How a new football club sought to heal a city's sporting void
In short: Following the collapse of local teams in 2005 and 2011, Ciudad Juárez lacked professional football. Founded in 2015, FC Juárez was established by businesspeople to provide a sporting distraction for residents living through a period of significant insecurity and violence within the city.
Established by a group of businesspeople including majority owner Alejandra de la la Vega, the club entered the Ascenso MX in 2015. Their inaugural season was marked by immediate success, winning the Apertura 2015 title, though they ultimately failed to secure promotion to the top flight after losing the playoff final to Necaxa.
The club's ascent to Liga MX was achieved through a strategic acquisition. Juárez bought Lobos BUAP for US$20 million in June 2019, securing promotion to the top flight. This transaction was not without friction; the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP) filed a lawsuit regarding revenue shares, eventually being awarded approximately US$2 million (MXN$90 million).
While the club has seen highs, such as reaching the Liga MX quarterfinals in the Apertura 2025 season, it has also faced significant struggles. During the Apertura 2026, the club established a Liga MX record by suffering eight straight defeats to begin the season. This period of poor performance led to the dismissal of chairman Andrés Fassi in September 2026 after a three-year tenure.
The club's identity is deeply tied to its geography. Their nickname, Los Bravos, refers to the Río Bravo, the international river forming the Mexico–United States border. Even their supporter group, El Kartel, uses a name that serves as a darkly humorous reference to the cartel violence that impacted the city between 2007 and 2013.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: FC Juárez
- Also: Wikidata — FC Juárez · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — FC Juárez (women) · CC0
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