Only three rounds remain in the Apertura 2026, and the race for the eight Liguilla berths is already shaping into a tight contest.
Key points
- América lead the table with 27 points and need only a win to secure a playoff berth.
- Cruz Azul and Chivas are just one point behind, each on a strong recent run.
- Juárez and Necaxa are already eliminated, while Pumas and Tigres must win all remaining games to stay in contention.
- The upcoming match between Querétaro and Monterrey on 14 November could decide one of the final Liguilla spots.
América sit atop the Apertura 2026 table with 27 points, despite a recent loss to Pachuca, and can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Tijuana later this week. One point separates them from Cruz Azul and Chivas, both on 26 points.
Cruz Azul arrive on a three‑match winning streak and have gone six games without defeat, becoming the only side to win all three fixtures of the latest double‑round. Guadalajara (Chivas) also ride momentum after beating Monterrey for a second consecutive victory.
Leaders and contenders
The fight for the remaining playoff places stretches from sixth to eleventh, with just a three‑point gap separating those positions. León hold 22 points, while Monterrey, Tijuana and Querétaro each have 20. Santos and San Luis sit on 19, with San Luis recently beating Querétaro and Atlante to keep their hopes alive.
Santos’ six‑game winning run ended in a 4‑1 loss to Tijuana, a direct rival for a Liguilla slot. The pending seventh‑round clash between Querétaro and Monterrey on 14 November, just before the final matchday, could prove decisive for one of the remaining berths.
Mid‑table battle for playoff spots
At the lower end, Pumas (17 points) and Tigres (15 points) face a narrow margin for error; both must win their last three games and hope for slips from opponents. A miss would mark Tigres’ first absence from the Liguilla since the 2014 Clausura. Necaxa and FC Juárez are already mathematically eliminated.
With three matchdays left and no Play‑In round, eight playoff spots remain up for grabs. Recent form is beginning to separate the clubs that are likely to advance from those that may fall short, according to the latest standings published by www.si.com.
Reader questions
How many playoff spots are still available in the Apertura 2026?
Eight Liguilla berths remain open with three rounds left in the regular season.
Which teams have been mathematically eliminated from the Apertura 2026?
FC Juárez and Necaxa have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Source: si.com