How Painful It Must Be to Support Cruz Azul Right Now

Supporting Cruz Azul has never been for the faint-hearted, but right now it feels especially brutal. More than a dozen Mexican fans traveled thousands of miles to Qatar—some from Mexico, others from completely different parts of the world—just to cheer for La Máquina in a FIFA tournament. What they found instead was another chapter of disappointment as Flamengo lifted the title after a catastrophic defensive mistake from the Mexico City side. Truly, it’s a painful moment to be a Cruz Azul supporter.

The sadness began long before kickoff. Fresh off their Liga MX semifinal elimination, Cruz Azul arrived in Doha with low morale and, judging by the atmosphere outside the stadium, not much fan support either. The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium—expected to host a vibrant, Mexico-heavy crowd—felt subdued. Tickets that originally cost 250 Qatari riyals were selling for just 50 on matchday. Mexican music filled the venue’s entrances, but not the fans. Barely a handful of supporters wearing Cruz Azul, other Liga MX jerseys, or the Mexico national team crest filtered into the stadium.

Inside, the attendance barely reached 7,000 spectators. And once the match started, the emotional toll grew heavier. Individual errors gifted Flamengo the title, deepening the frustration. After the final whistle, Cruz Azul manager Nicolás Larcamón spoke with visible sadness:

“The feeling is anger—mainly anger—because we knew this would be a high-demand match against one of the strongest teams in the world.”

He added a harsh truth for any elite competition:

“We made crucial mistakes, and at this level you simply cannot afford that.”

Perhaps the saddest moment came when Flamengo’s coach, Filipe Luiz, agreed with the assessment but highlighted the cruelty of the result:

“Cruz Azul dominated for several minutes, and yes, they gifted us a goal.”

For Cruz Azul fans, it was a devastating trifecta: a Liga MX semifinal loss at home, a long and expensive journey to Qatar ending in an intercontinental final defeat, and now an extended offseason filled with uncertainty. The club faces major questions about its direction, identity, and leadership.

Right now, supporting Cruz Azul means enduring heartbreak after heartbreak—and wondering how much longer this cycle can continue.