Pumas host Necaxa at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Sunday, August 23, 2026, wrapping up the fifth round of fixtures in the Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament. The match kicks off at 19:00 local time in Mexico City and carries significant table implications as both clubs search for consistency early in the campaign.
Pumas enters the weekend looking for their first home victory at Ciudad Universitaria after a mixed start to the tournament under manager Esteban Solari. The side opened their home schedule with a 3-0 defeat against Pachuca and followed it up with a scoreless draw against Querétaro in Week 4. Overall, the Auriazules hold two wins, one draw, and one loss through their first four matches.
Necaxa arrives in the capital following consecutive defeats that halted a strong start to the Apertura. The club sits with six points—one fewer than Pumas—after suffering a 3-1 defeat away against Toluca in Week 3, followed by another stumble. The Rayos enter Sunday’s fixture seeking their first away points of the current tournament, making the trip to Ciudad Universitaria a critical test for the visitors.
Broadcast Details and How to Watch
Fans across Mexico can watch the Pumas vs. Necaxa encounter live on Canal 5, as well as through TUDN and digital streaming services on ViX. Coverage begins ahead of the 19:00 Centro de México start time from the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.
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Projected Lineups and Squad Status
Reporting from sports outlets highlights several key names expected to feature on the pitch:
- Pumas (projected): Keylor Navas, Tony Leone, Nathan Silva, Rubén Duarte, Pedro Vite, Rodrigo López, Uriel Antuna, Víctor Arteaga, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Robert Morales, and Juninho.
- Necaxa (projected): Luis Jiménez, Kaiky Naves, Alexis Peña, Francisco Méndez, Ricardo Monreal, Danny Leyva, Lorenzo Faravelli, Carlos Vargas, Matías Espíndola, Juan Valencia, and Javier Ruiz.
The meeting renews a matchup in Mexican domestic football. When these two teams last met at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario during the Apertura 2025 tournament, the fixture ended in a 1-1 draw.
Standings Context and Next Steps
With the Apertura 2026 still in its opening month, Sunday night’s result will shape the early table positioning as teams navigate a demanding schedule. Following the conclusion of Jornada 5, both clubs will turn their preparations toward the upcoming fixtures on the Liga MX calendar.
Worth a look
