The 2026 Liga MX Apertura begins today, 17 matchdays are ahead, plus the 2026 Leagues Cup against MLS. The early start to the season, before the conclusion of the World Cup, a clear sign that Mexican football officials didn’t expect the national team to reach the final four of the tournament. Still, Mexico’s perfect group stage and round of 16 finish, along with Mexico’s successful job co-hosting the World Cup built significant momentum and increased interest for Liga MX, something that its teams will hope to capitalize on.
A New Team Highlights the 2026 Liga MX Apertura
No, relegation is still not part of Liga MX, but Atlante bought the license from Mazatlan and will make their debut in this tournament. Based in Mexico City, they spent more than a decade in the lower league and they do it without an elite roster, meaning expectations are low. They do have an experienced manager however, Miguel Herrera has taken the reigns. He played 194 times for the club as a player, briefly managed them from 2010-21, and has notable experience in Liga MX at Tijuana, America, and Tigres in recent years, he also managed the Mexican national team from 2013-15, and Costa Rica in their failed World Cup qualifying effort in 2025. Atlante will open their season against Necaxa tonight.
Liga MX Announces 2026 All-Star Team vs MLS
The 2026 Liga MX vs MLS all-star game takes place on July 29th in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium. MLS All-Stars include Australian World Cup standout Lucas Herrington, Vancouver’s midfield pair of Thomas Muller and Sebastian Berhalter, LAFC’s Son Heung-Min and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge.
Liga MX will counter with the famous Keylor Navas in goal, World Cup standouts Erik Lira, and Gilberto Mora in the midfield, and Chivas Hormiga Gonzalez as one of three forwards.
How Will Pumas UNAM and Club America Go With New Managers
Two of the biggest clubs in Liga MX will be under new management this tournament. Guillermo Almada has taken over for Andre Jardine at the famous Club America. Efrain Juarez guided Pumas to a top of the table finish and the Clausura 2026 final, before leaving and making way for Esteban Solari. Four additional clubs have also changed managers, including Monterrey, while Joel Huiqui will continue at Cruz Azul, having guided the club to a championship after taking over late in the previous season. Atlas is also in the process of securing a new manager.
America has yet to sign any major reinforcements to their roster but the transfer window is open.
Regio Football in Crisis, Tigres and Monterrey Expected to Struggle
Monterrey Rayados cycled through another manager after a poor Liga MX and CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign that saw them miss the later stages of both tournaments. A team that once had a bevy of European stars like Spaniards Sergio Ramos and Sergio Canales has made just one signing presently for the new season, the Columbus Crew’s MLS star Diego Rossi joined as the replacement for Canales.
Still, Monterrey presently has two mature age forwards on the roster, neither of whom are in-form with Roberto de la Rosa and Uros Djurdjevic, and has two international spots taken by goalkeepers, Santiago Mele and Esteban Andrada, who are not expected to start for the club. The roster construction in one of the two northern titans in Liga MX has gone off the rails and a second consecutive failure to reach the playoff series wouldn’t come as a surprise, though Monterrey retains the financial capacity to make major signings before the transfer window closes.
Tigres UANL across town isn’t faring much better, while Monterrey’s other titan has been far more consistent than Rayados in recent seasons, the squad is set to evolve, as Andre Pierre-Gignac is 40 and hasn’t given an official retirement notice, but clearly isn’t part of the clubs plans for the season. Angel Correa joined as a star signing and a World Cup winner, but the Argentine attacking midfielder left for River Plate in the offseason. Leaving midfielder Fernando Gorriaran to admit losing these two players is a heavy blow to the club’s chemistry. Rumors continue that another Tigres star, Juan Brunetta is being pursued by other clubs including Cruz Azul, while goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman is also 40. Tigres main signing this off-season? Alan Franco, an Argentine from SPFC.
Monterrey was a fantastic host at the 2026 World Cup, but local football fans have less to look forward to as the domestic football season begins.
Can Chivas Use World Cup Chemistry To Win A Title
Chivas are perhaps the most interesting team this tournament, their squad formed the backbone of Mexico’s El Tri in the World Cup squad. Raul ‘Tala’ Rangel is in goal, Luis Romo and Brian Gutierrez are in the midfield, Roberto Alvarado teams up top Liga MX goalscorer Armando ‘Hormiga’ Gonzalez, and they added two top attackers, Santos Jordan Carillo and Tijuana Xolos Kevin Castaneda to the squad. Fully fit and at full strength some weeks after the World Cup, Chivas on paper have a squad that can stand up to Cruz Azul, and Toluca’s dynasty.
Notable games in the first matchdays of the season include Chivas against Toluca on July 18th, Toluca against Pumas on July 21st, and a tough opening campaign for Gilberto Mora’s Tijuana Xolos, they play Tigres, Cruz Azul, and Chivas in the first five matchdays.
Leagues Cup Group Stage Launches in August
The MLS vs Liga MX battle, the Leagues Cup will commence again in August. In 2025 Liga MX struggled, as did the tournament itself. Mexican football is eager to respond to its critics this year. Notable group phase matches in the tournament include Tigres against Real Salt Lake on August 4th, Monterrey taking on Antoine Griezmann and Orlando City on August 5th, the same day Toluca plays Seattle Sounders, and LAFC takes on Chivas in a match that should captivate Southern California.
Club America battles San Diego FC on August 6th, on August 8th it’s the high flying Inter Miami seeking revenge against Monterrey Rayados, San Diego and Tijuana have a border battle on August 9th.
Monterrey takes on Nashville on August 12th, the same day Toluca battles FC Dallas, it’s Tigres vs Vancouver on August 11th, and Cruz Azul should have an entertaining clash with Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire on August 13th.
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