Apertura 2025 Liga MX final phase

Apertura 2025 Liga MX final phase
Tournament details
Dates20 November – 14 December 2025
Teams10
Tournament statistics
Matches played17
Goals scored46 (2.71 per match)

The Apertura 2025 Liga MX final phase[1] was played between 20 November and 14 December 2025.[2] A total of ten teams will compete in the final phase to decide the champions of the Apertura 2025 Liga MX season.[2]

For the fifth straight season, the number of clubs qualifying for the quarter-finals will be six while the teams qualifying for the reclassification is four.[3] The four clubs qualified for the reclassification competed in the "play-in" round, a tournament modeled after the NBA play-in tournament.[3]

Toluca won their second straight title after defeating UANL on penalty kicks. As winners, Toluca will face the Clausura 2026 champion in the 2026 Campeón de Campeones.

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the championship stage.

In the following tables, the number of appearances, last appearance, and previous best result count only those in the short tournament era starting from Invierno 1996 (not counting those in the long tournament era from 1943–44 to 1995–96).

Qualified directly to quarter-finals (6 teams)
Seed Team Points (GD) Date of qualification Appearance Last appearance Previous best (last) Ref.
1 Toluca 37 18 October 2025 (PLAY)
22 October 2025 (QF)
40th Clausura 2025 Champions (Cl. 2025) [4]
2 UANL 36 18 October 2025 (PLAY)
25 October 2025 (QF)
36th Champions (Cl. 2023) [5]
3 Cruz Azul 35 18 October 2025 (PLAY)
25 October 2025 (QF)
38th Champions (Gua. 2021) [6]
4 América 34 18 October 2025 (PLAY)
24 October 2025 (QF)
41st Champions (Ap. 2024) [7]
5 Monterrey 31 18 October 2025 (PLAY)
25 October 2025 (QF)
32nd Champions (Ap. 2019) [8]
6 Guadalajara 29 26 October 2025 (PLAY)
7 November 2025 (QF)
34th Apertura 2024 Champions (Cl. 2017) [9]
Qualified to play-in round (4 teams)
Seed Team Points (GD) Date of qualification Appearance Last appearance Previous best (last) Ref
7 Tijuana 24 31 October 2025 9th Apertura 2024 Champions (Ap. 2012) [10]
8 Juárez 23 31 October 2025 3rd Clausura 2025 Reclassification (Cl. 2025)
9 Pachuca 22 31 October 2025 42nd Champions (Ap. 2022) [11]
10 UNAM 21 8 November 2025 29th Champions (Cl. 2011) [12]

Play-in round

Format

The 9th place team hosts the 10th place team in an elimination game. The 7th hosts the 8th place team in the double-chance game, with the winner advancing as the 7-seed. The loser of this game then hosts the winner of the elimination game between the 9th and 10th place teams to determine the 8-seed.

Bracket

Play-in gamesNo. 8 seed gameFinal seeds
Serie A
7Tijuana37TijuanaNo. 7 seed
8Juárez18JuárezNo. 8 seed
8Juárez2
Serie B9Pachuca1
9Pachuca3
10UNAM1


Play-in matches

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Tijuana 3–1 Juárez
Pachuca 3–1 UNAM

Serie A

Tijuana3–1Juárez
  • Mourad 31'
  • Mora 59' (pen.)
  • Bullaude 90+1'
Report
Referee: Marco Antonio Ortiz (Durango)

Serie B

Pachuca3–1UNAM
Report

8th seed match

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Juárez 2–1 Pachuca
Juárez2–1Pachuca
Report

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
               
1 Toluca 2 0 2
8 Juárez 1 0 1
1 Toluca (s) 0 3 3
5 Monterrey 1 2 3
4 América 0 2 2
5 Monterrey 2 1 3
1 Toluca (p) 0 2 2 (9)
2 UANL 1 1 2 (8)
2 UANL 0 5 5
7 Tijuana 3 0 3
2 UANL (s) 1 1 2
3 Cruz Azul 1 1 2
3 Cruz Azul 0 3 3
6 Guadalajara 0 2 2


Quarter-finals

Summary

The first legs were played on 26–27 November 2025, and the second legs were played on 29–30 November 2025.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Juárez 1–2 Toluca 1–2 0–0
Tijuana 3–5 UANL 3–0 0–5
Guadalajara 2–3 Cruz Azul 0–0 2–3
Monterrey 3–2 América 2–0 1–2

Matches

Juárez1–2Toluca
Report
Referee: Maximiliano Quintero Hernández (Veracruz)

Toluca won 2–1 on aggregate.


