Conquering the Liguilla: Exploring the Fascinating World of Liga MX
Unleash Your Passion for Mexican Football
A Legacy of Passion: A Brief History of Liga MX
Among the many competitions in the CONCACAF region, Liga BBVA MX stands out as one of the most prominent. In recent years, players from Europe’s top leagues have seen Mexico as a desirable destination to revitalize or end their careers.
The league’s diverse champions have made it an attractive option for bettors due to the uncertainty of who will lift the coveted Liga MX trophy. The unpredictable nature of Liga MX odds has drawn the attention of those seeking to test their luck with Liga MX Betting.
To make informed soccer predictions, bettors should stay updated on soccer betting news, where they can find the necessary information.
From Amateur Roots to Global Stage: Tracing the Evolution of Liga MX
The history of the Liga Mexicana de Futbol can be divided into two stages: Amateur and Professional.
Amateur Era
Initially, only the Liga Mexicana (founded in 1902) existed. Some teams, notably dissatisfied with the tournament’s organization, decided to break away and form their own league: the Liga Nacional. However, there was only one winner in this conflict: soccer!
In 1922, both leagues decided to set aside past conflicts and establish the Liga Mexicana. This league had a single goal: to create an organization to manage and develop soccer in Mexico.
The defining moment of this period was the clear need for players to become part of the country’s workforce. Wealthier teams began signing foreign players and paying them significant sums of money.
In response, the Mexican government saw the need to regulate this activity, requiring professional contracts that fulfilled each team’s legal obligations.
This transformed Liga MX into a professional league.
Professional Era
With the league officially professionalized, Mexico’s most recognized clubs were enticed to join. The founding teams were:
- América (still active)
- Asturias
- Atlante (still active)
- Veracruz (still active)
- Necaxa (still active)
- Marte
- Atlas (still active)
- Guadalajara (still active)
- ADO
- Moctezuma
The 1970 FIFA World Cup was a cornerstone for Mexican football. For the first time in World Cup history, the tournament was televised worldwide, catapulting Liga MX to fame.
Capitalizing on its newfound popularity from the World Cup, the organization decided to change the competition format, adding playoffs (Liguilla) where Liga MX teams would compete in a knockout structure, playing multiple Liga MX matches to determine the Liga MX champion.
This structure remains in place today, with slight modifications over the years.
Before the 2012-13 season began, a new organizing body known as Liga MX / Ascenso MX was established to take over the responsibilities of the Mexican Football Federation for the league. Additionally, the league unveiled a new logo as part of its rebranding efforts.
Understanding the Liga MX Tournament Format
While Liga MX has undergone various format modifications, the current format consists of two short tournaments: Apertura and Clausura. The Apertura is generally played between July and December, while the Clausura takes place between January and May.
Eighteen teams will play 17 games each, in a single round-robin format, facing each other once. As with any other FIFA-recognized professional football league, the number of points a team earns will determine its position in the Liga MX standings.
The top ten teams in the Liga MX table will advance to the next round, where they will face a pre-quarterfinal phase called the Play-In. This follows a format similar to the NBA Play-In Tournament, and will determine the final two teams to complete the eight-team quarterfinal bracket.
The eight teams that qualify for the quarterfinal round of the tournament will be paired in direct matchups based on their positions in the overall standings at the end of Matchday 17, following a format of 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5.
The subsequent stages of the playoffs will feature home and away matches during the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. If the aggregate score is tied in the quarterfinals or semifinals, the tiebreaker will be the team’s position in the regular season standings; hence, the team with the higher points total or the better ranking will move on to the next round.
This tiebreaker rule does not apply to the championship final. In the event of a tie in the final’s aggregate score, the game will extend into extra time and, if necessary, proceed to a penalty shootout.
