Are The Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz Returning to Mexican Football?

Club Deportivo Veracruz, known as the Tiburones Rojos, was born on April 9, 1943, after the merger of the teams España de Veracruz and Veracruz Sporting Club. Very soon after, the club became a major player in the early professional league, winning two league titles in 1946 and 1950.

Throughout the decades, the club lived through constant ups and downs, with relegations and comebacks that made it a symbol of resilience. In 1989, with the purchase of the Potros Neza franchise, one of its most memorable returns took place, reviving the passion of the so-called “Tiburomanía”.

In more recent times, the club’s last major achievement was the Copa MX in the Clausura 2016, but the glory did not last long.

The Final Fall

The Clausura 2019 marked the beginning of the end. The team was relegated on sporting terms but tried to remain by paying the fee required by the league. However, the lack of resources and the failure to pay players and staff unleashed an unsustainable crisis.

With a historic streak of 41 games without a win, debts that reached tens of millions of pesos, and constant complaints of unpaid wages, the Mexican Football Federation disaffiliated the Tiburones Rojos in December 2019.

The club’s owner, Fidel Kuri Grajales, was arrested in 2021 accused of fraud and financial mismanagement. From then on, the future of the team became uncertain.

The Stadium and the Fans

The legendary Luis “Pirata” Fuente Stadium, inaugurated in 1967, was the team’s home and the heart of its fanbase. After the club’s disappearance, the venue fell into abandonment, although in recent years the government of Veracruz began renovation works to restore it. These renovations proved successful, as the stadium hosted the Kings League Americas Finals in May 2025, a sold-out event that brought major attention to the newly refurbished venue and showed it was prepared to be used for high-profile events once again.

Meanwhile, the fans remained loyal to their colors. On social media, the slogan #SiempreTiburón (Always a Shark) is still alive, reflecting the city’s identity and the desire to see their team return to the top division.

Is the Comeback Near?

In 2025, a message stirred the waters. On their official account, the Tiburones Rojos posted:

The post, interpreted by fans as a sign of return, has sparked speculation about a possible rebirth of the club. While there is still no official confirmation, the most viable scenarios point to Veracruz coming back in the Liga de Expansión or starting from lower divisions. Everything would depend on new ownership and the approval of the FMF.

The Tiburones Rojos have always been a club of contrasts: glory, relegations, disappearances, and a fanbase that never abandoned them. Today, six years after their disaffiliation, a simple message has reignited the dream of the port reclaiming its team.

The history of Veracruz proves that while football is business, it is also passion and collective memory. And in Veracruz, that passion is still alive.

Do you believe the return of the Tiburones Rojos will become a reality, or is it just another mirage in the club’s long history?

Read More

• Kylian Mbappé vs Mexico? France in talks to face Mexican National Team in March
• Enner Valencia Set to return to Liga MX with Club Pachuca
• Club América vs Chivas: Clásico Nacional Apertura 2025 Preview