Tijuana3–0UANL
Report
Referee: Vicente Jassiel Reynoso (Nayarit)
UANL5–0Tijuana
Report

UANL won 5–3 on aggregate.


Guadalajara0–0Cruz Azul
Report
Referee: Guillermo Pacheco Larios (Sonora)
Cruz Azul3–2Guadalajara
Report
Referee: Daniel Quintero Huitrón (Jalisco)

Cruz Azul won 3–2 on aggregate.


Monterrey2–0América
Report
Attendance: 43,688[13]
Referee: Jesús Rafael López (Sinaloa)

Monterrey won 3–2 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

Summary

The first legs were played on 3 December 2025, and the second legs were played on 6 December 2025.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Monterrey 3–3 (s) Toluca 1–0 2–3
Cruz Azul 2–2 (s) UANL 1–1 1–1

Matches

Monterrey1–0Toluca
Report
Attendance: 50,716[14]
Referee: Daniel Quintero Huitrón (Jalisco)

3–3 on aggregate. Toluca advanced due to being the higher seeded club.


Cruz Azul1–1UANL
Report
Referee: Ismael Rosario López (Sinaloa)
UANL1–1Cruz Azul
Report
Referee: Víctor Alfonso Cáceres (Chiapas)

2–2 on aggregate. UANL advanced due to being the higher seeded club.

Finals

Summary

The first leg was played on 11 December 2025, and the second leg will be played on 14 December 2025.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
UANL 2–2 (8–9 p) Toluca 1–0 1–2 (a.e.t.)


First leg

UANL1–0Toluca
Report


Details

Toluca[15][16]
GK 1 Argentina Nahuel Guzmán
DF 14 Mexico Jesús Garza Yellow card 63'
DF 2 Brazil Joaquim
DF 27 Mexico Jesús Angulo Yellow card 18' downward-facing red arrow 83'
DF 3 United States Marco Farfan downward-facing red arrow 85'
MF 23 Brazil Rômulo
MF 8 Uruguay Fernando Gorriarán (c)
MF 16 Mexico Diego Lainez
MF 11 Argentina Juan Brunetta downward-facing red arrow 83'
MF 7 Argentina Ángel Correa
FW 10 France André-Pierre Gignac downward-facing red arrow 71'
Substitutions:
GK 25 Mexico Carlos Felipe Rodríguez
DF 4 Mexico Juanjo Purata upward-facing green arrow 83'
DF 19 Mexico Iván López
DF 33 Mexico Rafael Guerrero
DF 35 Mexico Osvaldo Rodríguez
MF 6 Mexico Juan Pablo Vigón
MF 20 Mexico Javier Aquino upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 24 Mexico Marcelo Flores
FW 9 Argentina Nicolás Ibáñez upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 22 Mexico Uriel Antuna upward-facing green arrow 83'
Manager:
Argentina Guido Pizarro
GK 1 Mexico Hugo González
DF 19 Argentina Santiago Simón
DF 4 Uruguay Bruno Méndez downward-facing red arrow 58'
DF 25 Mexico Everardo López
DF 6 Uruguay Federico Pereira Yellow card 90+2'
DF 20 Mexico Jesús Gallardo Yellow card 24'
MF 10 Mexico Jesús Angulo downward-facing red arrow 58'
MF 14 Mexico Marcel Ruiz (c)
MF 5 Argentina Franco Romero
MF 8 Argentina Nicolás Castro downward-facing red arrow 86'
FW 26 Portugal Paulinho downward-facing red arrow 78'
Substitutions:
GK 22 Mexico Luis García
DF 2 Mexico Diego Barbosa upward-facing green arrow 58'
DF 3 Mexico Antonio Briseño
MF 17 Mexico Mauricio Isais
MF 7 Mexico Juan Pablo Domínguez upward-facing green arrow 86'
MF 16 Mexico Héctor Herrera
MF 24 United States Fernando Arce Jr.
MF 11 Brazil Helinho upward-facing green arrow 78'
FW 23 Mexico Oswaldo Virgen
FW 31 Paraguay Robert Morales Red card 90+2' upward-facing green arrow 58'
Manager:
Argentina Antonio Mohamed

