Copa MX


The Copa MX is a Mexican football cup competition that was established in 1907. After a lengthy hiatus that began in 1997, it was restored in 2012.
On early editions of the cup, it consisted of both professional and amateur stages. It was the first official tournament that included teams from different parts of Mexico and was considered a prestigious tournament, especially during its earlier years of existence. The original purpose of the competition was to determine a national champion, thus distinguishing it from the local league championship. Its format was different from the local leagues as well, as it employed direct elimination and culminated in a final that received much more fanfare than the local leagues.
The cup has twice been placed on hiatus by the Mexican Football Federation – between 1976 and 1988 and between 1992 and 1994 – with the 1997 edition of the tournament being the last time the Copa México was held before it was placed on an indefinite hiatus. In May 2012, Liga MX president Decio de María announced the return and rebranding of the tournament.

History

Copa Tower (1907–1919)

The Copa México began in 1907 with the donation of the trophy by Reginald Tower, who was at the time the British ambassador to Mexico. For this reason, it was originally called the Copa Tower. At first, the tournament only included clubs from Mexico City and the surrounding areas. Pachuca won the inaugural tournament, in 1908, by defeating Reforma AC in the final. In 1919, Real España won the cup for the third year straight and were allowed to keep the trophy permanently. In all, the Copa Tower was contested 11 times, with Real España winning it four times in all, the best performance of the period.

Copa Eliminatoria (1919–1932)

In 1920, the tournament took place for the first time with a new trophy, the Copa Eliminatoria. It was contested six times between the years 1920 and 1926. Asturias F.C. won it three times during this period, the highest total of any team during this period.

Copa México (1932–1997)

Amateur Period (1932–1943)

After the foundation of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol in 1927, a new trophy, named the Copa México, was donated in 1932. Following a six-year hiatus, the cup was contested again during the 1932–33 season. This time, the competition also received official support of President Lázaro Cárdenas. The first Copa México was won by Necaxa in a tournament of historical importance due to the adoption of new rules. This marked the beginning of an 11-year period that is referred to in retrospect as the Amateur Period. Once again, Asturias F.C. dominated the championship, winning it a record 5 times during this period.

Professional Period (1943–1997)

In 1943 the Professional Period of the Copa México began, a period that would last until the competition's termination in 1997. At first, it was played among teams from the then-Liga Mayor, the present-day Primera Division de Mexico. Beginning in 1950 the teams of the Segunda División de México were also included into the competition with the exception of the 1956–57, 1963–64, 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons.

Copa MX (2012–2016)

Upon its return in 2012, the newly rebranded Copa MX was played twice a year, concurrent with the two league tournaments. In the Fall tournament, 14 of the Liga MX teams not involved in the CONCACAF Champions League, play alongside 14 of the Ascenso MX teams. The 14 Ascenso MX teams were the 13 top point-earners from the season prior, plus the newly relegated team. The teams were placed into 7 groups of 4. The 7 group winners, plus the group runner-up with the highest point total, moved on to the quarterfinals.
Teams played 6 games in the group stage. Groups and home field advantage were determined by a blind draw. For the group draw, 1st division teams were placed in Pot A, while 2nd division teams were placed in Pot B. In the home field advantage draw, no team can have more than 2 home games in the group stage. A blind draw determined home field advantage in the knockout rounds.
In the Spring tournament, the 11 Liga MX teams not involved in international tournaments, played alongside the 13 Ascenso MX teams with the highest point total from the previous short tournament. Both tournaments will have the same draw format and number of group games. KO rounds for both tournaments will be single-elimination.

New Format (2016–2019)

The new format was played twice a year, concurrent with the two league tournaments. In the Fall tournament, all Liga MX clubs will play alongside 12 of the Ascenso MX teams. The 12 Ascenso MX teams will be the 11 top point-earners from the season prior, plus the newly relegated team. The teams will be placed into 8 groups of 3. The 8 group winners, plus the 8 group runners-up, move on to the new round.
Teams will play 4 games in the group stage. Groups and home field advantage will be determined the draw by public at their annual draft. For the group draw, 1st division teams top 4 point-earners and 2nd division teams top 4 point-earners will be placed in Pot A, while 1st division teams mid 4 point-earners and 2nd division teams mid 4 point-earners will be placed in Pot B and 1st division teams last 4 point-earners and 2nd division teams last 4 point-earners will be placed in Pot C. In the home field advantage draw, teams can have 2 home games in the group stage. A blind draw will determine home field advantage in the KO rounds.

Annual format (2019–)

From 2019-20 season, the Copa MX will be played as a single tournament throughout the season. It will have the participation of 27 teams place into 9 groups of 3. Respect to the development of the tournament, this maintains most of the 2016 format, except the division in 2 tournaments per year. The group stage will be played between July and December, and the final stage will be played between January and April.

