonance.