The CONCACAF leagues continued their march toward championship trophies for 2025. In Liga MX, clubs like Toluca and Tigres headline the Apertura Playoffs, which begin after the international break, while MLS enters the conference semifinals, and Canada’s Premier League crowned its champion in snowy conditions.
Liga MX Playoffs Set: Toluca and Tigres Lead the Way
Closing the regular season with victories allowed Toluca and Tigres to secure top positions in the 2025 Liga MX Apertura Playoffs. Paulinho’s Toluca continued their dominance over Club América — the Portuguese forward’s 12th goal of the season powered a 2–0 win that sealed first place at 11–4–2.
Tigres UANL remain the top contender to dethrone the reigning champions Toluca. Finishing 10–6–1, Guido Pizarro guided Tigres to a 3–1 victory over Atlético San Luis in the season finale.
Both sides will await the winners of the play-in round. It’s a Clásico Fronterizo between border rivals FC Juárez and Club Tijuana on November 19. Colombian striker Óscar Estupiñán leads Juárez, who finished eighth at 6–5–6, while Tijuana’s young squad went 6–6–5 and finished seventh. The Xolos are hoping that star youngster Gilberto Mora recovers from a broken hand in time for the postseason.
The remaining Liguilla play-in matchup features 10th-place Pumas against ninth-place Pachuca. Pumas snuck into the final playoff position with back-to-back wins, while Pachuca — talented but inconsistent — went winless in their last five matches. Expectations for either team are low heading into the playoffs.
Chivas Face Cruz Azul in Quarterfinals
Beyond the top two seeds, sixth-place Chivas Guadalajara have generated the most buzz. Since September, Chivas have surged with seven wins and just one defeat, climbing out of the play-in to qualify directly for the quarterfinals. A commanding 4–2 victory over a defensively suspect Monterrey side confirmed their status as genuine contenders.
Chivas scored three goals in 31 minutes, led by 22-year-old Armando “Hormiga” González, who has netted five goals in his last three games, while 23-year-old Efraín Álvarez also added one. Their opponents, Cruz Azul, finished 10–5–2 but will be without Colombian goalkeeper Kevin Mier, who suffered a leg fracture from a dangerous challenge in the regular-season finale.
Meanwhile, Monterrey are faltering. Little is expected from Sergio Ramos’ side as they take on Club América in the other quarterfinal. América’s inconsistency has plagued them all season, but their playoff experience under Andre Jardine should give them the edge. A Toluca–América semifinal rematch seems likely.
Chivas must defeat Cruz Azul by at least one goal to advance — and if they do, a heavyweight clash with Tigres, led by Juan Brunetta and Ángel Correa, could await in the semifinals.
CONCACAF Champions Cup Liga MX Teams Confirmed
The 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup will feature Toluca, Club América, Tigres, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, and Pumas. The tournament draw is set for next month. Defending champions Cruz Azul, along with Monterrey and Tigres, have all lifted the trophy in the past five years.
Lionel Messi Advances in MLS Playoffs
After being pushed to a decisive third game, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi finally secured an MLS playoff series victory. Miami cruised past Nashville SC 4–0 at home to avoid elimination, with Messi scoring twice in the first half to put the match beyond reach.
Next up for Inter Miami is a massive road test against FC Cincinnati, who advanced after a late brace from Brenner eliminated rivals Columbus Crew in Game 3.
Nicolás Fernández scored twice as NYCFC defeated Charlotte FC 3–1 to book a date with top-seeded Philadelphia Union in the other Eastern Conference semifinal — a high-stakes clash set in Philadelphia.
In the Western Conference, the higher seeds prevailed. San Diego FC demolished the Portland Timbers 4–0, with Anders Dreyer scoring twice. Minnesota United survived a 3–3 draw against Seattle Sounders, advancing on penalties 7–6 after the Sounders missed three of their final four kicks. Expansion side San Diego now host Minnesota at Snapdragon Stadium.
Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps will face Heung-Min Son’s LAFC in the other semifinal, held at BC Place in Vancouver. The 2025 MLS Cup Final is set for December 6 — less than a month away.
Canadian Premier League Final Played in Blizzard
The quality of the Canadian Premier League continues to improve, but it rarely makes global headlines — until this year’s final. The 2025 CPL Final between Atlético Ottawa and Cavalry FC was played in a blizzard, drawing attention from the AP and The Weather Channel.
David Rodríguez scored a spectacular bicycle kick in the icy snow to deliver Ottawa the title.
Fans were treated to a unique spectacle — a fiercely competitive final played in a true winter wonderland that looked straight out of an EA FC snow setting.
Main Photo Credit: PHOTO BY FABIAN MEZA Imago Images
