If you’ve been following Mexican football for more than a week, you know it’s basically a soap opera with a ball. Drama. Massive egos. Stunning goals. And a playoff system that makes absolutely zero sense until you’ve watched it for three years straight. Honestly, Liga MX is in a weird spot right now. We are sitting in January 2026, and the league is vibrating with this strange mix of World Cup anxiety and genuine "holy crap, we’re actually doing it" excitement.
The Toluca Dynasty and the Clausura 2026 Chaos
Let's talk about Toluca. They just pulled off the unthinkable by winning back-to-back titles in 2025. Toluca is officially the king of the Apertura, having dismantled Tigres in that wild final. Now, as the Clausura 2026 kicks off, everyone is wondering if they can pull off a "tri-campeonato"—a three-peat.
But there’s a massive catch.
Because the 2026 World Cup is literally months away, the league bosses did something they rarely do: they streamlined. They actually scrapped the Play-In tournament for this season. You remember the Play-In, right? That weird wildcard round that kept the 9th and 10th place teams alive? Gone. For the Clausura 2026, it’s a straight shot—the top eight teams go to the Liguilla (the playoffs), and everyone else goes home.
It’s a race against time. The regular season ends on April 26, and the final has to be wrapped up by May 24. Why? Because FIFA is breathing down their necks.
The "El Tri" Problem
Here is the part that’s kind of driving club owners crazy: Javier Aguirre, the national team coach, gets his hands on the Mexico-based players starting April 30. If your team makes the semi-finals or the final, you might have to play without your biggest stars. Imagine Toluca trying to win a third straight title without Alexis Vega or Marcel Ruiz. It’s going to be a mess, but a fascinating one.
Is Relegation Actually Coming Back?
This is the question that gets every fan at the cantina arguing. Since 2020, Liga MX has been a "closed" league. No one goes down; no one comes up. It’s been safe. Boring, some would say.
But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently dropped a bombshell. After a bunch of second-division clubs (like Leones Negros and Atlético Morelia) sued the federation, it’s been confirmed: Promotion and relegation are officially returning for the 2026-27 season.
- The Bad News: It’s not happening this semester.
- The Good News: The teams currently at the bottom of the "coefficient" table, like Querétaro and Mazatlán, are finally starting to sweat.
- The Catch: Clubs still have to be "certified" to move up. This usually means having a stadium that doesn't fall apart and a bank account that isn't empty.
The New Stars and the MLS Migration
For years, we exported talent to Europe. Now? We’re looking north. The 2026 season has seen a massive influx of talent from MLS. It’s a complete reversal of the old trend.
You’ve got Brian Gutiérrez leaving Chicago Fire to join Chivas. You’ve got Pedro Vite and Adalberto Carrasquilla running the show for Pumas. It feels like the two leagues are slowly merging into one giant North American super-entity.
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But keep your eyes on the "Ant." Armando González at Chivas is the breakout star everyone is talking about. He was a beast in the 2025 Apertura, and if he keeps this up, he won't just be leading the line for Chivas; he’ll be a lock for the World Cup squad.
Then there’s the veteran drama. James Rodríguez just left León. It was a "blink and you missed it" stint that honestly didn't live up to the hype. Meanwhile, Henry Martín is still proving he's the most reliable striker in the country for Club América.
Why the 2026 World Cup is Changing the Business
Money is pouring in, but not necessarily where you’d think. With the World Cup being hosted across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, the Estadio Azteca is currently a construction zone. It’s closed for renovations, forcing América and Cruz Azul to play elsewhere.
Investors are getting bullish. There is a huge push to centralize TV rights by 2027. Right now, every team sells their own rights—Chivas is on one channel, América on another, and it’s a nightmare for fans. If they bundle them together like the Premier League, experts think the value could double. We’re talking $40 million per team, easy.
Real Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're trying to actually keep up with this season without losing your mind, here is what you need to focus on:
- Watch the April 30 Deadline: Any team relying heavily on Mexican national team players is going to collapse in May. Look for teams with strong "foreign" cores (Argentines, Brazilians, Uruguayans) to dominate the Liguilla.
- The "Grandes" are Vulnerable: Club América and Chivas are under immense pressure to perform before the World Cup circus starts. If they don't hit the ground running in February, their fans will riot.
- The Underdog to Watch: FC Juárez has been quietly building a very physical, disciplined squad. They aren't pretty to watch, but they are incredibly hard to beat at home.
The reality of Liga MX in 2026 is that it’s a league in transition. It’s trying to be "global" while desperately clinging to the local traditions that make it special—like eating a cemita at the stadium in Puebla or the absolute madness of a Clasico Capitalino.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep a close eye on the weekly coefficient table. Even though no one is relegated this May, the points carry over. The teams that fail now are the ones who will be playing in the second division this time next year. Start tracking the minutes of young players like Gilberto Mora—he’s only 17, but he’s likely the future of the national team.