Liga MX Semi-Final: Pumas & Pachuca | OneFootball

And then there were four… and deservedly so. The four teams left standing are the same four clubs that finished at the top of the Clausura 2026 table, meaning there were no Cinderella stories this time around. Just the best teams surviving to play in what promise to be two absolutely electric semifinal series.

In this article we focus on the second semi-final: Pumas and Pachuca.Read our take on Chivas vs. Cruz Azul

Pumas vs Pachuca

First Leg Semifinal – Thursday, May 14Tuzos vs Pumas – Estadio Hidalgo7 PM local time / 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

Second Leg Semifinal – Sunday, May 17Pumas vs Tuzos – Estadio Olímpico Universitario7 PM local time / 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

Pumas actually did it. They eliminated the giant of Mexican football: Club América.

Sure, América hadn’t arrived in their best form, but after a chaotic 3-3 draw in the first leg, it looked like Pumas was casually strolling into the semifinals when Sunday night began with the Auriazules leading América 3-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

It looked like a training session. A Sunday picnic. Total control.

But América is América for a reason. The biggest and most successful club in the country suddenly woke up from the dead and stormed back to tie the second leg 3-3, finishing just one goal away from advancing — if not for captain Henry Martín missing a penalty in the dying minutes.

Efraín Juárez pointed one finger toward the sky after Martín’s missed penalty, because it would have gone down as one of the most historic comebacks ever for América… and one of the most catastrophic collapses imaginable for Pumas. Instead, the Blue and Gold side survived thanks to finishing higher in the Clausura 2026 standings.

“I invite all the people, all Pumas fans, to wear their jerseys tomorrow and feel proud because we have a team with hierarchy. In our home, suffering, because sometimes it has to be that way to achieve objectives and accomplish something I mentioned during my presentation: one of Efraín Juárez’s objectives with Pumas is for the fans to feel proud. And today, clearly, our supporters feel proud of what we are and what we represent,” Juárez said after eliminating América.

On the other side, América coach André Jardine declined to resign, although he also stopped short of guaranteeing he’ll remain next season — which could signal the end of a historic era that included a Liga MX three-peat.

“We’ll see… The América coaching position is a very heavy chair. You’re here to serve. At the command of the owner and the president. I’ll stay here as long as they want me. I want them to see I’m worthy of this bench,” the coach said in his press conference.

Don’t Dismiss Pachuca

And finally, the last semifinalist — though that doesn’t mean they’re the least important… or maybe it does? We’re talking about Pachuca.

Despite finishing higher than Toluca in the standings, the Tuzos still entered the series as underdogs because Toluca were the shiny back-to-back champions. But Esteban Solari’s team delivered a statement performance and sent Antonio Mohamed’s squad home empty-handed.

Pachuca defeated Toluca 2-0 on Sunday, closing out the series with a dominant 3-0 aggregate scoreline.

Writing them off against Pumas before the series even starts? Impossible.

“I feel very happy, especially for my players. They played an excellent series, winning both matches against the back-to-back champions without conceding goals,” Solari said after eliminating Toluca.

Hooligan Pick

Pumas advances to the final in what should be a very tight series. Probably with far fewer goals than against América… where both teams casually combined to score six each across the series because defending apparently became optional for a few days.

The Final Four

And so, the Final Four of the Liguilla is officially set. It all begins this Wednesday, and by the end of the week we’ll know the two clubs fighting for the Liga MX Clausura 2026 title.

League leaders Pumas. Chivas without their stars. A Cruz Azul side that climbed out of the grave. And Pachuca — the team nobody talks about, yet somehow they’re still standing.

So… who’s making the Liga MX’s final?