Apertura 2026 kicks off with a surge of Mexican coaches — but Argentina still dominates Liga MX sidelines

The Apertura 2026 is just days away, and as the league gears up for its Thursday, July 16 opener between Necaxa and Atlante, there’s a storyline giving Mexican fans real hope: the number of Mexican head coaches is finally rising again.

This season, five Mexican managers will lead three Liga MX clubs, surpassing the total that began the Clausura earlier this year. In the previous tournament, only Ignacio Ambriz (León), Christian Ramírez (Mazatlán) and Efraín Juárez (Pumas) started the Clausura 2026 in charge of a first‑division team.

Now, heading into Apertura 2026, the list has grown.

Five Mexican coaches set to start Apertura 2026

It’s a meaningful shift for a league that has long struggled to give Mexican managers consistent opportunities.

Argentine coaches still rule Liga MX

Even with the uptick in Mexican managers, Argentines remain the majority. Apertura 2026 will feature six Argentine coaches, maintaining their strong influence on the league.

The group shrank from seven after Diego Cocca left Atlas earlier this Monday.

The rest of the coaching landscape

Liga MX will also feature:

The mix highlights Liga MX’s continued international flavor — but also a subtle shift toward giving more Mexican coaches a chance to lead top‑flight clubs.

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