Club Tijuana
Club Tijuana was founded on 14 January 2007 and was champion of Mexico before its sixth birthday. The border club is named after a hairless dog, plays in red and black, and pulls a big slice of its crowd from across the line in San Diego.
From the Second Tier to Champions in Five Years
Tijuana had seen football clubs come and go in the 1980s and 1990s, and none of them lasted. Club Tijuana started in 2007 in the Ascenso, Mexico’s second tier, backed by Grupo Caliente and the Hank family. The full name nods to the Xoloitzcuintle, the ancient Mexican breed, and the club says it honours Jorge Hank’s own xolo, a dog called Hermoso.
The climb was quick. Xolos won the Apertura 2010 second-tier title against Veracruz, then beat Irapuato 2–1 on aggregate in the 2011 promotion final to reach the top flight. Eighteen months later, under Antonio “Turco” Mohamed, they won the Apertura 2012 final against Toluca. A 2–0 win at the Nemesio Díez on 2 December 2012, with goals from Richard Ruiz and Duvier Riascos, sealed a 4–1 aggregate and the club’s first league title.
That squad had a strong American accent. Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona and Greg Garza all picked up winners’ medals. In 2013 the club took its first run at the Copa Libertadores, going ten games with one defeat before Atlético Mineiro knocked them out in the quarter-finals.
Estadio Caliente
The club owns Estadio Caliente, which has grown from around 16,000 seats in 2009 to a listed capacity of 27,333. It sits on what was once a baseball site, and in 2018 it was the only top-flight ground in Mexico with a synthetic pitch. San Diego Business Journal reported that roughly a third of the average home crowd comes from the United States, mostly San Diego, which gives a Xolos night a cross-border feel you won’t get anywhere else in Liga MX.
Loco Abreu’s Third Tournament
Xolos are in Liga MX for 2026/27 with Sebastián “Loco” Abreu in charge, now in his third tournament with a contract running to December 2027. The Clausura 2026 ended ninth of 18 and outside the final phase. After matchday 12 of the Apertura 2026 they sat tenth on 16 points. The club has not reached a semi-final since the Clausura 2017.
Javier Gandolfi
Red and Black
Red and black are the colours on the flags at Estadio Caliente, and red runs right through the club. Players are required to wear red boots, no exceptions, with the club saying the colour represents xolo puppies. Special editions push things further: a green Reebok limited edition released in May 2026 marked the World Cup in Mexico, with a xolo silhouette printed across the front.
This FanFile covers Club Tijuana as a club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.
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Club Links
Sources & Further Reading
- Wikipedia: Club Tijuana history, honours and stadium
- La Jornada: report on the Apertura 2012 final in Toluca
- MLSsoccer.com: the Americans in Tijuana’s title side
- El Imparcial: the red boots rule and the club’s name
- Futbol Total: Abreu’s record and contract, October 2026
- Tus Buenas Noticias: Apertura 2026 table after matchday 12
Facts checked: 22 October 2026.