It is early. Everyone says that when the first few whistles of the Clausura 2026 blow, but looking at the current mexican liga mx standings, "early" feels like a chaotic understatement.
We are just three matches deep for most clubs. Three games. In any other league, that’s a warm-up. In Mexico? It’s enough to send fanbases into a full-blown existential crisis or a state of premature euphoria. Right now, Guadalajara is sitting pretty at the top with a perfect 9 points from three games. Chivas fans are already dreaming of another star on the crest, while over in Coapa, Club América is staring at a measly 1 point and a goal difference that looks like a typo.
Football in Mexico doesn't do "gradual." It does heart attacks.
The Power Shift at the Top
Honestly, seeing Chivas at the summit isn't just a fluke of the schedule. They’ve looked disciplined. They’ve conceded exactly one goal in 270 minutes of play. When you look at the mexican liga mx standings today, that +4 goal differential stands out like a beacon. It’s a stark contrast to the end of the Apertura 2025, where Toluca reigned supreme.
Speaking of Toluca, they haven't exactly fallen off a cliff. With 7 points and no losses yet, they are stalking the leaders from the second spot. They still have that "we can score four goals on you in twenty minutes" energy.
The Current Top 5 (As of January 18, 2026)
- Guadalajara (Chivas): 9 points. Pure perfection so far.
- Toluca: 7 points. Still the offensive juggernaut we expected.
- Monterrey (Rayados): 6 points. Recovering quickly from an early stumble.
- Cruz Azul: 6 points. Winning the games they should win, for once.
- Atlas: 6 points. Quietly efficient, grinding out 1-0 results.
It’s weird seeing Atlas up there while their city rivals lead the pack. Usually, one thrives while the other suffers. Right now, Guadalajara is a happy place for football.
What’s Going Wrong with the "Big" Teams?
You’ve gotta talk about Club América. There is no way around it. They are 16th.
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Sixteenth!
They haven't won a single game yet in this young Clausura. One draw, one loss, zero goals scored. For a team with the highest market value in the league and players like Allan Saint-Maximin (valued at €10m) and the ever-dangerous Henry Martín, being held scoreless for 180 minutes is a disaster.
Then there's Tigres UANL. They are sitting mid-table in 9th. They’ve got the talent, obviously. Marcelo Flores has already notched two goals, but they seem to be sleepwalking through halves. In the mexican liga mx standings, a team like Tigres shouldn't be looking up at Tijuana or Atlético de San Luis, but here we are.
The Underdog Surge: Tijuana and San Luis
Xolos (Tijuana) is currently 6th. They’ve played three, won one, and drawn two. They haven't lost.
Under the lights at the Estadio Caliente, they’ve become a nightmare to play against again. The artificial turf helps, sure, but there’s a grit there that was missing last year.
Atlético de San Luis is also punching above their weight in 7th. They are the definition of "boom or bust" right now. They win big or lose frustratingly. Joao Pedro has been a revelation for them, finding the back of the net twice already. If he keeps this up, San Luis won't just be a "Play-In" contender; they might actually skip the line straight to the Liguilla.
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The Race for the Golden Boot (Early Days)
Statistics in the first month of the year are always a bit skewed, but the scoring charts are already telling a story. We have a three-way tie for the lead:
- Facundo Almada (Mazatlán): 2 goals.
- Joao Pedro (San Luis): 2 goals.
- Marcelo Flores (Tigres): 2 goals.
It's refreshing. Usually, you see the usual suspects—your Gignacs or your Berterames—occupying these spots. Seeing a defender like Almada up there because of set-piece dominance is exactly why we love this league. It’s unpredictable.
Why the Standings Matter More This Year
With the 2026 World Cup looming—literally months away—the pressure on Mexican domestic players to perform is suffocating. Every match in the mexican liga mx standings is an audition.
If you're a fringe player for El Tri, you can't afford a "slow start." This is likely why we see such high intensity in January, a month that usually feels a bit sluggish.
The coefficient table (the "Tabla de Cociente") is also lurking in the background. While there is no traditional relegation, the massive fines for finishing in the bottom three spots are enough to bankrupt a smaller club. Mazatlán and Santos Laguna are currently at the bottom of the Clausura table with 0 points. For Mazatlán, who has conceded 9 goals in 3 games, the alarm bells aren't just ringing—they’re deafening.
Actionable Insights for Following the Season
If you are trying to keep up with the madness, don't just look at the points. Look at the "Form" column.
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A team in 10th place with two wins in their last two games is far more dangerous than a 4th place team that has just drawn three in a row.
Watch the home/away splits. In Liga MX, altitude and travel are massive factors. Toluca at home is a different beast than Toluca in the humid heat of Mazatlán.
Keep an eye on the Play-In race. Remember, the top 6 go straight to the Quarterfinals. Positions 7 through 10 have to fight through the Play-In tournament. That gap between 6th and 7th is the most expensive real estate in North American sports.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the schedule for the upcoming "Double Header" weeks (Jornadas Dobles). These are the weeks where the mexican liga mx standings usually flip upside down because of squad rotation and fatigue.
- Monitor the transfer window. It’s still technically open for a few more days. One big signing—like the rumored move for a European veteran to Monterrey—could shift the odds overnight.
- Follow the goal difference. In a league this tight, the final Liguilla spots are almost always decided by a single goal. América’s -2 and Chivas’ +4 are going to matter a lot more in May than they do now.
The table will change. It always does. But for now, Guadalajara is the king of the mountain, and the rest of the league is scrambling to find their footing.