Road to the Final: Cruz Azul in 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Final is set, with Cruz Azul hosting Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 1 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico.

For the Liga MX powerhouse, the championship match presents a chance to secure a record-tying seventh title and first since the 2013-14 edition.

Cruz Azul began its campaign with a 7-nil win on aggregate over Real Hope, coming out on top 2-nil in Haiti before closing out the series with a resounding 5-nil victory at home in Mexico City.

Next came a tough challenge against Seattle Sounders FC in the Round of 16. Following a scoreless draw in Seattle in the first leg, Cruz Azul claimed a commanding 4-1 win at home to advance with four different goal scorers getting on the scoresheet: Carlos Rodríguez, Ángel Sepúlveda, Luka Romero and Jorge Sánchez.

The quarterfinals pitted Cruz Azul against crosstown rivals Club América in a series where the winner would also be determined in the return fixture following a nil-nil draw in the opening match. A brace by Sepúlveda, including a dramatic match-winner in the 85’, in a 2-1 second leg triumph saw the Cementeros continue their journey onto the semifinals.

The team’s first semifinals appearance since 2022 presented a thrilling matchup against another Mexican foe in Tigres UANL. An initial 1-1 away draw, with Carlos Rotondi striking for Cruz Azul, was followed by a 1-nil victory in the second leg through a penalty converted by Sepúlveda. The result also ended a run of two consecutive eliminations for the Mexico City club when hosting the semifinals second leg.

Cruz Azul’s journey to reach the Final for the ninth time in club history was driven by top performances. Goalkeepers Kevin Mier and Andrés Gudiño contributed a total of five clean sheets, three and two respectively. La Máquina kept opponents scoreless in five out of eight encounters as a result.

Sepúlveda has been clinical in attack. With seven goals and two assists in seven appearances, the Mexican forward leads the competition in goal contributions and the race for the Golden Boot. Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz has been the team’s top assist provider with three, tied for the most in the 2025 edition.