Why América is falling apart and Jardine’s project is dissolving | OneFootball

First of all, before you continue reading about Liga MX, my dear Hooligans, I would like to introduce myself. I’m Alejandro Orellana, a reporter based in Mexico City who covers Club América and the Mexican National Team.

A Bit about Me

The first encounter with soccer came at six years old at the legendary Estadio Azteca, when my father took me to watch a World Cup qualifier for the 2002 tournament between Mexico and Honduras.

He still remembers that day as the first experience inside one of the biggest stadiums in the world, surrounded by one of the most passionate fanbases on the planet.

According to him, I actually got lost in the crowd and it took him quite some time to find me in a stadium that holds more than 80,000 people.

My second memory also involves soccer. It was an América vs. Pumas match — the “Clásico Capitalino” of Mexico City, one of the most passionate rivalries in Mexican football. On that day, some América supporters ripped the jersey off a female Pumas fan while the stadium tunnels became overcrowded. My father later told me that he had to lift me onto his shoulders to protect me. After that experience, it took him a long time before he took me to a stadium again, but the passion for the game never disappeared.

Over time, I studied sports journalism, graduated, and began working as a reporter. At first I focused mainly on Olympic sports. I have covered the Olympic Games on site, but in recent seasons life has brought me back to covering soccer — especially the club I love the most: América. My experience includes working at ESPN for five years and, most recently, with Goal.

So welcome to this new chapter with Hooligan.

Now back to América, and their problems

Now, without further ado, let me explain why América — a club that only a few years ago celebrated a historic three-peat in Liga MX and reached 16 league titles as the most successful team in Mexican football history — now appears to be entering a difficult period of reconstruction.

After winning the Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, and Apertura 2024 titles, Las Águilas reached the Clausura 2025 final against Toluca, chasing a historic fourth consecutive championship. In dramatic fashion, however, the dream fell apart.

Since that defeat, it almost feels like América has been under some kind of curse.

They went from being the most feared and dominant team in the league to what they are today: a squad that, as of March, seems to be quietly entering a rebuilding phase — even if the fans are only beginning to realize it.

After a trophyless 2025, in which the club also failed to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup — despite FIFA seemingly creating the perfect scenario for them to make it by scheduling a playoff match against LAFC that was ultimately won by the MLS side — América entered the Clausura 2026 facing major departures.

Their biggest symbol, Álvaro Fidalgo, returned to Spanish football after signing with Real Betis, leaving a huge gap in América’s midfield and an even bigger one in the hearts of the fans.

Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Aguirre, who had become one of the team’s most reliable finishers inside the box, was also sold as the club needed to free up foreign player spots in order to sign Raphael Veiga, now the leader of América’s midfield. Veiga arrived from Palmeiras for this tournament, although his impact has been limited so far, as André Jardine appears to have lost control of the team.

A pale reflection

The América of today looks nothing like the one from a year ago.

Currently sitting ninth in the Liga MX standings, the team suffered its second consecutive defeat in Week 9 of the Clausura 2026, losing 2–1 to FC Juárez after being crushed 4–1 by Tigres the previous weekend.

The showdown ends… Source: X

And while Jardine has denied that the team is entering a crisis, he already appears tired, lacking the energy to steer this ship back on course.

Liga MX is admittedly forgiving — the top eight of 18 teams qualify for the playoffs — meaning América only needs to finish eighth to remain in the title race. But the team no longer carries the aura of dominance it once had, when they were the most feared side in the league.

Change is afoot

This summer, a massive squad overhaul appears inevitable. Players such as José “Pantera” Zúñiga, Víctor Dávila, Kevin Álvarez, Néstor Araujo, Jonathan Dos Santos, and Brian Rodríguez are all expected to leave the club once the Clausura ends, marking the beginning of a major restructuring process.

The club already tried to refresh the midfield this season by bringing in Brazilian players Raphael Veiga and Vinicius Lima, but both arrived on one-year loan deals. Although they are expected to remain for the next season, nothing guarantees the club will purchase them permanently, as neither has yet proven to be indispensable.

To make matters more complicated, América recently received another piece of bad news. Paulo Víctor, one of Jardine’s key assistants, will take over as head coach of Brazil’s U-20 national team, where he will lead the project aiming to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The road ahead does not look easy for América.

If the team fails to qualify for the playoffs this semester, the club will likely be forced to make a deep shake-up inside the locker room.

América will never lose its greatness — it remains the biggest club in Mexico — but difficult times are coming. And those times could include André Jardine making the difficult decision to step away from the project.

Will it happen? Or will he silence the critics?

Only time will tell.