Clausura climax: The Liga MX playoff picture as things stand
With just four rounds of games to go in the Clausura 2026 regular season, the race for the Liga MX playoffs is hotting up.
Following the international break, things are heating up again in the Liga MX Clausura 2026. Matchday 13 has now wrapped up, leaving just four rounds left on the regular-season schedule. Every point now takes on added importance for teams trying to squeeze into the top eight of the overall standings.
It’s worth remembering that the controversial play‑in will not be used this tournament, meaning the postseason will feature only the top eight clubs - something we haven’t seen since the Apertura 2019.
Based on the performances so far, if the regular season ended today, the Mexican soccer’s ‘big dance’ would deliver several marquee, high‑profile matchups - including rematches of the Clausura 2023 and Clausura 2025 finals.
This is how the Liga MX playoffs would look after matchday 13:
- (1st) Chivas vs Tigres (8th)
- (2nd) Cruz Azul vs Atlas (7th)
- (3rd) Toluca vs América (6th)
- (4th) Pumas vs Pachuca (5th)
Potential playoff matchups: Clausura 2026 H2H
In the Clausura 2026 regular season, Chivas have yet to face Tigres - that clash is coming next matchday. Cruz Azul defeated Atlas 2-0 back on matchday 2. América still haven’t faced Toluca; that duel won’t come until matchday 15. Pumas are in a similar situation, as they don’t face Los Tuzos until matchday 17.
Liga MX playoff picture can change quickly
Beyond the four remaining fixtures on the calendar, the current playoff picture could shift dramatically because of the rearranged matchday-7 game between FC Juárez and Querétaro’s Gallos Blancos, which will be played this Tuesday, April 7. If Pedro Caixinha’s squad manages to win at home, they would climb to 18 points - the same total as América and Atlas.
Depending on the goal differential in a potential victory, Juárez could even leapfrog both clubs and jump into sixth place, pushing Tigres out of the postseason positions and out of the highest‑stakes stage of Mexican soccer.
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