Liga MX Apertura 2025 preview: Can Toluca repeat? Will Aaron Ramsey lift Pumas? Is Sergio Ramos' Monterrey a contender?

Toluca begins its title defense, América aims to reclaim the throne, and Cruz Azul builds a dream team.

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• Rayados reinforced only their goalkeeping position
• Tigres signed a 2022 World Cup winner
• Pumas made headlines by landing Aaron Ramsey

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  Key matchups to watch

  The wait is over – the Apertura 2025 kicks off this weekend with a triple-header featuring Puebla vs Atlas, FC Juárez vs América, and Tijuana vs Querétaro. This season promises high-level action as Liga MX clubs continue to attract marquee signings that were once rare in Mexican football.

  One of the season's early highlights will be the Matchday 2 rematch between Toluca and América, a replay of the Clausura 2025 final. El Clásico Nacional between América and Chivas is set for Matchday 8 (Sept. 12), followed by América vs Pumas on Matchday 11 (Sept. 27), and Chivas visiting Pumas on Matchday 12 (Oct. 5).

  The Clásico Joven between América and Cruz Azul will take place on Oct. 18 (Matchday 13), while the Clásico Regio between Monterrey and Tigres will be played on Nov. 1 at the Estadio BBVA (Matchday 16). The regular season wraps up with Pumas vs Cruz Azul on Nov. 8 at Ciudad Universitaria.

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  Headline signings

  International stars continue to arrive in Liga MX. Following the high-profile additions of Sergio Ramos (Monterrey) and James Rodríguez (León) during the Clausura, Pumas made a splash this summer by signing Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey. The former Arsenal standout – who also played for Juventus, Rangers, and Nice – now joins UNAM as one of the league’s marquee names.

  Tigres also made noise by bringing in Ángel Correa from Atlético de Madrid. The Argentine World Cup winner from 2022 is the biggest signing of the window so far, even as Tigres largely keep faith in the squad that reached last season’s semifinals.

  América have focused on youth, adding Alexis Gutiérrez (Cruz Azul), Isaías Violante (Toluca), and Ralph Orquin (FC Juárez). However, fans are beginning to pressure the club’s front office, demanding more impactful signings to keep pace with the fierce competition.

  Chivas added depth with the arrivals of Efraín Álvarez, Richard Ledezma, Bryan González, and Diego Campillo. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul heads into the tournament as the early favorite. With Nicolás Larcamón taking over as head coach, La Máquina has already landed José Paradela and Jéremy Márquez. And all signs point to the imminent arrival of Luka Jović – formerly of Real Madrid and AC Milan – who is currently a free agent and close to joining the club.

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  Title contenders and betting odds

  Despite falling short in the Clausura, Club América are the odds-on favorite to lift the Apertura 2025 trophy, with most sportsbooks putting them at 4.0 decimal odds. A back-to-back title run for Toluca isn’t far behind, listed at 5.40.

  Tigres, Monterrey, and Cruz Azul are all close contenders, each at 7.0, according to the latest lines. A championship for Chivas would offer a solid return at 13.00, while a title win for Pumas – which would be their eighth – is a long shot at 21.00.

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  Did you know?

  Despite featuring big-name players and clubs like Cruz Azul and Pumas making bold moves in the transfer market, Liga MX squads are entering the new season with their lowest overall market value in the past seven years, according to .

  The combined market value of Liga MX rosters stands at $1,040,261,128. While still a massive figure, it marks the lowest since the 2017-18 season, when the league’s total value was $878,641,290. Back in the 2016-17 season, the number was even lower, at $829,855,934. That means the 2025-26 season ranks as the third-lowest in the last decade.

  The three most valuable players in the league right now are:

  Player	Team	Value
  Alexis Vega	Toluca	$11,741,361
  Ángel Correa	Tigres	$11,741,361
  Álvaro Fidalgo	América	$10,567,225

  Based on the latest data, the ten most valuable clubs in Mexican football are:

  Team	Value
  América	$102,948,255
  Cruz Azul	$92,521,927
  Monterrey	$91,289,084
  Toluca	$88,588,571
  Tigres	$81,543,754
  Chivas	$81,168,030
  Pachuca	$67,865,068
  Necaxa	$56,828,189
  León	$50,405,664
  Pumas	$48,844,063

  Most valuable players by team

  Team	Player(s)	Value
  América	Álvaro Fidalgo	$10,567,225
  Cruz Azul	Érik Lira	$9,393,089
  Monterrey	Nelson Deossa, Sergio Canales, Lucas Ocampos & Germán Berterame	$7,044,816 each
  Toluca	Alexis Vega	$11,741,361
  Tigres	Ángel Correa	$11,741,361
  Chivas	Roberto Alvarado	$7,631,884
  Pachuca	Oussama Idrissi & John Kennedy	$8,218,952 each
  Necaxa	Diber Cambindo	$7,631,884
  León	Fernando Beltrán	$4,696,544
  Pumas	Nathan Silva & José Caicedo	$5,870,680 each