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Liga MX Launches Clausura 2026 With Top-8 Liguilla and Expanded Foreign-Player Allowance

The overhaul is meant to free Mexico’s World Cup squad for early preparation.

Overview

  • The liguilla will be played without players called up to the national team after Javier Aguirre asked for call-ups to report by May 1.
  • Playoff matchday rules now permit up to nine foreign players on the field per team, an increase from the previous limit of seven.
  • The play-in is scrapped for this tournament, with the top eight teams qualifying directly to the liguilla.
  • The regular season runs January 9 to April 26, with the liguilla scheduled for May 2–24 and a league pause the weekend of Mexico’s away friendlies on January 22 (Panama) and January 25 (Bolivia).
  • The changes have drawn criticism from figures in Mexican football who warn that raising foreigner usage in the postseason could reduce opportunities for domestic youth development.