Liga MX, officially known as Liga Bancomer MX, is the top-tier professional football (soccer) league in Mexico. It is one of the most popular and competitive leagues in North America, attracting talented players from across the region and beyond.
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The Structure
Liga MX follows a unique split-season format, with two separate tournaments held annually:
- Apertura (Opening Tournament): Runs from July to December.
- Clausura (Closing Tournament): Runs from January to May.
Each tournament consists of 18 teams playing a round-robin format, facing each opponent once. The top 12 teams from the regular season advance to the playoffs, known as the “Liguilla.”
The Teams
Here are the 18 teams that currently compete in Liga MX:
- Club América
- Chivas Guadalajara
- Cruz Azul
- Monterrey
- Tigres UANL
- Toluca
- Santos Laguna
- Pachuca
- Necaxa
- Puebla
- Atlas
- Tijuana
- León
- Querétaro
- Mazatlán
- San Luis
- Juárez
- Atlético San Luis
The Playoffs (Liguilla)
The Liguilla is a single-elimination playoff format that determines the champion of each tournament. The top 4 teams from the regular season receive a bye to the quarterfinals, while the teams ranked 5th through 12th compete in a preliminary round called the “Repechaje.”The Repechaje consists of single-elimination matches, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals. From there, the playoffs continue with quarterfinals, semifinals, and a two-legged final series to crown the tournament champion.
International Competitions
The Apertura and Clausura champions, along with the runners-up, qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, the premier club competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, Liga MX teams may qualify for the Copa Libertadores, South America’s top club tournament, based on their league performance.
Campeón de Campeones
At the start of each new season, the Apertura and Clausura champions from the previous campaign face off in a single match called the “Campeón de Campeones” (Champions’ Cup) to determine the overall champion of the season. Liga MX is a thrilling and competitive league that showcases the best talent in Mexican football. With its unique format, passionate fan bases, and high-stakes matches, it continues to captivate audiences both domestically and internationally.
