Liga MX is looking for a new champion. The final phase of the tournament, an atypical playoff that will be played without national team players due to the start of the Tri’s concentration for the World Cup, features for the first time in two years the four teams with the most tradition and following in the country: América and Pumas, who will face each other for a spot in the semifinals, as well as Guadalajara and Cruz Azul, who will compete for a place among the top four against Tigres and Atlas, respectively. The grand final, scheduled for May 21 and 24, marks the last step of the domestic tournament before the start of the World Cup on June 11.
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Pumas (1) – América (8)
The most attractive quarter-final match revives one of the most intense rivalries in national football: UNAM Pumas, the tournament’s revelation team coached by Efraín Juárez, face a struggling América, eighth in the general standings, for a ticket to the semi-final. The Pedregal team, general leader, presents itself as a strong favorite after achieving the best short tournament in its history with 36 points against its bitter rival.
- First Leg: Sunday, May 3, 5:00 PM at Estadio Banorte (Mexico City)
- Second Leg: Sunday, May 10, 7:15 PM at Estadio Olímpico Universitario (Mexico City)
Guadalajara (2) – Tigres (7)
Guadalajara will be the team most affected by the Tri’s long concentration period for the World Cup. Awaiting Javier Aguirre’s official call-up, a first list made up solely of players from the Mexican league, Chivas will lose at least four players for the decisive moment of the tournament. This is a handicap that will play in favor of Tigres, seventh in the general standings after an up-and-down season, but with enough quality to take control of the series and challenge the team that was recently considered the big favorite to lift the title.
- First Leg: Saturday, May 2, 5:00 PM at Estadio Universitario (Monterrey)
- Second Leg: Saturday, May 9, 7:07 PM at Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
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Cruz Azul (3) – Atlas (6)
Cruz Azul faces the playoffs with a new coach after the dismissal of Argentine Nicolás Larcamón just one week before the quarter-finals. The controversial decision by the cementera board has drawn all eyes to Joel Huiqui, interim coach who will lead his first playoff with only one match at the helm of the club. Facing him will be Diego Cocca’s Atlas, the coach who brought the rojinegros back to prominence and with whom they won the Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022 back-to-back championships.
- First Leg: Saturday, May 2, 9:15 PM at Estadio Jalisco (Guadalajara)
- Second Leg: Saturday, May 9, 9:15 PM at Estadio Banorte (Mexico City)
Pachuca (4) – Toluca (5)
A series of poor results relegated Toluca, the reigning two-time champion, to fifth position at the close of the regular tournament after fighting for the top spots throughout the semester. Antonio Mohamed’s team remains alive in the Concacaf Champions League semifinals and will have to manage its efforts to face Pachuca, a club that snuck into the top four and will close the quarter-finals at home.
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- First Leg: Sunday, May 3, 7:15 PM at Estadio Nemesio Diez (Toluca)
- Second Leg: Sunday, May 10, 5:00 PM at Estadio Hidalgo (Pachuca)
