Pumas put América in their place; we head into the FIFA break

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Hooligan Soccer

·23 Maret 2026

Pumas put América in their place; we head into the FIFA break

Just when it seemed like André Jardine’s team was starting to find its rhythm this season, they were handed one of those matches you play to the death—the kind you’re absolutely not allowed to lose, but above all, the kind that tests exactly where you stand in your title ambitions: the Clásico Capitalino against Pumas. One of the most passionate rivalries in Mexican football.

Riding High But Danger Below

América came into this match riding a four-game unbeaten streak: two Liga MX wins and a Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series against Philadelphia, where they won at Subaru Park and drew at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. Despite the team’s performances not quite meeting expectations, it felt like they were beginning to take off, especially after back-to-back home losses—4-1 to Tigres and 2-1 to FC Juárez—that had set off alarm bells among fans, players, and coaching staff alike.

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But even with that positive run, the reality is América hadn’t been playing well. Against Philadelphia, they were hanging on for dear life, and the series nearly slipped away from them. What happened this Saturday at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, where Pumas secured a 1-0 victory, was no accident. It was a punch that had been coming—it just landed at the worst possible time for Jardine and his squad: against one of their fiercest rivals.

And while the match was full of refereeing controversy, especially in the closing minutes with a possible penalty for América, the truth is Pumas clearly dominated the game. Even though they only won by a single goal, it easily could have been more. The result leaves América staring at their reality: right now, they’re a mid-table team, and possibly nothing more. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a fanbase accustomed to winning.

América’s Facade is Crumbling

Jardine’s project is starting to crumble. We’ve said it before-and with apologies to Gabriel García Márquez-it’s a chronicle of a death foretold. And while Jardine refuses to admit it (of course he won’t—that would speed up his exit), it seems like he’s the only one still believing in his own project. The players no longer show that joy they had in past seasons when they felt unstoppable, and when you look at the bench, there are no real alternatives. A rebuild is coming, and the Brazilian coach likely won’t be part of it.

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But this is the beautiful chaos of Liga MX—full of surprises. As long as América stays within the top eight and qualifies for the playoffs, you can’t completely rule them out. Still, let’s be honest: América looks far from being a true title contender.

Snarling Pumas

Pumas is almost the exact opposite. Efraín Juárez’s team has proven it’s ready to compete. In just two weeks, they came back from a 0-2 deficit against Cruz Azul at home to secure a miraculous 2-2 draw, where an emotional Juárez grabbed his crotch to show the fans this team had guts. After heavy criticism—and a hefty fine—that moment now feels like a turning point. This weekend, they took all three points from América.

This is a side where, not long ago, people were calling for Juárez to be fired. Now, time has proven him right. He’s stronger than ever, and has Pumas sitting in fourth place in the Clausura 2023 with 23 points.

Where We Are at the International Break

As for América, they head into the FIFA break with a lot to think about. The season can still be salvaged. There’s a huge match against Cruz Azul on April 11, marking their return to the Estadio Azteca. Under Jardine, they’ve never lost all three clásicos in a single stretch. Reasons to sack him? Plenty.

And speaking of teams proving they’re the real deal, there’s Gabriel Milito’s Chivas. This weekend, they pulled off an epic 3-2 win against Monterrey, capped by a last-second penalty save from Raúl Rangel.

Chivas now sits at 30 points, leading the table and firmly establishing themselves as one of the main title favorites. But here’s the bad news for all my Chivahermanos in the U.S.: Javier Aguirre has asked the Mexican Football Federation for Liga MX players selected for the World Cup to join the national team starting in May. That means they won’t be available for the playoffs.

So Chivas could be without Armando González, Brian Gutiérrez, Roberto Alvarado, Richard Ledezma, Raúl Rangel, Luis Romo, and anyone else who makes the final 26-man squad. That hurts—because the Rebaño would have to face the playoffs without its key players, chasing a league title they haven’t won since 2017.

Just as Milito’s project is peaking, this World Cup requirement gets in the way. And there’s nothing they can do about it—it’s already been agreed upon.

For now, fans will keep enjoying Armando González, who scored his tenth goal of the season this weekend and is making a strong case to be Mexico’s starting striker. Why not? He’s leading all Mexican forwards this year, ahead of Raúl Jiménez (5), Germán Berterame (3), and Santiago Giménez (0). The only one ahead of him is Julián Quiñones, who has 17 goals and is on fire in Saudi Arabia.