In just under a week, the 2025 Liga MX Apertura will get underway.
For the first time in 15 years, Toluca come into the campaign as reigning champions, after claiming the 2025 Clausura.
The victory came with a 2–0 aggregate win over Club América, denying Las Águilas a fourth consecutive title. Luan Garcia and Alexis Vega wrote themselves into club folklore, netting the all-important goals.
Clinching the Clausura means that the Red Devils are now the third-most successful club in Liga MX history, trailing only América (16) and Chivas (12).
Key Players in the Final:
- Alexis Vega: Captain and creative leader, named finals MVP with an important goal and assist in the final.
- Paulinho: Powerful Portuguese striker, top scorer of the tournament with 13 goals.
- Luan Garcia: Opened the scoring in the final with a bullet header.
- Pau López: Joined in January from Girona, denied América with some clutch saves.
Tournament Kickoff
The Apertura 2025 season of Liga MX will begin on Friday 11 July with three matches:
- Puebla vs Atlas – 7:00 p.m. CST, Estadio Cuauhtémoc
- Tijuana vs Querétaro – 9:00 p.m. CST, Estadio Caliente
- FC Juárez vs América – 9:00 p.m. CST, Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez
América, last season’s runner-up, will be one of the first teams to debut, beginning their quest for a record-breaking 17th league title with an away visit to Juárez.
Champions’ Debut
On Saturday 12 July, one day after the tournament starts, the reigning champions Toluca will make their debut:
- Toluca vs Necaxa – 7:00 p.m. CST at Estadio Nemesio Diez
They will kick off their title defense at home, against a strong Necaxa side that reached the Clausura playoffs.
National and Regional Clásicos
Mexican football is flooded with mouth-watering rivalries, and these are the key dates to highlight in your calendar:
- Clásico Nacional: Club América vs Chivas – Friday 12 September at 7:00 p.m. CST (Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes)
- Clásico Capitalino: Club América vs Pumas – Saturday 27 September at 9:00 p.m. CST (Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes)
- Clásico Joven: Cruz Azul vs Club América – Saturday 18 October at 9:00 p.m. CST (Estadio Olímpico Universitario)
- Clásico Tapatío: Chivas vs Atlas – Saturday 25 October at 9:00 p.m. CST (Estadio Akron)
- Clásico Regio: Monterrey vs Tigres – Saturday 1 November at 7:00 p.m. CST (Estadio BBVA)
Clausura 2025 Final Rematch
Toluca and América will meet again for the first time since the Clausura final on the final matchday of the regular season:
- Toluca vs Club América – Saturday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. CST (Estadio Nemesio Diez)
Playoffs Dates (Liguilla)
The regular season will end on Saturday 8 November, giving way to the Liguilla, which will run from Wednesday 19 November to Sunday 14 December 14 or Sunday 28 December, depending on Cruz Azul’s international commitments:
Play-In
- First leg: November 19 & 20
- Second leg: November 22 & 23
Quarter-Finals
- First leg: November 26 & 27
- Second leg: November 29 & 30
Semi-Finals
- First leg: December 3 & 4
- Second leg: December 6 & 7
Final
- If Cruz Azul does not qualify for the Intercontinental Cup:
- First leg: Thursday 11 December. Second leg: Sunday 14 December
- If Cruz Azul qualifies: First leg: Thursday 25 December. Second leg: Sunday 28 December
Key Dates & FIFA Breaks
Other key dates to keep in mind throughout the season:
Campeón de Campeones:
- Toluca (Clausura 2025 winners) vs Club América (Apertura 2024 winners)
- Sunday 20 July at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
Leagues Cup Break (MLS and Liga MX clubs)
- Domestic play will pause from Tuesday 29 July through to Thursday 7 August
- League play resumes on Friday 8 August
MLS All-Star Game vs Liga MX All-Star Team
- Wednesday 23 July
- Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
FIFA International Breaks
- Monday 1 September – Wednesday 10 September
- Monday 6 October – Wednesday 15 October
- Monday 10 November – Wednesday 19 November
Top Confirmed Transfers
Although the 2025 summer transfer window is still open, several high-profile signings have already made headlines:
- Pumas: Aaron Ramsey, Welsh international midfielder with experience at Arsenal, Juventus, Cardiff City, and the Welsh national team.
- Cruz Azul: Close to signing Serbian forward Luka Jović, who has played for Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt, AC Milan, and Real Madrid.
- Pachuca: Jhonder Cádiz joins the club as part of a triple move from Grupo Pachuca (with Federico Viñas to León and Salomón Rondón to Spain).
- León: Federico Viñas returns to Liga MX after gaining promotion with Real Oviedo in Spain
- Toluca: Nicolás Castro, an Argentine midfielder from Elche (Spain).
- Atlas: Signed Puebla defender Gustavo Ferrareis.
- FC Juárez: Brought in the highly experienced Rodolfo Pizarro from Mazatlán.
- Santos Laguna: Signed Haret Ortega, a center-back from Juárez.
- Chivas: Efraín Álvarez, a 23-year-old Mexican winger from Tijuana, Pachuca's Bryan González; and Richard Ledezma, a right-back joining from PSV Eindhoven.
- Atlético San Luis: Signed João Pedro from Hull City in the English Championship.
As we near the end of the transfer window, several players are already set to take center-stage with their new clubs.
In the case of Aaron Ramsey, the former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder's transfer has sparked global interest as he joins a number of high-profile moves from Europe to Mexico in recent years.
The Apertura 2025 promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent Liga MX history. With star-studded signings, fierce rivalries on the horizon, and Toluca looking to defend their crown, the stage is set for a tournament full of drama, passion, and unforgettable moments.
As clubs finalize their squads and fans gear up for kickoff, all eyes turn to Friday 11 July, the beginning of another thrilling journey in Mexican football.
Who will be the new champion? Tell us what you think