Club América Season Preview: New Season, Same Objective — Win It All
The first semester of the 2025/26 season is here, and for Club América, the mission remains unchanged: win everything. After falling short of a historic tetracampeonato and missing out on a FIFA Club World Cup spot, Las Águilas begin the new campaign looking to restore their dominance both domestically and abroad. With four potential trophies on the table this semester, we break down each competition and rank their importance heading into another high-stakes season.
Campeón de Campeones: A Chance to Grab the First Trophy
América continues to reap the benefits of their recent success by competing once again in a high-profile final. The Campeón de Campeones match presents not only an opportunity to win silverware early but also a chance to avenge last season’s final defeat to Toluca. Lifting this trophy would also unlock the chance to face LA Galaxy, the reigning MLS Cup champions, in the Campeones Cup — another shot at international glory and a path to becoming bicampeones of that tournament. Outside of Liga MX, this is the most important objective of the semester.
Leagues Cup: A Chance to Win on the International Stage
América’s biggest criticism in recent years has been their failures on the international stage, especially in crucial matchups against MLS opposition. Winning the Leagues Cup would help silence that criticism while reaffirming the club’s stature across North America. After two disappointing exits via penalty shootouts in past editions, the expectation is clear — no more excuses. With both group-stage matches set in Texas (Houston and Austin), travel fatigue shouldn’t be a concern. The team is eager to reclaim their reputation as El Más Grande beyond Mexico’s borders, and this tournament is the first step toward that goal.
Apertura 2025: In Search of the 17th
This is arguably the most important tournament of the four. With the Concacaf Champions Cup returning next semester, maintaining domestic dominance remains essential. América has owned the league over the past two years and must continue asserting their authority to keep the dynasty narrative alive. They currently hold four more league titles than Chivas, and widening that gap only strengthens their case as Mexico’s greatest club. The pain of losing last season’s final to Toluca still lingers, and redemption will be top of mind. Managing the squad effectively across all competitions will be a major test for André Jardine.
Predicting the Starting XI vs FC Juárez
The season kicks off with an away match at Ciudad Juárez, a fixture that on paper should be three points for América. However, they’ll be without captain Henry Martín (tendinitis), as well as Luis Malagón and Israel Reyes, who are on post-Gold Cup break after helping Mexico win the tournament.
Despite the absences, the squad has more than enough firepower to get the job done. One of the biggest tactical questions is whether Jardine will stick to a back five or revert to his familiar 4-2-3-1. If the recent preseason match against Puebla is any indication, we can expect the latter with minor tweaks:
Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: Rodolfo Cota
DEF: Kevin Álvarez, Igor Lichnovsky, Sebastián Cáceres, Cristian Borja
MID: Jonathan dos Santos, Álvaro Fidalgo, Erick Sánchez
ATT: Alejandro Zendejas, Brian Rodríguez, Rodrigo Aguirre