Liga MX Rundown for the Season
We are just 5 games into the Liga MX 2026 Apertura season, but we are already seeing some familiar names sitting atop the table early on. Whether or not things will stay that way remains to be seen, as this really is a very small sample of what will ultimately be a long season.
As it stands right now, it is perennial title contender Club America sitting at the top of the table. They have taken 13 points from a possible 15 and have looked rather dominant at times. They have scored 10 times through the opening 5 games and have only surrendered 2 goals. That gives them a goal differential of +8, which is already impressive this early in the season. This is a team that looks strong in both attack and defense, but who else might give them a run for their money this season?
The Main Contenders
While a fast start to the season is always a positive sign, it is no guarantee that things will stay the same all the way to the finish. Injuries could eventually become an issue, but right now, you have to say that America is the team to beat. That combination of explosive offense and a tight defensive unit makes them a rather formidable force moving forward.
If I had to pick just one team to serve as a serious challenger to Club America, it would definitely be Toluca. This is a team on the rise and with a habit of performing well in big-game situations, so look for them to hang around all the way to the end. They have picked up 10 points thus far, scoring 8 goals and surrendering just 4.
Chivas is also sitting on 10 points, and with back-to-back wins under their belt, they might just be rounding into form. The biggest test for them might come in the playoff portion of the league, as that is often when a good run can come to an end or when another team can get hot and go on a run. Chivas certainly looks good enough to hang around for the long haul.
The biggest surprise in the early part of the season has to be Atlas, who are playing really well under Hernan Crespo. They have picked up 12 points from the first 5 games, which is good enough to have them sitting in second. Everyone appears to be waiting for this bubble to burst, and while that might yet happen, you have to consider them a contender at this point.
I would also keep an eye on Monterrey, and while they are a little off the pace with 9 points, this is a team that knows how to score goals, with 12 scored through the opening 5 games. If they want to be a serious contender, they need to tighten up at the back.
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| Team | Points | Early-Season Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Club America | 13 | Early favorite with 10 goals scored and just 2 conceded |
| Atlas | 12 | Biggest surprise and currently challenging near the top |
| Toluca | 10 | Strong challenger with a 4-goal positive differential |
| Chivas | 10 | Back-to-back wins and trending upward |
| Monterrey | 9 | Dangerous attack but needs to improve defensively |
Other Early Surprises
Besides the rise of Atlas, we also need to talk about a pair of teams off to a slow start. Both Cruz Azul and Tigres are down in the lower reaches of the table, but writing either team off at this point might be a bad idea.
Of the two, I think that Cruz Azul is the more likely to get on a run that could put them back up closer to the top of the table. There is still plenty of time for both clubs to find their rhythm before the playoff race really takes shape.
My Pick to Win the Apertura 2026
With only 5 games of the season played, it is perhaps a little too early to be making bold predictions. That said, Club America is proving that they are once again going to be very tough to beat.
They have depth across the board, and their early combination of scoring ability and defensive strength makes them the team most likely to end the season as champions. There is still a long way to go, but based on what we have seen through the opening five games, Club America is my early pick to win the Liga MX Apertura 2026.
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