Assistant referees:[17]
Christian Kiabek Espinosa (Mexico City)
Michel Alejandro Morales (Mexico City)
Fourth official:[17]
Daniel Quintero Huitrón (Jalisco)
Video assistant referee:[17]
Guillermo Pacheco Larios (Sonora)
Assistant video assistant referee:[17]
Ismael Rosario López (Sinaloa)

Statistics

Statistic[18] UANL Toluca
Goals scored 1 0
Total shots 10 9
Shots on target 2 1
Saves 1 2
Ball possession 50% 50%
Corner kicks 8 0
Fouls committed 16 15
Offsides 2 1
Yellow cards 2 2
Red cards 0 1

Second leg

2–2 on aggregate. Toluca won 9–8 on penalty kicks.


Details

Toluca[19][20]
GK 22 Mexico Luis García
DF 19 Argentina Santiago Simón Yellow card 45+3'
DF 25 Mexico Everardo López downward-facing red arrow 112'
DF 6 Uruguay Federico Pereira Yellow card 12'
DF 20 Mexico Jesús Gallardo
MF 11 Brazil Helinho downward-facing red arrow 73'
MF 10 Mexico Jesús Angulo downward-facing red arrow 80'
MF 14 Mexico Marcel Ruiz (c) downward-facing red arrow 113'
MF 5 Argentina Franco Romero
MF 8 Argentina Nicolás Castro downward-facing red arrow 90'
FW 26 Portugal Paulinho Yellow card 69' downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
Substitutions:
GK 1 Mexico Hugo González
DF 2 Mexico Diego Barbosa Yellow card 117' upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
DF 3 Mexico Antonio Briseño
DF 4 Uruguay Bruno Méndez upward-facing green arrow 90'
MF 17 Mexico Mauricio Isais
MF 7 Mexico Juan Pablo Domínguez upward-facing green arrow 73'
MF 16 Mexico Héctor Herrera
MF 24 United States Fernando Arce Jr. upward-facing green arrow 113'
FW 9 Mexico Alexis Vega upward-facing green arrow 80'
FW 23 Mexico Oswaldo Virgen upward-facing green arrow 112'
Manager:
Argentina Antonio Mohamed
GK 1 Argentina Nahuel Guzmán
DF 14 Mexico Jesús Garza
DF 2 Brazil Joaquim
DF 4 Mexico Juanjo Purata
DF 3 United States Marco Farfan downward-facing red arrow 46'
MF 23 Brazil Rômulo downward-facing red arrow 106'
MF 8 Uruguay Fernando Gorriarán (c)
MF 16 Mexico Diego Lainez downward-facing red arrow 106'
MF 11 Argentina Juan Brunetta Yellow card 78' downward-facing red arrow 90'
MF 7 Argentina Ángel Correa Yellow card 64'
FW 10 France André-Pierre Gignac downward-facing red arrow 57'
Substitutions:
GK 25 Mexico Carlos Felipe Rodríguez
DF 19 Mexico Iván López
DF 33 Mexico Rafael Guerrero
DF 35 Mexico Osvaldo Rodríguez
MF 6 Mexico Juan Pablo Vigón upward-facing green arrow 106'
MF 20 Mexico Javier Aquino upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 24 Mexico Marcelo Flores
FW 9 Argentina Nicolás Ibáñez upward-facing green arrow 57'
FW 22 Mexico Uriel Antuna upward-facing green arrow 106'
FW 77 Mexico Ozziel Herrera upward-facing green arrow 90'
Manager:
Argentina Guido Pizarro

