Cruz Azul Faces Brutal Schedule: Tigres Semifinal and Intercontinental Cup Trip to Doha

Cruz Azul has entered one of the most demanding stretches in the club’s modern history. In just a two-week span, La Máquina must play the Liga MX Apertura 2025 semifinal against Tigres — and immediately afterward fly to Doha to compete in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. It’s a packed calendar that tests Cruz Azul’s depth, conditioning, and international competitiveness.

The schedule begins with the first leg of the semifinal on Wednesday, December 3, at 7:00 PM in the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, where Cruz Azul will act as administrative home. The second leg is set for Saturday, December 6 at 9:10 PM in the Estadio Universitario — known as El Volcán — a stadium traditionally favorable to Tigres. Every minute of this series matters twice: it shapes the path to the Mexican title and determines Cruz Azul’s physical readiness for their intercontinental journey.

Tigres, focused solely on Liga MX, traveled early to Mexico City to prepare for the first leg. Their plan is straightforward: stay close in CU and rely on their lethal home-field advantage in Monterrey. Cruz Azul, in contrast, has been deeply involved in negotiating the schedule itself. The club successfully requested the change of venue and kickoff time for the first leg to optimize rest and travel for their upcoming international commitments.

The intensity of the calendar becomes most evident the night of December 6. As soon as the final whistle blows in Monterrey, Cruz Azul will board a charter flight to Doha — provided by Concacaf — with almost no recovery window and a significant timezone shift ahead of them. Upon arrival, Cruz Azul will face Flamengo on December 10 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar. The winner of that match will advance to face Pyramids FC of Egypt on December 13 in the Copa Challenger, and the winner of that fixture will meet Paris Saint-Germain in the final on December 17.

The stakes are massive: Tigres vs Cruz Azul is one of the most iconic postseason rivalries in Mexico — this will be their seventh playoff showdown. In the most recent tournament clash, Tigres advanced via table-position rules after a global tie in the Clausura 2022. Cruz Azul intends to flip that narrative while simultaneously preparing for the biggest global competition they’ve been part of in years.

For head coach Martín Anselmi and his staff, the challenge extends far beyond tactics. Managing physical loads, rotating at the right moments, and maintaining emotional focus may be as critical as any formation or lineup decision. Some Cruz Azul players may face three high-intensity matches in eight days, plus two intercontinental flights.

If Cruz Azul can balance both objectives — a championship push in Mexico and a deep run in the Intercontinental Cup — this December could redefine the club’s status domestically and internationally.