National Team Call-Ups Shake Up Liga MX Clausura 2026 Playoffs: Impact on Teams and Title Race
The Liga MX Clausura 2026 playoffs are underway, with eight teams vying for the championship title in Mexican soccer. However, several teams are facing challenges due to key players being called up for the Mexico national team's 2026 World Cup preparations.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre announced a list of 12 Liga MX players who will join El Tri's World Cup roster, with 10 of them belonging to teams in the Clausura 2026 playoffs. These players will not participate in the playoffs and have already started training with the national team, causing significant absences for their clubs.
Chivas, led by Gabriel Milito, have been hit the hardest by the national team call-ups, with five players missing from their squad for the playoffs. Despite finishing second in the regular season, Chivas face a tough challenge in replacing their key players and maintaining their title aspirations.
Reigning champions Toluca are also affected, losing left back Jesús Gallardo and playmaker Alexis Vega to the national team. While they have capable replacements, their absence will be felt during the playoffs.
Other teams impacted by the national team call-ups include Club América, Cruz Azul, and Pumas, each losing one player for the playoffs. Pumas, the top seed, will have to cope without striker Guillermo Martínez, but they remain confident in their squad depth.
On the other hand, teams like Pachuca, Atlas, and Tigres are unaffected by the national team call-ups and will compete at full strength in the playoffs. Pachuca, in particular, relies on their foreign talents like Kenedy, Salomón Rondón, and Enner Valencia to lead their title charge.
As the Clausura 2026 playoffs progress, the impact of the national team call-ups on Liga MX teams will be a key factor in determining the eventual champion. Teams will need to adapt and find ways to overcome the absence of their star players to secure success in the tournament.