Chivas and America Lock Up Liguilla Spots With Two Matchdays Still to Play

While other clubs are still crunching numbers with calculators in hand, Chivas and America can already breathe a little easier: both have locked up their spots in the Apertura 2026 Liguilla, and there are still two matchdays left to play. That's wrapping up the job with time to spare.

Everything was settled on the same matchday packed with results. Guadalajara beat Atlante 4-2 at Estadio Akron, with a brace from Santiago Sandoval giving the Rebaño their eighth win of the tournament. Hours later, America drew 2-2 against Toluca, a result that was more than enough to seal their ticket. Both clubs finished with 29 points, and the Eagles, thanks to a goal difference of plus 15 compared to Chivas' plus 11, reclaimed first place in the standings.

Why is it already mathematically locked in without needing to wait for another game? The answer lies in what their pursuers can still add to their totals. Only six teams still have any chance of reaching 29 points: Cruz Azul (can reach 35), Atlas (33), Leon (31), Toluca and Monterrey (30 each, the latter after drawing 3-3 with Tijuana) and Queretaro, which can only reach exactly 29 after falling 3-1 to FC Juarez.

Everyone else has been eliminated from the picture entirely. Tijuana sits at 22 points with a ceiling of 28, Santos Laguna can also reach a maximum of 28, and Pumas, with 20 points and two games in hand, can't surpass 26. In other words: even if all six contenders finished ahead of Chivas and America, neither club would drop below eighth place. The Liguilla spot is guaranteed without even needing to look at tiebreaker criteria.

The road to the end of the regular phase

Guadalajara, which briefly sat in first place before ceding the lead following America's draw, will close out the regular phase with a trip to Leon on November 8 and a home finale against Cruz Azul on November 22. Gabriel Milito's side can also finish with 35 points, so the race to crack the top four remains wide open.

America, meanwhile, still has to face Pumas and Tigres. Those are two opponents in completely different situations: the Pumas still have a shot at qualifying, while Tigres have already been mathematically eliminated. The Eagles, with Guillermo Almada at the helm, control their own destiny in holding onto first place through the end of the regular tournament.

With their tickets already punched, both Chivas and America now have their sights set on something more ambitious: finishing among the top four spots in the standings to guarantee home advantage in the second leg of the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the battle for the six remaining Liguilla spots stays tight among Cruz Azul, Atlas, Leon, Toluca, Monterrey and Queretaro.