Liga MX is getting a head start before the 2026 World Cup is dead and in the ground. The final is on Sunday, July 19, but the Mexican league begins on July 16.

Mexico broke the curse of the quinto partido, technically. Forty-eight teams meant an extra round, so the fifth game was the Round of 16. England won it. Sexto partido doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Tala Rangel allowed three goals in five games, Gilberto Mora became a household name, and Julián Quiñones is still in Saudi Arabia. Mexico now turns its attention to domestic competition.

Relegation has been abolished, and we have a new team. Atlante bought their way into the Primera right under the wire, reportedly paying $65m to Mazatlán's owners for their spot.

Mazatlán promptly dissolved.

Here's what to know.

Liga MX Apertura 2026 Start Date

Liga MX Apertura 2026 begins July 16 to 18 and runs through November 22. Liguilla begins November 25. No play-in round this season.

How to Watch Liga MX in the US

  • Liga MX in the US is split across TUDN, Univision, UniMás and ViX in Spanish, plus Telemundo, Universo and Peacock. TelevisaUnivision holds most of the rights through 2030.
  • TUDN, Univision, UniMás, ViX has 14 clubs: América, Atlas, Atlético San Luis, Cruz Azul, León, Atlante, Monterrey, Pachuca, Puebla, Pumas, Querétaro, Santos Laguna, Toluca, Tijuana.
  • Telemundo, Universo, Peacock has three clubs: Chivas, Tigres, FC Juárez. Chivas home games add English commentary on Peacock and SiriusXM.
  • Fox Deportes: Necaxa's first two matches are on Fox Deportes, but TBD after that.

Pumas

1st. 10-6-1, 36 points, +17

  • Keylor Navas signed a one-year extension and stays.
  • Head coach Efraín Juárez left for Győri ETO in Hungary after taking them to the final. Former Pumas player Esteban Solari takes over after leaving Pachuca.
  • Players to watch: Robert Morales aka La Pantera, Juninho, Keylor Navas.

Chivas

2nd. 11-3-3, 36 points, +16

  • Armando "Hormiga" González won Player of the Tournament. 24 goals across 2025-26, a club record for a Sub-23. Went to the World Cup.
  • Jordan Carrillo, who had two golazos during the liguilla, joins from Santos (after a Pumas loan.)
  • Players to watch: Roberto Alvarado, Jordan Carrillo, Brian Gutierrez, Tala Rangel, Efrain Alvarez.

Cruz Azul

3rd. 9-6-2, 33 points. Champion.

  • Joel Huiqui took over as interim coach in the final round and won the title in his first seven games as a first-division manager. He's now on permanently.
  • Erik Lira is coming off a World Cup campaign in which he helped El Tri to the round of 16. He was one of the most impressive defensive mids in the competition and logged 346 minutes over four matches.
  • Players to watch: Erik Lira, Willer Ditta, Jeremy Márquez.

Pachuca

4th. 9-4-4, 31 points.

  • Knocked out two-time defending champion Toluca 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
  • Rodolfo Pizarro returns to the club where he debuted. Solari left to take over Pumas, Benjamín Mora joins as new head coach.
  • Players to watch: Alexéi Domínguez, Oussama Idrissi, Elias Montiel, Carlos Sanchez.

Toluca

5th. 8-6-3, 30 points.

  • Won the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
  • Antonio Mohamed's fifth trophy in 18 months, after Clausura 2025, Apertura 2025, the Campeón de Campeones and the Campeones Cup.
  • Victor Guzman joins from Pachuca. Erick Gutierrez loaned in from Chivas. Marcel Ruiz out with injury until November.
  • Players to watch: Paulinho, Jesus Gallardo, Federico Pereira, Franco Romero.

Atlas

6th. 7-5-5, 26 points.

  • Clinched the last spot on the final matchday, 1-0 over América in stoppage-time.
  • Head coach Diego Cocca leaves after failing to reach a new agreement.
  • Jorge Sanchez, Ryan Mmaee, Luis Esteves, Duk all transfer in.
  • Players to watch: Arturo Gonzalez, Camilo Vargas, Manuel Capasso, Jorge Sanchez.

Tigres

7th. 7-4-6, 25 points.

  • André-Pierre Gignac legendary tenure ends. He scored 222 goals, a club record.
  • Guido Pizarro continues to coach the team he won championships with as a player.
  • Players to watch: Angel Correa, Diego Lainez, Jesus Garza, Joaquim.

América

8th. 7-4-6, 25 points.

  • André Jardine leaves. Guillermo Almada enters.
  • Luis Malagon out until September with achilles injury.
  • Alex Zendejas returns from the World Cup, where he played for the USMNT. He had six goals and three assists last season.
  • Players to watch: Alex Zendejas, Brian Rodriguez, Israel Reyes, Patricio Salas.

Tijuana

9th. 5-8-4, 23 points. Eight draws, most in the league.

  • Gilberto Mora became the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup and the youngest Mexican ever to play in one.
  • Mora has been scouted by giants of European football, including Real Madrid. Just extended with Xolos.
  • Kevin Castañeda sold to Chivas.
  • Players to watch: Gilberto Mora, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Ivan Tona, Jackson Porozo.

