The 79th season of Mexican football faced a sudden stadium exodus
In short: While the 2025–26 Liga MX season promised stability with an unchanged roster of 18 clubs, a sudden rental dispute forced a major powerhouse to abandon its historic home, leaving fans and organizers scrambling to rearrange the tournament's landscape.
The 202-26 Liga MX season, known for sponsorship reasons as Liga BBVA MX, was structured into two distinct championships: the Apertura 2025 and the Clausura 2026. While the 18 participating clubs had remained consistent since the 2020–21 season, the campaign marked a significant transition for the league's membership. Mazatlán FC played its final season in the top tier, as its registration was acquired by Atlante FC, who are set to join the league for the 2026–27 season.
The season was marked by logistical upheaval, particularly for Cruz Azul. On 8 January 2026, the club was forced to leave the Estadio Olímpico Universitario after Pumas UNAM declined to renew their stadium rental contract. In a rapid move, Liga MX announced that Cruz Azul would relocate its matches to the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla for the remainder of the tournament.
The tournament structure also faced pressure from the global football calendar. To accommodate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Clausura 2026 tournament saw the removal of the play-in round from its schedule. Competition stayed intense throughout these changes; the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup slots relied on 2025–26 aggregate totals, featuring a US$1 million reward and 2026 Balón de Oro honours for the seasonal winner.
Financial regulations also loomed over the bottom of the table. Under existing rules, the last-placed team in the coefficient table faced significant fines, with 80 million MXN allocated to the bottom-ranked club. Had Mazatlán finished last again, they would have faced an additional 20 million MXN penalty.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025–26 Liga MX season
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