Liga MX Quarterfinals: América, Pumas, Toluca, Pachuca | OneFootball

A playoff with all the ingredients to be one of the best in Liga MX history is about to begin. Sadly it comes with a stain: the absence of players called up to the Mexican National Team for the World Cup.

A few days ago, national teams director Duílio Davino contradicted himself once again by saying that “anything can happen” with the preliminary list of 55 players that Javier Aguirre will submit for the World Cup. That means the players who won’t be able to take part in the playoffs don’t even have their spots in the global showpiece secured. At the same time, it gives extra motivation to those who weren’t included in that mini list of 12 players who will report on May 6 with El Tri.

Chivas, who play Tigres tonight, is the most affected team. But there are two impacts on Sunday’s fixtures. Club América will send Israel Reyes to the national team, while Pumasllose their striker Guillermo Martínez. Toluca will be without Jesús Gallardo and Alexis Vega, while Pachuca has no players called up. Los Tuzos are one of the biggest beneficiaries of this agreement between the Federation, Liga MX, and the clubs.

Pumas vs América

Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT

Let’s start, of course, with the most intriguing, most heated, and most spotlighted matchup of the first legs: Pumas vs América, the Clásico Capitalino. A clash between the two biggest teams in Mexico City.

On paper, following the script, the analysis shouldn’t be too complicated: Pumas should win the series. 

They topped the Clausura 2026 with 36 points, eleven more than América, who barely sneaked in as the eighth seed. The Azul y Oro were the best offense with 34 goals scored and also the second-best defense, conceding just 17.

So yes, merit leans toward Efraín Juárez’s team. But standing in front of them is América: the most successful club in Mexican football. True, they are a team not in its best moment, coming off a season full of stumbles, and possibly heading toward a squad overhaul at the end of it. It’s possible André Jardine won’t continue as head coach if they crash out in the quarterfinals. 

Yes, the same coach who delivered three straight titles.

Liguilla Loves to Throw a Curve

Pumas will be heavy favorites, but this is Liga MX. The regular season is one thing and the playoffs are something entirely different. You can dominate all semester like Pumas has, but once the liguilla starts, it’s a different sport. 

Games are played like life depends on it. The last seed can knock out the top seed—that’s why they call it “the curse of the superlíder.”

Yesterday at a press conference in Coapa, where Hooligan was present, Jardine tried to ease the pressure on América, saying that in clásicos, “there are no favorites.”

“I believe there are no favorites in clásicos; for me, the favorite is the one who prepares better, the one who executes better counterattacks during the match, the one with the better strategy, the one more inspired, more decisive in key moments.”

“A new tournament begins. Being direct about this gives you confidence. The regular phase gives you structure and points, but entering from 1 to 8 is all the same. Now it’s about who is the best among these eight teams, and that will determine who reaches the semifinals—and ultimately, the title. The goal is to be the best among the eight.”

History Favors América

You could even say América are Pumas’ “daddy” in playoff matchups:

In addition to the absence of Israel Reyes, who left to join El Tri, Club América will also be without Raúl Zúñiga, who suffered a fractured collarbone during training this week. Henry Martín, Jonathan dos Santos, and Rodrigo Dourado have been included in the squad.

Pachuca vs Toluca

Kickoff: 9:15pm ET/6:15pm PT

In Liga MX, there’s a team quietly doing things very, very well—yet barely anyone is talking about them: Pachuca. Managed by Esteban Solari.

Los Tuzos finished the Clausura 2026 strong with 31 points in fourth place, just one point above Toluca, earning the right to close the series at home. Not the best ending, though—they come into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. The same goes for Toluca, but with the added complication of playing in the Champions Cup semifinals, giving them a much tighter schedule. One of the key factors Pachuca must exploit if they want to eliminate the mighty two-time champions.

“We know the team we’re facing will be very competitive, especially at home. They’ve been the team that has conceded the fewest goals… we are focused on our work, on our ideas and our style,” said Solari.

On the other hand, Toluca enters these quarterfinals surrounded by uncertainty. Off the pitch, there’s noise around their coach Antonio Mohamed, who is already being linked to Boca Juniors, Monterrey, and Cruz Azul for next season.

Chasing a Three-peat

On top of that, “El Turco” knows the Diablos are chasing a three-peat in Liga MX and the Champions Cup title. With such a demanding schedule, will he really rotate his squad this Sunday at the Estadio Nemesio Diez and leave everything to chance for the second leg in Pachuca? I don’t think so.

Toluca carries a 20-game unbeaten streak at home dating back to 2025. They are practically invincible at the Nemesio Diez. So expect a dominant Toluca side this Sunday, backed by a full stadium pushing them forward. Two teams that didn’t close the Clausura 2026 in the best fashion, but over six months proved they are title contenders.

The absence of Alexis Vega and Jesús Gallardo will undoubtedly hurt Toluca, which is why Pachuca must not hesitate—they need to take full advantage of that damn “benefit” handed out by the agreement between the Federation, Liga MX, and the clubs.

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