Assistant referees:[17]
Alberto Morín Méndez (Chihuahua)
Marco Antonio Bisguerra (Guanajuato)
Fourth official:[17]
Luis Enrique Santander (Guanajuato)
Video assistant referee:[17]
Diana Stephanía Pérez (Guanajuato)
Assistant video assistant referee:[17]
Érick Yair Miranda (Guanajuato)

Statistics

Statistic[21] Toluca UANL
Goals scored 2 2
Total shots 30 7
Shots on target 12 2
Saves 1 10
Ball possession 67% 33%
Corner kicks 11 5
Fouls committed 17 16
Offsides 1 2
Yellow cards 4 3
Red cards 0 0

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 46 goals scored in 17 matches, for an average of 2.71 goals per match.

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Assists

2 assists

1 assist

Discipline

Player Club Offense(s) Suspension(s)
Panama Adalberto Carrasquilla UNAM Received 5th Yellow card of season vs Cruz Azul (Week 17, 8 November 2024) Play-in round Serie B vs Juárez (20 November 2025)
Argentina Lorenzo Faravelli Cruz Azul Red card vs UNAM (Week 17, 8 November 2024) Quarter-finals vs Guadalajara (First leg; 27 November 2025)
Mexico Alejandro Mayorga Juárez Red card in Play-in round vs Tijuana (Serie A, 20 November 2025) 8th seed match vs Pachuca (23 November 2025)
Mexico Brian García Pachuca Red card in Play-in round vs Juárez (8th seed match, 23 November 2025) Week 1 of Clausura 2026 season
Mexico Víctor Guzmán Pachuca Red card in Play-in round vs Juárez (8th seed match, 23 November 2025) Week 1 of Clausura 2026 season
Mexico Jairo Torres Juárez Red card in Play-in round vs Pachuca (8th seed match, 23 November 2025) Quarter-finals vs Toluca (First leg; 26 November 2025)
Argentina Jorge Rodríguez Monterrey Yellow card Yellow-red card in Quarterfinals vs América (Second leg, 29 November 2025) Semi-finals vs Toluca (First leg; 3 December 2025)
Paraguay Robert Morales Toluca Red card in Finals vs UANL (First leg, 11 December 2025) Finals vs UANL (Second leg; 14 December 2025)

References

  1. ^ "Calendario Apertura 2025" (PDF). Liga MX. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Liga MX: ¿Qué debes saber del calendario Apertura 2024?". MedioTiempo. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Por unanimidad, la Asamblea de Clubes designa a Juan Carlos Rodríguez". Liga MX. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Toluca History". 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Tigres UANL History". 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Cruz Azul History". Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  7. ^ "América History". 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Monterrey History". 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Guadalajara History". 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Tijuana History". 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Pachuca History". 11 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  12. ^ "UNAM History". 19 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  13. ^ "¡RAYADOS VENCE AL AMÉRICA Y TOMA LA VENTAJA EN CUARTOS!". rayados.com. 2025-11-26. Archived from the original on 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  14. ^ "¡TRIUNFO Y VENTAJA PARA RAYADOS EN LA SEMIFINAL!". rayados.com. 2025-12-03. Archived from the original on 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  15. ^ a b "UANL vs. Toluca- 11 December 2025 - ESPNFC". ESPNFC.com.
  16. ^ a b "Minuto a Minuto". LIGA MX.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h "Designaciones Arbitrales".
  18. ^ "UANL vs Toluca stats – ESPNFC". ESPN. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Toluca vs. UANL - 14 December 2025 - ESPNFC". ESPNFC.com.
  20. ^ a b "Minuto a Minuto". LIGA MX.
  21. ^ "Toluca vs UANL stats – ESPNFC". ESPN. Retrieved 12 December 2025.