After a Quarterfinal full of adrenaline between comebacks and solidity, the two Semifinal matchups in the 2026 Clausura Tournament have been defined.
Pumas, who experienced a real drama to oust América due to their position in the table, will face Pachuca, who defeated the two-time champion Toluca with a lot of order and good soccer performance.
On the other hand, Cruz Azul and Chivas meet again after starring in a very tight tie in the previous tournament, but this time with the Final in their sights.
Pumas, super leader of the competition, continues in search of breaking its 15-year drought without League titles and will face a traditional rival in the Final Phase, Pachuca.
The Tuzos and the Auriazules will face each other for the fifth time in the Liguilla of the short tournaments, not counting their two clashes in the Play-In, an instance in which each one benefited (Pumas Clausura 2024, Pachuca Apertura 2025).
Of all their duels, on three occasions the crossing had to be resolved in Mexico City, where Pachuca has defeated Pumas twice (2006 and 2014), while the remaining time favored the cats in 2020.
In Liguilla:
Four confrontations (Pumas and Pachuca have won twice)
Apertura 2006 Quarterfinals: Pachuca 2-1 Pumas
Closing Final 2009: Pumas 3-2 Pachuca
Clausura 2014 Quarterfinals: Pachuca 5-3 Pumas
Guard1anes 2020 Quarterfinals: Pumas 1-0 Pachuca
*Global Scoreboard
In Regular Phase:
Pachuca 0-2 Pumas (Matchday 17)
First leg: Pachuca vs. Pumas Hidalgo Stadium
Return: Pumas vs. Pachuca University Olympic Stadium
Five months later, Cruz Azul and Chivas meet again in the Liguilla, but this time to play the first Semifinal in their history in short tournaments.
La Maquina has been the brakes on the Guadalajara team in recent times, since El Azul ended Chivas’ undefeated streak in the regular season and was their executioner in their last Liguilla match.
Likewise, this will be the first time that Chivas will have a home field in the Return match against the Machine in the history of the Final Phases in short tournaments since that 2003 Repechage.
In Liguilla:
Three matches (Cruz Azul has won two and Chivas one)
Summer 1999 Quarterfinals: Cruz Azul 4-3 Guadalajara
Apertura 2006 Quarterfinals: Guadalajara 4-2 Cruz Azul
Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals: Cruz Azul 3-2 Guadalajara
*Global Scoreboard
In Regular Phase:
Cruz Azul 2-1 Guadalajara (Matchday 7)
First leg: Cruz Azul vs. Chivas Banorte or Puebla Stadium (To be defined)
Return: Chivas vs. Cruz Azul Jalisco Stadium
*Times and days to be defined
