Pumas and Tigres Kick Off Liga MX Femenil Quarterfinals

The Liguilla of the Liga MX Femenil Apertura 2026 tournament begins this Tuesday, November 10, with a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup between Pumas and Tigres. The first leg of this series will take place at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, marking a significant milestone for the Pumas squad as they seek their first-ever appearance in the tournament semifinals.

Pumas, representing the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, secured their spot in the playoffs by finishing third in Group B with 20 points. Their regular season campaign concluded with six wins, two draws, and six losses. To reach this stage, the team earned a crucial 3-1 victory against Atlético de San Luis in the final week of the regular season.

Their opponents, the Tigres from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, enter the series as one of the most successful programs in the league. Finishing second in Group A with 35 points, the team known as the 'Amazonas' displayed dominant form throughout the season, recording 11 wins, two draws, and only one defeat. They enter the postseason on a strong note, having remained unbeaten in their final seven regular-season matches.

The historical context of this matchup heavily favors the visiting side. In 18 previous encounters, Tigres has secured 15 victories, compared to just one win for Pumas. Furthermore, Tigres has emerged victorious in their two previous quarterfinal meetings during the Apertura 2023 and Apertura 2024 tournaments. Despite this lopsided history, Pumas remains focused on their goal of advancing past the opening round of the 'Fiesta Grande.'

The tournament features a new competition format this season, which has sparked some debate regarding the playoff qualification process. Under the current rules, the top four teams from each of the two groups advance to the quarterfinals. This structure allowed Pumas and Pachuca to qualify despite finishing with fewer points than several teams in Group A that were ultimately excluded from the postseason, such as León and Santos Laguna.

Fans can follow the action starting at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. The match will be broadcast in Mexico via Canal 9, with digital access available through the ViX streaming platform and the official Liga BBVA Femenil YouTube channel. For viewers in the United States, the game is also scheduled to be available on ViX.

Following the conclusion of this first leg in Mexico City, the teams will travel to Monterrey for the return match. The decisive second leg is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at the Estadio Universitario, where the four semifinalists for the Apertura 2026 tournament will be determined.