Liga MX is entering a pivotal moment with Matchday 3 of the 2026 Apertura. Only two matchdays have been played, but the tournament is already beginning to reveal which teams will set the pace of the competition and which ones need to step up to avoid falling behind right from the start.
Xolos will defend their lead in a tough road match against Atlético de San Luis, while Atlas, Cruz Azul, and Necaxa will try to maintain their perfect records. In contrast, clubs like León, Santos, FC Juárez, and Puebla will look to pick up points that can turn around their difficult start.
Action kicks off on Friday, July 31, with three matches. Puebla will host Chivas at Cuauhtémoc Stadium, where Guadalajara arrives on the back of three consecutive shutouts against La Franja and six wins in their last ten head-to-head meetings. At the same time, league-leading Xolos will visit Atlético de San Luis in a matchup where draws have historically been the norm. Also, FC Juárez will look to snap a troubling two-game losing streak—during which they failed to score—when they host a Pumas side motivated by its victory over Toluca.
Saturday will feature four matches. Querétaro will look to build on the momentum from its win in Pachuca against a Tigres team that has yet to secure a victory in the tournament. León will face Pachuca in another edition of the regional derby, while Atlas will aim to secure three consecutive wins for the first time since the 2011 Clausura when they host Monterrey. Later, Cruz Azul will take on Atlante with the goal of remaining undefeated and kicking off the season with three straight wins.
The round will conclude on Sunday with two matches. América will host Santos, riding a streak of ten consecutive games without a loss against the team from La Laguna, while Toluca will look to get back on the winning track against a Necaxa side aiming to start the championship with a perfect record of three wins.
With the top spot on the line, historic streaks, and the need to pick up points early in the season, Matchday 3 promises a weekend full of excitement for Mexican soccer fans.
Match Schedules and Broadcast Channels for Matchday 3 (Mexico and the United States)
| Match | Time (Mexico) | ET (U.S.) | PT (U.S.) | Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puebla vs. Chivas | 7:00 p.m. | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | Channel 7, FOX, FOX One | Telemundo, Universo, Peacock |
| Atlético de San Luis vs. Xolos | 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 PM | 8:00 PM | ESPN, Disney+, ViX | ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ |
| FC Juárez vs. Pumas | 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 PM | 8:00 PM | Channel 7, FOX, FOX One | FOX Deportes, FOX Soccer Plus |
| Querétaro vs. Tigres | 5:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 4:00 PM | FOX, FOX One, Caliente Streaming | FOX Deportes |
| León vs. Pachuca | 7:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 6:00 PM | FOX, FOX One | FOX Deportes |
| Atlas vs. Monterrey | 7:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 6:00 PM | Channel 5, TUDN, ViX | TUDN, ViX |
| Cruz Azul vs. Atlante | 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 PM | 8:00 PM | Channel 5, TUDN, ViX | TUDN, ViX |
| América vs. Santos | 5:00 PM | 7:00 p.m. | 4:00 PM | Channel 5, TUDN, ViX | TUDN, ViX |
| Toluca vs. Necaxa | 7:00 p.m. | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | Channel 5, TUDN, ViX | TUDN, ViX |
