After several days of conflicting reports regarding its home stadium for the 2026 Apertura season, Cruz Azul put an end to the uncertainty when the club confirmed that it will play its home games at Estadio Azteca (Banorte), after reaching an agreement with the stadium’s management and scrapping any plans to move.
The news was made official through statements issued by the parties involved, in which they reported that the administrative dispute between them had been resolved. As a result, the Celeste management requested that the arrangements to play outside Mexico City be canceled.
Thus, La Máquina will make its home debut this Tuesday, July 21, when it hosts Puebla in the Matchday 2 game of the tournament.
A controversy that changed in a matter of days
OFFICIAL STATEMENT ✍️
Cruz Azul will play at home at Banorte Stadium 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/gs9Fo8k7FR
— CRUZ AZUL (@CruzAzul) July 17, 2026
The situation took an unexpected turn in less than a week.
Initially, Liga MX reported that the field at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes did not meet the necessary conditions to ensure the players’ safety, which made it necessary to find an alternative venue.
Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that the match against Puebla would be moved to the Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro.
However, that decision was rescinded after a new agreement was reached for Cruz Azul to remain at Azteca Stadium.
The conflict was not limited solely to the condition of a soccer field.
According to the available information, the root of the problem was an administrative dispute between the club and the company responsible for operating the property in Santa Úrsula, which belongs to Grupo Ollamani.
Ultimately, both parties reached an agreement that allowed them to continue their relationship through the 2026 Apertura season.
A New Chapter in the Quest for Stability
The confirmation that Cruz Azul will remain at Azteca Stadium also brings back an issue that has been with the club for several years:
Not having a home of one’s own.
During the buzzy renovations for the 2026 World Cup, the sky-blue team had to play its home games at various venues.
These include the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium, the Olympic University Stadium, and even—for administrative purposes—the Cuauhtémoc Stadium.
This constant change of home stadium has led to a recurring debate each season about whether Cruz Azul should have its own stadium to avoid relying on agreements with third parties.
He will make his home debut this Tuesday, July 21st.
NuevaOnda.com
Good news for the Celeste fans
For fans—especially those who follow La Máquina Celeste from the United States—the decision provides clarity on where the team will play its home games during the tournament.
With the agreement finalized, Cruz Azul will remain in Mexico City, and Azteca Stadium will once again host La Máquina in an official match.
The match against Puebla will mark the start of this new phase.
In which Cruz Azul will seek to focus solely on the game and put behind them a controversy that dominated the conversation in the days leading up to the start of the season.
For more information, visit NuevaOnda.com
