24 Aug 2026
What is the Liguilla in Mexican football?
The Liguilla is the knockout stage that decides the Liga MX champions after the regular season. The format brings together the top clubs in the table and includes a play-in before the quarter-finals.
Definition of the Liguilla
Liguilla means “little league” in Spanish, but in Mexican football it is the name given to the championship playoffs. Liga MX divides its season into short tournaments, such as the Apertura and Clausura. Each has a round-robin phase and a knockout stage. The champion is crowned through the Liguilla, not simply by finishing top of the table.
Who qualifies
The top six teams in the regular season advance directly to the quarter-finals. Teams finishing between seventh and 10th place contest the Play-In, a play-off for the remaining two places. Eight clubs therefore reach the quarter-finals.
How the Play-In works
The team in seventh plays the team in eighth. The winner secures a place in the quarter-finals. Ninth plays 10th, with the loser eliminated. The loser of the seventh-versus-eighth match then faces the winner of the ninth-versus-10th match for the final place. This format replaced the direct repechage used in some previous editions of the league.
Knockout format
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are played over two legs. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if the aggregate score is level, the team with the better regular-season record advances. In the final, a level aggregate score leads to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
Why league position matters
Finishing near the top provides a real advantage. As well as avoiding the Play-In, the higher-ranked team plays the second leg at home. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, regular-season performance also serves as the tie-breaker. That is why clubs usually continue fighting for every position until the final round, even after qualification is secured.
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