Liga MX Apertura 2026 Preview: Cruz Azul Defend, No More Play-In & How to Watch
Mexico's Liga MX is one of the most-watched leagues in the United States, and the Apertura 2026 tournament is already under way — with a new champion to chase, a big rule change, and a famous name back in the top flight. Here's the verified state of play, and how to watch it in the US.
Cruz Azul are the reigning champions
Cruz Azul enter the Apertura as the team to beat, having won the Clausura 2026 title — their 10th Liga MX championship — with a 2-1 aggregate win over Pumas UNAM in the final. They've carried that form into the new tournament as one of the early pace-setters.
How Apertura 2026 works — no more Play-In
Liga MX runs two tournaments a year; the Apertura is the opening one, and it started on July 16, 2026. Eighteen clubs play a 17-round regular season, with the final (the Liguilla) expected in mid-December. The big change for 2026: the Play-In / Reclasificación round has been permanently eliminated — the top eight clubs now advance directly to the Liguilla quarterfinals, raising the stakes for mid-table teams. Note there's a mid-tournament break for the Leagues Cup, roughly August 4-13.
Early table and storylines
Through the opening rounds (as of late July 2026), Tijuana, Cruz Azul, Atlas and Necaxa set the early pace unbeaten. Off the pitch, the headlines: Atlante are back in Liga MX for the first time in around 12 years, having acquired Mazatlán's league registration; Club América appointed Guillermo Almada after the successful André Jardine era ended; and Monterrey brought in Matías Almeyda and signed Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi.
How to watch in the US
Liga MX in the US is fragmented by home club, and it's primarily a Spanish-language watch. TelevisaUnivision carries the largest bloc on Univision, UniMás and TUDN, streaming on ViX — including big draws like América, Cruz Azul, Tigres, Monterrey and Pumas. FOX (FS1/FS2 and FOX Deportes) carries other clubs' home games, and Chivas (Guadalajara) home matches air in the US on Telemundo/Universo and Peacock. Because it's club-by-club, the service you need depends on the specific match — see our Liga MX viewing guide.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the form above — not a crystal ball.
Opinion: champions carrying momentum into the new tournament and among the early leaders — the natural favourites until someone knocks them off.
Opinion: Mexico's biggest and most-watched club, entering its first tournament after a hugely successful coaching era — how quickly Almada imposes himself is the season's clearest narrative.
Opinion: the return of a historic name to the top flight is a story in itself, and a welcome one for Liga MX's traditionalists.
The Clausura result, format change, start date and confirmed appointments above are fact; the early standings are as of late July 2026 and our picks are opinion. The Liga MX schedule lists every upcoming match with your local kickoff, and our how-to-watch guide covers the fragmented US TV picture in full.
Form and standings verified as of publication (Monday, July 27, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Kickoff times shown in US Eastern; on the schedule they convert to your local zone.