“Querétaro – Pumas” refers to the matchup between Querétaro Fútbol Club (commonly known as Gallos Blancos) and Club Universidad Nacional (Pumas UNAM), two professional soccer teams competing in Liga MX, Mexico’s top-tier football league. Below is detailed information on both teams, their histories, achievements, and their rivalry, including head-to-head statistics and recent encounters. This is based on up-to-date information as of January 28, 2026.
Querétaro F.C. (Gallos Blancos)
Querétaro Fútbol Club, based in Querétaro City, Mexico, is a professional football team founded on July 8, 1950, as a founding member of the Segunda División. Numerous name changes, ownership shifts, promotions, and relegations have marked the club’s storied past. From 1981 to 1989, it was known as Gallos Blancos UAQ, but journalist Herrera “Periqun” Pozas gave it the nickname “Gallos Blancos” (White Roosters) because of its fighting spirit and white uniforms. Key historical phases include:
- Early Years and Promotions: In 1980, the team, then known as Atletas Campesinos, defeated Osos Grises 2–1 to advance to the Primera División. After being relegated in 1982, it went through a series of mergers and relocations, including changing its name to Tampico Madero and later combining with UAQ Gallos Blancos in 1998.
- Modern Era: Promoted back to Liga MX in 2006 after beating Puebla 5–1, relegated in 2007, and returned in 2009 via playoffs against Mérida. In 2013, to avoid relegation, it relocated from Chiapas. Ownership scandals, including fraud investigations in 2014, led to government administration and acquisition by Grupo Imagen. The riot that broke out on March 5, 2022, during a game against Atlas, led to injuries, punishment, a one-year fan ban, fines, and Grupo Caliente (later Innovatio Capital) changing ownership.
- Achievements: No Liga MX titles, but winners of the Copa MX (Apertura 2016 vs. Guadalajara) and Supercopa MX (2017 vs. América). Runners-Up in the Clausura Finals in 2015 (lost to Santos Laguna 5–0 overall). There are three titles from the lower division, two from the Campeón de Ascenso (2006, 2009), and others.
- Stadium: Estadio Corregidora (capacity 35,575), built in 1985 for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
- Notable Players: Ronaldinho, Antonio Valencia, Danilinho, Emanuel Villa, Mauro Néstor Gerk, Rubén Omar Romano, Miguel Herrera, and others like Carlos Cerritos and Jorge Gaspar.
Managed by Marc Spiegel, chairman of Innovatio Capital, with Esteban González serving as head coach. They placed 12th in Apertura 2025 but were unable to advance to the final phase. The squad includes players like Diego Reyes (Mexico), Jhojan Julio (Ecuador), and Lucas Rodríguez (Argentina). Supporter groups emphasize family-oriented fandom, with rivalries against León, Atlas, and Atlético San Luis.
Club Universidad Nacional (Pumas UNAM)
Club Universidad Nacional, A.C., also known as Pumas UNAM or simply Pumas, is a team that plays for the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and is based in Mexico City. It was founded on August 2, 1954. It is one of Liga MX’s “Big Four” clubs (alongside América, Chivas, and Cruz Azul) and has never been relegated from the top flight. Pumas is renowned for its youth academy and university ties.
- Founding and History: Established with support from UNAM dean Nabor Carrillo, it started in the Segunda División after earlier attempts in the 1940s were rejected. Promoted to Primera División in 1962 after a 9–1 win over Cataluña de Torreón. The consolidation and first titles of the 1970s were followed by league and international successes in the 1980s and 1990s. The 2000s featured back-to-back titles in 2004 under Hugo Sánchez. Recent finals include Apertura 2020 (lost to León) and 2022 CONCACAF Champions League (lost to Seattle Sounders). Coaching changes include Efraín Juárez appointed in March 2025.
- Achievements: 7 Liga MX titles (1976–77, 1980–81, 1990–91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011); 1 Copa MX (1974–75); 2 Campeón de Campeones (1975, 2004); 3 CONCACAF Champions Cups (1980, 1982, 1989); 1 Copa Interamericana (1981); 1 Segunda División title (1961–62). winners of the Copa Sudamericana 2005 and Apertura 2015, among other competitions.
- Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Universitario (capacity 72,000), built for the 1968 Olympics on the UNAM campus. Training at the Cantera complex.
- Hugo Sánchez, Manuel Negrete, Jorge Campos, Claudio Suárez, Gerardo Torrado, Héctor Moreno, and current stars Keylor Navas are among the notable players. Numerous World Cup participants have come from the youth system.
owned by UNAM, led by Luis Rafael González Pérez as president, and coached by Efran Juárez. In Apertura 2025, they finished 10th and advanced to the play-in round. The squad features Keylor Navas (Costa Rica), Rubén Duarte (Spain), Nathan Silva (Brazil), and José Juan Macías (Mexico). Supporter groups include La Rebel and La Plus, with major rivalries like Clásico Capitalino (vs. América). Fan base estimated at 12 million in 2021 surveys.
Head-to-Head History
Querétaro FC and Pumas UNAM have a competitive rivalry in Liga MX, with matches often intense due to their shared history in Mexican football. They have played each other in 38 official matches across league and cup competitions as of January 2026. Querétaro has won 14 games (50 goals, 1.3 goals per game), Pumas has won 14 games (62 goals, 1.6 goals per game), and there have been 10 draws. Overall, matches average about 2.86 goals.
Key trends:
- Pumas holds a slight edge in recent form, but Querétaro has shown resilience, winning 13 of the last 31 encounters in some records.
- Home advantage plays a role, with Querétaro performing better at Estadio Corregidora.
Recent Matches
- : Pumas UNAM 1–1 Querétaro FC (at Estadio Olímpico Universitario). A thrilling end-to-end game where Pumas scored first, but Querétaro equalized.
- : Querétaro FC 0–2 Pumas UNAM (at Estadio Corregidora).
- : Querétaro FC 2–0 Pumas UNAM.
For a full list of historical results, the teams’ encounters date back decades, with Pumas often dominant in the 2010s.
Current League Standings (Liga MX Clausura 2026, as of January 28, 2026)
The Clausura 2026 season has started, and each team has only played three games so far. Pumas UNAM sits in 7th place, while Querétaro FC is in 16th. The full table is as follows:
| Position | Team | Points | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chivas (Guadalajara) | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| 2 | Toluca | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| 3 | Monterrey | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 |
| 4 | Cruz Azul | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
| 5 | Atlas | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Tijuana (Xolos) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 7 | Pumas UNAM | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 8 | Atlético San Luis | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| 9 | Juárez (Bravos) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | León | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 11 | Tigres | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | Pachuca | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 13 | Necaxa | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 14 | Puebla | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 15 | América | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 16 | Querétaro FC | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| 17 | Santos Laguna | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 |
| 18 | Mazatlán | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 |
This early-season table reflects ongoing competition, with Pumas showing unbeaten form and Querétaro struggling to secure wins. For the latest updates, matches between these teams continue to draw attention due to their balanced history and passionate fan bases.
