Liga MX Liguilla, Apertura 2026: how to watch Mexican soccer's playoffs in Nuevo Vallarta

In Mexico there is one word that makes any soccer fan sit up straight: Liguilla. After months of matchdays, streaks, fired coaches and climbs up the table, Mexican soccer reaches its most intense stage, the one that turns a regular tournament into a national party. Two-legged ties, packed stadiums, traveling fans and the feeling that anyone can be champion. The Apertura 2026 heads into its final stretch in November, and at Guicho's Sports Bar we are ready to welcome every fan base.

This is our guide to watching the Liguilla from Nuevo Vallarta: how it works, what happens in a tie, which teams move the local crowd and how to plan your soccer night at the bar. If you are visiting and have never followed Liga MX, this is the best possible time to start.

What the Liguilla is and why it is special.

Liga MX is one of the few major leagues in the world that does not crown the team at the top of the table. Instead, the title goes to whoever wins a knockout final stage. There are two tournaments every year, the Apertura and the Clausura, and each ends with its own Liguilla. That means two champions a year and two seasons of soccer fever.

The format has critics and defenders, but everyone agrees on one thing: the Liguilla is pure spectacle. A team that sneaked in can knock out the regular-season leader, a club that has not won anything in years can reach the final, and a goal in the 90th minute can change a club's history. For a sports bar, it does not get better.

How the final stage works.

The best-placed teams in the overall table at the end of the regular season advance to the final stage. The fine print (how many qualify directly and whether there are extra qualifying games) is set by Liga MX for each tournament, so it is always worth checking the current rules. The essence does not change:

Quarterfinals

The eight qualifiers are paired by position: first against eighth, second against seventh, third against sixth and fourth against fifth. Each tie is played home and away, and the higher seed hosts the second leg. It is the round with the most games and usually the most upsets.

Semifinals

The four survivors are reseeded by table position, and once again the higher seed plays the second leg at home. There are no easy opponents left: these are the teams in their best form, and every mistake costs.

The Final

Two legs for the title. It is the most watched soccer event in the country every semester. If one of the big clubs is in the Final, the whole country stops; if a surprise team makes it, it becomes the story of the year.

What happens in a tie.

This is the question we hear most at the bar when a second leg is level on aggregate. The rule is simple and has a logic to it: it rewards the better regular season.

Quarterfinals and semifinals: if the aggregate score is tied after both legs, the team that finished higher in the overall table advances. No extra time, no penalties. That is why top seeds can play the second leg with a draw in their pocket, while lower seeds have to go chase a goal.

The Final: table position no longer counts. If the aggregate is tied, the teams play extra time, and if it is still level, it goes to a penalty shootout. In other words, the Final is won on the field, one way or another.

The local fan bases.

Nuevo Vallarta sits in Nayarit, right next to Puerto Vallarta and a few hours' drive from Guadalajara. That makes the crowd on the bay a fascinating mix:

Chivas. Guadalajara's Chivas are probably the most followed team in the region, thanks to proximity and tradition. When Chivas reach the Liguilla, the bay turns red and white.

Atlas. The other half of Guadalajara, with a loyal fan base that never gives up. If Chivas and Atlas meet in the final stage, the Clásico Tapatío heats up like no other match.

América, Cruz Azul, Pumas and the Monterrey clubs. The Mexico City giants and Monterrey's Tigres and Rayados have fans all over the country, and in a tourist area like ours supporters arrive from everywhere. América against Chivas in the Liguilla, the Clásico Nacional, is one of the games that draws the biggest crowd to the bar.

The visitors. Plenty of travelers from the U.S. and Canada discover the Liga MX atmosphere for the first time in a Mexican sports bar. There is no better introduction to Mexican soccer than a Liguilla second leg in a packed room.

The Liguilla explained for visitors.

Every November we welcome visitors who have never watched a Liga MX game and who ask, fairly, why the team that finished first is not automatically the champion. If you have to explain the Liguilla to a friend from abroad, here is the short version:

It is like the playoffs in U.S. leagues. The regular season is for qualifying and earning an edge; the title is decided in knockout rounds. The difference is that each round is played over two games and the goals from both are added up: the aggregate score.

Finishing high really matters. The higher seed hosts the second leg and, in the quarterfinals and semifinals, advances on a tied aggregate. That edge makes the final weeks of the regular season intense too.

Two champions a year. Because there is an Apertura and a Clausura, there are two Liguillas every year. That is why Mexican fans count their team's titles two at a time… and why there is always something to argue about.

The atmosphere is part of the show. Chants, flags, fan groups answering each other from table to table: watching the Liguilla in a Mexican sports bar is as much a cultural experience as a sporting one.

So if you are vacationing on the Riviera Nayarit in November or December, give it a shot: pick a team, put on its jersey and experience a Liguilla second leg in a packed bar.

After the World Cup, Liga MX feels different.

The Apertura 2026 is special for one more reason: it is the first tournament after the World Cup that Mexico co-hosted this summer. Several league players lived the tournament at home, and fans arrive with soccer still running hot. If you want to relive those weeks, here is our recap of Mexico's 2026 World Cup run and our story on Spain's world title.

How to watch the Liguilla at Guicho's.

1. Book both legs. The Liguilla is played over two games, usually one midweek and one on the weekend. If your group wants to watch both, reserve them at once by messaging us at +52 322 199 9535.

2. Arrive before kickoff. For second legs and the Final, the best tables in front of the screens go fast. Arriving early gets you a good spot and time to order the first round.

3. Check the schedule. Liga MX confirms Liguilla dates and times only a few days ahead, as the matchups are set. We post the games we are showing on Guicho's Facebook page.

4. Good vibes first. Every jersey is welcome at Guicho's. The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly: yell the goal, trade friendly banter with the next table and hug a stranger in the 90th minute.

5. Plan your whole weekend. In November the Liguilla overlaps with the NFL, the NBA and Formula 1. For the full picture, see our guide to where to watch live sports in Nuevo Vallarta.

The Liguilla menu.

A soccer game is ninety minutes plus stoppage time, with a halftime made for the second round. From Guicho's menu (prices in Mexican pesos), here is what works best:

Guicho's Nachos ($265). Chips with refried beans, cheese, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole and grilled arrachera steak. The centerpiece from the opening whistle.

Guacamole ($180). Made to order with fresh avocado, pico de gallo and chips. Nothing says Mexican soccer like it.

The Wings (400 g, $205). Buffalo, BBQ, Mango Habanero, Parmesan or Lemon Pepper. One order per fan base.

House tacos. El Gaonero ($150), pork shank ($145), El Campechano ($140) or shrimp ($145). For halftime, nothing is more Mexican.

Esquites ($160) and León-style Duritos ($160). Stadium snacks you cannot skip.

Shrimp Broth ($160) or Tortilla Soup ($155). For long second-leg nights, something warm hits the spot too.

Ice-cold beer and Clamato. To toast the goal that sends your team through… or to ease the sting of elimination.

Mexican soccer's biggest party.

The Liguilla is one of those traditions that brings the country together: no matter where you are from or who you root for, when December comes all of Mexico knows who is playing the Final. In Nuevo Vallarta we live it with the ocean a few steps away, with fans from all over the country and half the world, and with the certainty that every semester brings a new story.

You bring the jersey and your crew; we bring the screens, the snacks and the cold beer. See you at Blvd. Nayarit 137B, Local 5, Nuevo Vallarta, to celebrate the goal that wins a championship.

Frequently asked questions.