The regular season of the Liga MX Femenil Apertura 2026 concluded after 14 matchdays, finalizing the eight teams that will compete in the Liguilla. Rayadas de Monterrey, América, Tigres, Chivas, Pachuca, Toluca, Pumas, and FC Juárez secured their spots in a tournament that introduced a new competitive format featuring two groups and a condensed schedule, as reported by the primary source.
The final berth for the quarterfinals was decided on the final matchday, when Atlético de San Luis fell 3-1 to Pumas. Although the San Luis side had a chance to advance, the defeat combined with Pachuca’s 4-3 victory over Puebla gave the Hidalgo-based team the advantage in goal difference. With the elimination of Atlético de San Luis and Atlas, the eight available places for the final phase were filled, with the Liguilla scheduled to begin the following week with home-and-away matches starting on November 11.
Confirmed Teams for the Apertura 2026 Liguilla
The Apertura 2026 saw four representatives from each group advance to the knockout stage. Rayadas and América finished as the leaders of their respective groups, followed by Tigres and Chivas, who secured the second spots. FC Juárez, Toluca, Pumas, and Pachuca rounded out the eight qualified teams.
In Group A, Rayadas claimed the top position with 37 points after defeating FC Juárez 2-1 on the final matchday. Bravas maintained third place with 30 points, while Tigres finished second with 35 points and Toluca secured the fourth spot with 27 points.
In Group B, América confirmed its dominance by finishing atop the group with 37 points after defeating Chivas 3-1 in the Clásico Nacional. Guadalajara retained the second position with 30 points, and Pumas took third place with 20 points following their victory over Atlético de San Luis.
The final spot went to Pachuca, who defeated Puebla 4-3 to reach 19 points. Although Atlético de San Luis ended with the same number of points, their goal difference was inferior, meaning the Tuzas secured the fourth position and advanced to the Liguilla.
Quarterfinal Pairings for the 2026 Apertura
The quarterfinal matchups were established based on the new format introduced by the Liga MX Femenil for the Apertura 2026. In this edition, clubs were divided into two groups, and each team played 14 matches during the regular season. With the eight qualifiers determined, their respective group positions dictated their opponents.
The pairings are as follows:
- Rayadas (1A) vs. Pachuca (4B)
- América (1B) vs. Toluca (4A)
- Tigres (2A) vs. Pumas (3B)
- Chivas (2B) vs. FC Juárez (3A)
This system matches the top teams from each group against the fourth-place teams from the opposing group. Thus, Rayadas, as the leader of Group A, will face Pachuca, while América, the top team from Group B, will play against Toluca. In contrast, the second-place teams will face the third-place teams from the other group, meaning Tigres will play against Pumas and Chivas will face FC Juárez.
Schedule and Dates for the Quarterfinals
While the calendar allows for six days to play this round, specific start times for each match and the broadcasting channels have not yet been announced. The complete schedule will be released through the official Liga MX Femenil channels.
According to an additional report from AS.com, the competition confirmed the official calendar for the quarterfinals, with the matches scheduled between Tuesday, November 10, and Sunday, November 15. The modification in dates is intended to accommodate the international commitments of the players. The move responds to the FIFA Match Period, during which the Mexico Women’s National Team will seek to advance in the Concacaf W Championship, with qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the line.
Complete Quarterfinal Schedule
First Legs
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 10 | Pumas vs. Tigres | 19:00 CT | Estadio Olímpico Universitario |
| November 10 | FC Juárez vs. Chivas | 21:00 CT | Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez |
| November 11 | América vs. Toluca | 19:00 CT | Estadio Banorte |
| November 11 | Pachuca vs. Rayadas | 21:00 CT | Estadio Hidalgo |
Second Legs
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 14 | Tigres vs. Pumas | 17:00 CT | Estadio Universitario |
| November 14 | Chivas vs. FC Juárez | 21:00 CT | Estadio Akron |
| November 15 | Rayadas vs. Pachuca | 19:00 CT | Estadio BBVA |
| November 15 | Toluca vs. América | 21:10 CT | Estadio Nemesio Diez |
Pause for National Team Duty
Once the national team activity concludes, the Liga MX Femenil will resume its final phase. According to the Apertura 2026 calendar, the semifinals are scheduled for December 9, 10, 12, and 13, on which dates the two teams that will compete for the championship will be determined.
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