America Vs. Cruz Azul: US Soccer Fans Rally Behind Underdog MLS Team
America Vs. Cruz Azul: US Soccer Fans Rally Behind Underdog MLS Team...
Soccer fans across the US are tuning in as Club América faces Cruz Azul in a high-stakes CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal tonight. The matchup has gained unexpected traction among American viewers after MLS underdogs New England Revolution nearly upset América in the quarterfinals last week.
The April 12 clash at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca (9:15 PM ET) marks the latest chapter in Mexico's fiercest club rivalry. But US interest spiked when Revolution coach Bruce Arena called América "the team everyone loves to hate" after their controversial quarterfinal win. His comments went viral across soccer forums and social media.
ESPN reports a 37% increase in US viewership for CONCACAF matches this year. Many American fans now see Cruz Azul as the lesser evil against América, Mexico's most successful club. The underdog narrative resonates particularly with MLS supporters still bitter about Liga MX dominance.
"We might not have a dog in this fight, but we've got beef with América after how they treated our guys," said Timbers Army member Javier Rivas in a Reddit thread with over 2,000 upvotes. Similar sentiments trended on Twitter under #MLSvLigaMX.
The timing coincides with growing US interest in regional tournaments ahead of the 2026 World Cup. CONCACAF's new streaming deal with Fox Sports has also made matches more accessible. Tonight's winner advances to face either Monterrey or Columbus Crew in the final.
Cruz Azul enters as slight favorites after winning their last three Liga MX matches. But América counters with Mexican national team stars like Henry MartÃn and Alejandro Zendejas. The rivalry's intensity guarantees fireworks - their last meeting in February saw four yellow cards and a 90th-minute winner.
US soccer analysts note the matchup offers a preview of potential Club World Cup qualifiers. With FIFA expanding the tournament to 32 teams in 2025, CONCACAF's top clubs could soon face European giants on equal footing. For now, American fans are happy to watch Mexico's giants battle each other.