List of finals

Amateur era (1907–1943)

Copa Tower

Copa Eliminatoria

Copa Mexico

Professional era (1943–1997)

YearChampionScoreRunner-upManager
1942–43Moctezuma
5–3
Atlante Eduardo Morilla
1943–44Club España
6–2
Atlante Rodolfo Muñoz
1944–45Puebla
6–4
América Eduardo Morilla
1945-46Atlas
5–4
Atlante Eduardo Valdatti
1946–47Moctezuma
4–3
Oro Julio Kaiser
1947–48Veracruz
3–1
Guadalajara Joaquin Urquiaga
1948–49León
3–0
Atlante Jose Maria Casullo
1949–50Atlas
3–1
Veracruz Eduardo Valdatti
1950–51Atlante
1–0
Guadalajara Octavio Vial
1951–52Atlante
Final Stage
Guadalajara Gregorio Blasco
1952–53Puebla
4–1
León Isidro Langara
1953–54América
1 – 1
Penalties
Guadalajara Octavio Vial
1954-55América
1–0
Guadalajara Octavio Vial
1955–56Toluca
2–1
Irapuato Fernando Marcos
1956–57Zacatepec
2–1
León Ignacio Trellez
1957–58León
5–2
Zacatepec Antonio López Herranz
1958–59Zacatepec
2–1
León Ignacio Trellez
1959–60Necaxa
4–1
Tampico Donald Ross
1960–61Tampico
1–0
Toluca Nicolas Palma
1961–62Atlas
3–3
Replay
1–0
Tampico Jose Carlos Bauer
1962–63Guadalajara
2–1
Atlante Javier De la Torre
1963–64América
1 –1
Penalties
Monterrey Alejandro Scopelli
1964–65América
4–0
Morelia Alejandro Scopelli
1965–66Necaxa
3–3
Replay
1–0
León Miguel Marin
1966–67León
2–1
GuadalajaraLuis Grill
1967–68Atlas
2–1
Veracruz Javier Novello
1968–69Cruz Azul
2–1
Monterrey Raúl Cardenas
1969–70Guadalajara
3–2
2–1
Torreón Javier de la Torre
1970–71León
0 – 0
Penalties
Zacatepec Antonio Carbajal
1971–72León
Final Stage
Puebla Antonio Carbajal
1972–73
Not held
1973–74América
2–1
1–1
Cruz Azul José Antonio Roca
1974–75UNAM
Final Stage
UdeG Árpád Fekete
1975–76UANL
2–0
1–2
América Claudio Lostanau
1976–87
Not held
1987–88Puebla
0–0
1–11
Cruz Azul Hugo Fernández
1988–89Toluca
2–1
1–1
UdeG Héctor Sanabria
1989–90Puebla
4–1
0–2
UANL Manuel Lapuente
1990–91UdeG
1–0
0–0
América Alberto Guerra
1991–92Monterrey
4–2
Cobras Miguel Mejía Barón
1992–94
Not held
1994–95Necaxa
2–0
Veracruz Manuel Lapuente
1995–96UANL
1–1
1–0
Atlas Victor Manuel Vucetich
1996–97Cruz Azul
2–0
Neza Victor Manuel Vucetich
1996–2012
Not held''

1: On away goals

Copa MX

YearChampionScoreRunner-upManager
Apertura 2012Sinaloa2 – 2
Penalties		UAT Francisco Javier Ramírez
Clausura 2013Cruz Azul0 – 0
Penalties		Atlante Guillermo Vázquez
Apertura 2013Morelia3 – 3
Penalties		Atlas Carlos Bustos
Clausura 2014UANL3–0Oaxaca Ricardo Ferretti
Apertura 2014Santos Laguna2 – 2
Penalties		Puebla Pedro Caixinha
Clausura 2015Puebla4–2Guadalajara José Guadalupe Cruz
Apertura 2015Guadalajara1–0León Matías Almeyda
Clausura 2016Veracruz4–1Necaxa Carlos Reinoso
Apertura 2016Querétaro0 –0
Penalties		Guadalajara Víctor Manuel Vucetich
Clausura 2017Guadalajara0 –0
Penalties		Morelia Matías Almeyda
Apertura 2017Monterrey1–0Pachuca Antonio Mohamed
Clausura 2018Necaxa1–0Toluca Ignacio Ambríz
Apertura 2018Cruz Azul2–0Monterrey Pedro Caixinha
Clausura 2019América1–0Juárez Miguel Herrera

List of winners

Amateur era

Professional era

Performance by Club