León

10th. 7-1-9, 22 points. One draw.

  • Ignacio Ambríz resigned mid-tournament. Javier Gandolfi took over.
  • GK Oscar Jimenez heads to Atlante. Jhohan Romaña transfers from San Lorenzo.
  • Players to watch: Ismael Diaz, Diber Cambindo.

Querétaro

11th. 4-8-5, 20 points. Eight draws.

  • Coach Esteban González arrived in December. Won Chilean Primera with Coquimbo Unido in 2025.
  • Santiago Homenchenko completes transfer from Pachuca for $4m. Enzo Gimenez joins from Rosario Central.
  • Players to watch: Santiago Homenchenko, Ali Avila, Mateo Coronel.

FC Juárez

12th. 5-4-8, 19 points.

  • Made the club's first-ever Liguilla in Apertura 2025, then missed it.
  • Rodolfo Pizarro leaves for Pachuca. Lucas Romero and Said Godínez transfer in.
  • Players to watch: José Luis Rodríguez, Jairo Torres, Madson, Denzell Garcia.

Monterrey

13th. 5-3-9, 18 points.

  • Sergio Canales and Anthony Martial depart.
  • Matías Almeyda joins after last coaching Sevilla.
  • Diego Rossi signs from Columbus Crew.
  • Players to watch: Victor Guzman, Diego Rossi, Uros Djurdjevic, Luca Orellano.

Atlético San Luis

14th. 5-3-9, 18 points.

  • João Pedro Galvão won the Golden Boot with 14 goals. His team finished 14th.
  • Players to watch: João Pedro, Eduardo Águila, Sébastien Salles-Lamonge

Necaxa

15th. 5-3-9, 18 points.

  • Fernando Gago sacked in October. Martín Varini in.
  • Eight players join on loan or transfers since June. Tomas Badaloni transfers to Rosario Central.
  • Players to watch: Javier Ruiz, Alexis Peña, Carlos Vargas, Ricardo Monreal.

Atlante

N/A. Replaces Mazatlan who finished 16th.

  • Back after 12 years outside Liga MX. Reportedly paid $65m for Mazatlán's franchise, and Mazatlán no longer exists. They bought in a day before Liga MX abolished promotion and relegation permanently.
  • Miguel Herrera coaching. Home games at the Estadio Banorte, sharing with América.
  • Massive roster turnover as they prepare for competition at the top Mexican level.
  • Players to watch: Jhojan Julio, Luis Puente, Luis Calzadilla.

Puebla

17th. 3-4-10, 13 points.

  • Thirteen goals in seventeen games, the worst attack in the league.
  • Rebuilt out of Atlético Morelia. Omar Moreno, Ángel Leyva, Facundo Almada and Alberto Herrera all arrived on free transfers inside two days.
  • Gerardo Espinoza is the new coach. Luifer Hernández transfers from Polissya Zhytomyr, Mathías Tomás from Thun.
  • Players to watch: Luifer Hernández, Facundo Almada.

Santos Laguna

18th. 3-3-11, 12 points. Conceded 38, most in the league.

  • Renato Paiva returns to Mexico from Fortaleza.
  • Franco Pardo in from Racing Club for $2m, Felipe Sánchez on loan from Schalke, Mauricio Cuevas from LA Galaxy. Two center backs and a right back.
  • Sold Jordán Carrillo to Chivas for $5.2m, the biggest fee on the board so far. Diego González and Eduardo Aguirre both arrived from Atlas.
  • Players to watch: Lucas Di Yorio, Carlos Acevedo, Franco Pardo, Ezequiel Bullaude.

Liga MX Schedule 2026: Apertura

Jornada 1

Thursday, July 16

  • Necaxa 2-1 Atlante
  • Tijuana 3-1 Tigres

Friday, July 17

  • Atlético San Luis vs Cruz Azul - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • León vs Atlas - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Puebla - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 18

  • Pumas vs Pachuca - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs Santos Laguna - 9:05 p.m. ET
  • Chivas vs Toluca - 9:07 p.m. ET
  • Querétaro vs América - 11:10 p.m. ET

Jornada 2

Tuesday, July 21

  • Cruz Azul vs Puebla - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Pumas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Friday, July 24

  • Tigres vs Atlético San Luis - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlante vs América - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs León - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 25

  • Chivas vs FC Juárez - 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Santos Laguna vs Atlas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, July 26

  • Necaxa vs Monterrey - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Pachuca vs Querétaro - 9:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 3

Friday, July 31

  • Puebla vs Chivas - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlético San Luis vs Tijuana - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Pumas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Aug 1

  • Querétaro vs Tigres - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • León vs Pachuca - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlas vs Monterrey - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Cruz Azul vs Atlante - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Aug 2

  • América vs Santos Laguna - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Necaxa - 9:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 4

Saturday, Aug 15

  • Atlante vs Toluca - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs FC Juárez - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlas vs Tigres - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Aug 16

  • Pumas vs Querétaro - 2:00 p.m. ET
  • América vs Atlético San Luis - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Santos Laguna vs Chivas - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Cruz Azul - 11:00 p.m. ET

