Toluca suffered a bitter night in the 2026 Campeón de Campeones Final after a 3-1 loss to Cruz Azul in Carson, but the real storm came from Antonio Mohamed. The Argentine coach shoved an assistant from his own staff in the closing minutes, a moment captured on camera and shared widely across social media.
What happened on the technical area?
With the title nearly secured for Cruz Azul, cameras caught the exact moment: Mohamed shoved a Toluca assistant trying to approach the bench. The staff member, identified as part of the scarlet backroom, posed no threat, yet the coach reacted with a gesture that stunned everyone present. The video spread fast and split opinions among fans, some defending the high-pressure moment while others questioned his sideline conduct.
The incident occurred as the score stood at 3-1 for La Máquina. The shove, though brief, left an image that overshadowed Cruz Azul’s achievement. As of now, Mohamed has not issued any statement about the altercation, while the debate keeps growing online.
Mohamed’s unbeaten final streak ends at Cruz Azul’s hands
The defeat to Cruz Azul cost Toluca more than just the title - it ended a historic run. Mohamed had won five straight finals at the helm, including two Liga MX titles, a Campeón de Campeones, the Copa América Campeones, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. La Máquina, led by Joel Huiqui, ended that streak with a commanding win.
Huiqui, who has gone 10 official matches without a loss since taking charge in April 2026, now boasts two titles as Cruz Azul’s manager. The sky-blue side, which sits three points clear in the Campeón de Campeones table, continues its hot streak while Toluca faces scrutiny over the sideline episode.
What’s next for Toluca?
The scarlet side, which holds a +1 goal difference this season with three goals scored and two conceded, now turns its focus to the fallout from the lost final. The 1-2 loss to UNAM Pumas on July 22 left Toluca seventh in the Liga MX standings, three points behind leaders Club Tijuana, with a recent form of three wins and one loss in its last four games.
Their next fixture comes on August 3 at home against Necaxa, currently eighth in the table. Meanwhile, all eyes remain on Mohamed’s actions and their potential impact on the Toluca dressing room.