List of Previous Champions
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| América | 14 | 10 | 1965–66, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1983–84, 1984–85, Prode ’85, 1987–88, 1988–89, Verano 2002, Clausura 2005, Clausura 2013, Apertura 2014, Apertura 2018, Apertura 2023 |
| Guadalajara | 12 | 10 | 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1969–70, 1986–87, Verano 1997, Apertura 2006, Clausura 2017 |
| Toluca | 10 | 8 | 1966–67, 1967–68, 1974–75, Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000, Apertura 2002, Apertura 2005, Apertura 2008, Bicentenario 2010 |
| Cruz Azul | 9 | 11 | 1968–69, Mexico ’70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, Invierno 1997, Guardianes 2021 |
| León | 8 | 7 | 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1991–92, Apertura 2013, Clausura 2014, Guardianes 2020 |
| UANL | 8 | 6 | 1977–78, 1981–82, Apertura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016, Apertura 2017, Clausura 2019, Clausura 2023 |
| UNAM | 7 | 8 | 1976–77, 1980–81, 1990–91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011 |
| Pachuca | 7 | 3 | Invierno 1999, Invierno 2001, Apertura 2003, Clausura 2006, Clausura 2007, Clausura 2016, Apertura 2022 |
| Santos Laguna | 6 | 5 | Invierno 1996, Verano 2001, Clausura 2008, Clausura 2012, Clausura 2015, Clausura 2018 |
| Monterrey | 5 | 6 | Mexico ’86, Clausura 2003, Apertura 2009, Apertura 2010, Apertura 2019 |
| Atlante | 3 | 4 | 1946–47, 1992–93, Apertura 2007 |
| Necaxa | 3 | 3 | 1994–95, 1995–96, Invierno 1998 |
| Atlas | 3 | 3 | 1950–51, Apertura 2021, Clausura 2022 |
| Puebla | 2 | 2 | 1982–83, 1989–90 |
| Zacatepec | 2 | 1 | 1954–55, 1957–58 |
| Veracruz | 2 | 0 | 1945–46, 1949–50 |
| Oro | 1 | 5 | 1962–63 |
| Morelia | 1 | 3 | 2000 |
| Tampico | 1 | 2 | 1952–53 |
| Tecos | 1 | 1 | 1993–94 |
| Real España | 1 | 1 | 1944–45 |
| Tijuana | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2012 |
| Asturias | 1 | 0 | 1943–44 |
| Marte | 1 | 0 | 1953–54 |
Liga MX All-Stars: Legendary Players Who Shaped the Game
Numerous players have made their mark on the Mexican football league. The Liga MX player stats of these athletes have earned them a place in the Olympus of Mexican football.
Their incredible performances have influenced the scores and odds of each match. Here’s a list of some of the greatest players who have graced the Mexican league, along with some of the big clubs they played for:
- Andre-Pierre Gignac (Lorient, Toulouse, Marseille, Tigres)
- Jared Borgetti (Atlas, Cruz Azul, Monterrey)
- Rogelio Funes Mori (River Plate, Benfica, Monterrey, UNAM)
- Hugo Sanchez (Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, America, Rayo Vallecano)
- Rafael Marquez (Atlas, Monaco, Barcelona, NY Red Bulls, Verona)
- Cuauhtémoc Blanco (America, Real Valladolid, Chicago Fire)
- Jorge Campos (LA Galaxy, Cruz Azul, Chicago Fire)
- Ronaldinho (PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan)
- Ivan Zamorano (Sevilla, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, America)
- Antonio Valencia (Villarreal, Manchester United)
- Miguel Calero (Atletico Nacional, Pachuca)
- Bebeto (Flamengo, Sevilla)
- Pep Guardiola (Barcelona, Roma)
18 Powerhouses: Meet the Teams Competing in Liga MX
The following 18 teams are participating in the 2024 Liga MX season:
- America FC: One of the most historic and longstanding teams in Mexico. The legendary Estadio Azteca is home to Las Águilas (The Eagles), and many great players have donned their jersey.
- Chivas FC de Guadalajara: The second team with the most titles in Mexico. Their intense rivalry with Club América is one of the most recognized in the world. The Rebaño Sagrado (The Sacred Herd) plays at the stunning Estadio Omnilife, which resembles a small hill.
- Toluca FC: A founding member of the Mexican football league and the third team with the most national titles. Los Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils) also boast international success, having won the CONCACAF Champions League title on two occasions.
The rest:
- Cruz Azul
- Monterrey
- Tigres
- Pachuca
- Necaxa
- Pumas
- Queretaro
- Leon
- FC Juarez
- Santos
- Mazatlan FC
- Tijuana
- Atlas
- Atletico de San Luis
- Puebla
In conclusion, Liga MX offers a unique and exciting brand of football with a rich history, passionate fans, and legendary players. The unpredictable nature of the tournaments and the high stakes playoffs make it a favorite among football enthusiasts and bettors alike. Whether you’re a seasoned Liga MX follower or a curious newcomer, there’s always something to discover in this captivating league.