Monday, Aug 17

  • Necaxa vs León - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Pachuca vs Puebla - 11:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 5

Friday, Aug 21

  • Puebla vs Santos Laguna - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs América - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Aug 22

  • Querétaro vs Toluca - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Chivas vs Tijuana - 7:07 p.m. ET
  • León vs Monterrey - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs Atlante - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • Cruz Azul vs Atlas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Aug 23

  • Atlético San Luis vs Pachuca - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Pumas vs Necaxa - 9:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 6

Friday, Aug 28

  • Necaxa vs Cruz Azul - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlante vs León - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Pumas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Aug 29

  • Atlas vs Querétaro - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Pachuca vs Chivas - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • América vs Puebla - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Santos Laguna vs Tigres - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Aug 30

  • Toluca vs FC Juárez - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs Atlético San Luis - 10:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 7

Friday, Sept 4

  • Puebla vs Toluca - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Pachuca - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept 5

  • Atlético San Luis vs Chivas - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Querétaro vs Monterrey - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs Necaxa - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • América vs Tijuana - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlas vs Atlante - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Sept 6

  • Pumas vs León - 2:00 p.m. ET
  • Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna - 10:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 8

Friday, Sept 11

  • Necaxa vs Puebla - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlante vs Pachuca - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Querétaro - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept 12

  • León vs Atlético San Luis - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Atlas - time TBD
  • Cruz Azul vs América - time TBD

Sunday, Sept 13

  • Santos Laguna vs FC Juárez - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Chivas vs Pumas - 8:07 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs Tigres - 10:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 9

Friday, Sept 18

  • Puebla vs Atlante - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Tigres - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept 19

  • Atlas vs Pumas - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlético San Luis vs Necaxa - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs Cruz Azul - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • América vs Chivas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Sept 20

  • Pachuca vs Tijuana - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Santos Laguna - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Querétaro vs León - 10:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 10

Friday, Sept 25

  • Atlante vs Monterrey - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Atlas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept 26

  • Chivas vs Querétaro - 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Santos Laguna vs Pachuca - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs Puebla - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Cruz Azul vs Toluca - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Sept 27

  • Pumas vs Atlético San Luis - 2:00 p.m. ET
  • León vs FC Juárez - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Necaxa vs América - 11:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 11

Friday, Oct 9

  • Querétaro vs Atlante - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Puebla vs León - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs Toluca - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct 10

  • FC Juárez vs Tijuana - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlas vs Chivas - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • América vs Monterrey - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Oct 11

  • Pachuca vs Necaxa - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlético San Luis vs Santos Laguna - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Pumas vs Cruz Azul - 9:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 12

Friday, Oct 16

  • Necaxa vs Atlas - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlante vs Pumas - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Puebla - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct 17

  • Santos Laguna vs Querétaro - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Chivas vs Tigres - 7:07 p.m. ET
  • León vs América - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Atlético San Luis - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Cruz Azul vs FC Juárez - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Oct 18

  • Monterrey vs Pachuca - 9:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 13

Tuesday, Oct 20

  • Atlético San Luis vs Querétaro - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Atlante - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs León - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • Chivas vs Necaxa - 11:07 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Oct 21

  • Puebla vs Monterrey - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlas vs América - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Tijuana - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Pachuca vs Cruz Azul - 11:00 p.m. ET
  • Santos Laguna vs Pumas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 14

Friday, Oct 23

  • Necaxa vs FC Juárez - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlante vs Atlético San Luis - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct 24

  • León vs Toluca - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs Chivas - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Pumas vs Tigres - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Oct 25

  • Atlas vs Puebla - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • América vs Pachuca - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Querétaro vs Cruz Azul - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Santos Laguna - 11:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 15

Friday, Oct 30

  • Atlético San Luis vs Atlas - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Querétaro - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Puebla vs Pumas - 11:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct 31

  • Pachuca vs Tigres - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Monterrey vs Tijuana - 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Chivas vs Atlante - 9:07 p.m. ET
  • América vs Toluca - 11:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Nov 1 — clocks change in the US

  • Santos Laguna vs Necaxa - 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Cruz Azul vs León - 8:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 16

Friday, Nov 6

  • Atlético San Luis vs FC Juárez - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Necaxa vs Tijuana - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Atlante vs Santos Laguna - 10:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Nov 7

  • Atlas vs Pachuca - 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs Cruz Azul - 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Toluca vs Monterrey - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Pumas vs América - 10:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Nov 8

  • Querétaro vs Puebla - 7:00 p.m. ET
  • León vs Chivas - 9:00 p.m. ET

Jornada 17

Friday, Nov 20

  • Puebla vs Atlético San Luis - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • FC Juárez vs Atlas - 10:00 p.m. ET
  • Tijuana vs Atlante - 10:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Nov 21

  • Santos Laguna vs León - 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Pachuca vs Toluca - 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Pumas vs Monterrey - 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Tigres vs América - 10:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Nov 22

  • Chivas vs Cruz Azul - 6:07 p.m. ET
  • Querétaro vs Necaxa - 8:00 p.m. ET