Sports fans across Mexico and beyond have a packed weekend ahead as the Liga MX Clausura 2026 reaches its climax and the NFL Draft 2026 kicks off in Pittsburgh. From April 23 to 26, the schedule blends high-stakes soccer battles with the annual ritual where NFL teams build their future rosters.
The weekend begins Thursday with one of the most anticipated events on the American football calendar: the first round of the NFL Draft 2026. According to verified sources, the draft will start at 6:00 p.m. Central Time in Mexico, which corresponds to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This marks the 91st edition of the event and the first time since 1948 that Pittsburgh has hosted the draft.
Over three days, NFL teams will produce 257 selections across seven rounds. The first round alone features 32 picks, with the Las Vegas Raiders holding the No. 1 overall selection. For the first time, the interval between picks in the opening round has been reduced from 10 to eight minutes, aiming to quicken the pace of the proceedings. Rounds two and three will occur on Friday starting at 5:00 p.m. CT, although rounds four through seven will take place on Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m. CT.
In Mexico, fans can follow the draft live on multiple platforms. ESPN, Fox Sports, and the NFL Network will carry the television broadcast, while streaming options include Disney+ and NFL Game Pass. The event will also feature special coverage for several Mexican prospects, including Jesús Gómez, Diego Pavia, Jacob Rodríguez, and Taurean York, who are hoping to make history as they await their names to be called.
Meanwhile, in Liga MX, Thursday night sets the stage for the final matchday of the Clausura 2026 regular season. All 18 teams will play simultaneously as they vie for direct qualification to the Liguilla or a spot in the Play-In round. With playoff positioning still undetermined for several clubs, every match carries significant weight.
Friday continues the action with the Apertura 2026 of Liga de Expansión MX, where quarterfinals action begins. Matches such as Atlante versus Tepatitlán FC and CD Tapatío versus Cancún FC are scheduled, continuing the pursuit of the expansion league title. These games will be available on Disney+ Premium.
Soccer fans will also find international action throughout the weekend. The Mutua Madrid Open, an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event, will feature daytime tennis sessions available via Disney+ Premium, ESPN, and ATP/WTA TV. Major League Baseball will showcase several high-profile series, including the Chicago Cubs versus Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants versus Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox versus Recent York Yankees, with broadcasts spread across Disney+, ESPN, FOX, and ViX Gratis.
Basketball enthusiasts are not left out, as the NBA Playoffs continue their first-round matchups. Games such as the Atlanta Hawks versus New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors versus Cleveland Cavaliers will be televised through NBA League Pass and Amazon Prime Video, offering fans a chance to follow the postseason push toward the conference semifinals.
As the weekend progresses, the NFL Draft will conclude on Saturday with the final rounds, wrapping up three days of player selections that will shape the immediate and long-term futures of all 32 franchises. Simultaneously, Liga MX will await the official determination of the Liguilla bracket, with the Play-In games set to follow shortly after the regular season ends.
For viewers looking to plan their weekend, the convergence of these events offers multiple viewing options across different sports and time zones. Whether tracking the draft’s early picks in the evening or catching a Liga MX match under the lights, fans have a variety of ways to engage with live sports from April 23 to 26.
The next major checkpoint on the sports calendar will be the Liga MX Play-In round, scheduled to begin in the days immediately following April 26, followed by the start of the Liguilla quarterfinals. Fans are encouraged to check official league sources for exact dates and broadcast details as they develop into available.
If you found this overview helpful, consider sharing it with fellow sports fans or leaving a comment below about which matchup or draft pick you’re most excited to watch.
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