Liga MX has announced the official schedule for the Clausura 2026 tournament, starting January 9 and wrapping up before the 2026 World Cup, with adjustments for international competitions and no Play-In phase in the playoffs.
The Clausura 2026 Liga MX tournament kicks off on Friday, January 9, and ends its regular season on Sunday, April 26, structured to fit alongside the Concacaf Champions Cup and Mexico national team commitments. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, there's no Play-In: seventh- and eighth-placed teams advance straight to the quarterfinals against the top two in the standings. Selected players for the national team are barred from the playoffs, allowing up to nine foreign players per team in that phase.
The schedule features three double matchdays (2, 9, and 16) due to the Concachampions, involving Pumas, Toluca, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, America, and Tigres. A FIFA international break runs from March 23 to 31, including Mexico vs. Portugal at Estadio Banorte and a match against Belgium in Chicago.
Key classics include the Nacional between Chivas and America on February 14 at Akron; the 57 derby of Queretaro vs. Atletico San Luis that day; the Tapatío of Atlas vs. Chivas on March 7 at Jalisco; the Regio of Tigres vs. Monterrey also on March 7; the Capitalino of Pumas vs. America on March 21 at Olimpico Universitario; and the Joven of America vs. Cruz Azul on April 11 at Ciudad de los Deportes.
Notable other matchups are Tigres vs. Pumas on January 14, Cruz Azul vs. Chivas on February 21, and America vs. Tigres on February 28. Playoffs begin with quarterfinals on May 2-3 (first leg) and May 9-10 (second leg), semifinals from May 13-17, and the final on May 21 and 24.
