Liga MX Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals Set to Ignite: Complete Bracket, Schedule, and Battle Format Revealed
The exciting finale of the Liga MX Apertura 2025 campaign has arrived, featuring the top eight squads from the regular season ready to battle in the playoff quarterfinal stage.
The trio of Play-In matches provided a preview of the excitement ahead. Tijuana and FC Juárez met expectations as predicted winners and progressed to pursue Apertura 2025 championship honors.
The five clubs that were considered preseason contenders occupy the top five positions entering the postseason. Nevertheless, anything can happen once the knockout phase commences, and surprises are a hallmark of La Liguilla.
Here's your complete guide to the Liga MX Apertura 2025 quarterfinal round.
Liga MX Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals: Matchups
Current titleholders Toluca start their championship defense facing Martín Varini's resilient FC Juárez. The frontier club has built a reputation as a squad capable of competing respectably against any rival, though Toluca enters with confidence given the apparent talent disparity between the teams.
Rising star Gilberto Mora aims to lead Tijuana against Tigres. Meanwhile, with Ángel Correa adjusting smoothly to Liga MX, Tigres have enjoyed a revival this season, suffering only one defeat throughout the regular campaign. Guido Pizarro's squad enters as heavy favorites to progress.
Cruz Azul and Chivas clash in what appears to be a closely matched encounter. A loss in their final regular season fixture proved damaging for Nicolás Larcamón's team. Rather than finishing atop the standings, they fell to third place and now confront a Chivas outfit that has triumphed in seven of their previous eight matches.
Talent-rich clubs Club América and Monterrey will clash in the playoffs for the first time since the Apertura 2024 championship match. Both possess among the most formidable squads in North America, featuring players like Allan Saint-Maximin, Alejandro Zendejas, Anthony Martial, Sergio Ramos and Sergio Canales eager to make their mark in the quarterfinals.
Liga MX Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals: Dates
First Legs
Matchup | Date | Kick-Off Time |
|---|---|---|
FC Juárez vs. Toluca | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT |
Monterrey vs. Club América | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 10:05 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT |
Tijuana vs. Tigres | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 12:00 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT |
Chivas vs. Cruz Azul | Thursday, Nov. 27 | 9:07 p.m. ET/6:07 p.m. PT |
Second Legs
Matchup | Date | Kick-Off Time |
|---|---|---|
Club América vs. Monterrey | Saturday, Nov. 29 | 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT |
Toluca vs. FC Juárez | Saturday, Nov. 29 | 8:05 p.m. ET/5:05 p.m. PT |
Tigres vs. Tijuana | Saturday, Nov. 29 | 10:10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT |
Cruz Azul vs. Chivas | Sunday, Nov. 30 | 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT |
Liga MX Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals: Format
The Liga MX quarterfinals feature two-legged, home and away series with the superior seed hosting the return match.
What distinguishes the Liga MX playoff structure from other renowned knockout tournaments worldwide is the tiebreaking method. The away goals regulation doesn't apply in the postseason. Additionally, no situation exists where a series can proceed to overtime or penalty kicks.
Should a series conclude level after both legs, the club with the superior seeding will automatically progress to the following round. This regulation serves as compensation for achieving a top four position during the regular season.
The tiebreaking system continues through the semifinals. When the final arrives, this rule is abandoned as overtime and potentially penalty kicks will decide the champion if the final remains deadlocked after 120 minutes.