The 2025–26 Liga de Expansión MX season is the sixth professional season of the second-tier football division in Mexico. The season is divided into two championships—the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura—each in an identical format. The Apertura tournament began on 1 August 2025. The Clausura tournament began on 9 January 2026.
Changes from the previous season The Liga de Expansión MX is a Mexican football league founded in 2020 as part of the Mexican Football Federation's "Stabilization Project", which has the primary objective of rescuing the financially troubled teams from the Ascenso MX and prevent the disappearance of a second-tier league in Mexico, for which there will be no promotion and relegation during the following six years. The project also attempts for Liga MX and former Ascenso MX teams to consolidate stable projects with solid basis, sports-wise and administrative-wise, financially wise and in infrastructure.
The 2024–25 Serie A runner–ups Irapuato was certified for promotion to the Liga de Expansión MX. However, the team will participate as a guest team and not as a full member of the league. On June 10, 2025, Celaya F.C. sold the franchise to businessmen from Veracruz, who formed a team called Piratas de Veracruz. However, the new team had to be approved by the owner's assembly. On June 19 the transaction was blocked by a vote among the owners of the other Liga de Expansión clubs, so the franchise was put on hiatus for the 2025–26 season. In May 2025, Cimarrones de Sonora attempted to sell its franchise to Club Jaiba Brava, so the Tampico–Madero team would become a full member of the league. However, the transaction was blocked by a vote among the owners of the other Liga de Expansión clubs. Following the vote, Cimarrones de Sonora was granted an additional year to maintain its franchise on hiatus, while Jaiba Brava will continue to participate in the league as a guest team. Dorados de Sinaloa will continue playing their home games at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana due to security issues in Culiacán.
Stadiums and locations
TeamCityStadiumCapacityAtlanteZacatepec, MorelosAgustín "Coruco" Díaz24,313Atlético La PazLa Paz, Baja California SurGuaycura5,209Atlético MoreliaMorelia, MichoacánMorelos35,000CancúnCancún, Quintana RooAndrés Quintana Roo18,844IrapuatoIrapuato, GuanajuatoSergio León Chávez25,000Jaiba BravaTampico and Ciudad MaderoTamaulipas19,667OaxacaOaxaca City, OaxacaTecnológico de Oaxaca14,598SinaloaTijuana, Baja CaliforniaCaliente31,158TapatíoTepatitlán de Morelos, JaliscoGregorio "Tepa" Gómez8,085TepatitlánTlaxcalaTlaxcala City, TlaxcalaTlahuicole9,462UATCiudad Victoria, TamaulipasMarte R. Gómez10,520U. de G.Guadalajara, JaliscoJalisco55,020VenadosMérida, YucatánCarlos Iturralde15,087ZacatecasZacatecas City, ZacatecasCarlos Vega Villalba20,068
Stadium changes Tapatío (Apertura 2025)Estadio Akron Capacity: 46,232
Personnel and kits Team Chairman Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor(s) frontAtlante Jorge Santillana Ricardo Carbajal Javier Ibarra Keuka CalienteAtlético La Paz Samuel Hernández Hugo Castillo Martín Barragán Sporelli Baja FerriesAtlético Morelia Rubens Sambueza Mario Ortiz Daniel Parra Keuka Akron, ArcelorMittal, Harinera Monarca, Biocup, Michoacán, Cemex Tolteca, Electrolit, AutovíasCancún Jeff Luhnow Miguel Bravo Benjamín Galindo Jr. Adidas Cancún Irapuato Selomith Ramírez Moreles Daniel Alcántar Humberto Hernández Keuka Healthy People, Chay Printer, Tonic Music, Tonic LifeJaiba Brava Gerardo Nader Marco Antonio Ruiz Sergio Flores Keuka Nexum, GDL Transportes, Unitam, Grupo Velas, Mega, Bricer Logistics, Grúas AriasOaxaca Juan Carlos Jones Efrén Hernández Octavio Paz Romed Ballove Ballon Bar, Fiestamas App, Piticó, San Francisco Laboratorios Sinaloa José Antonio Núñez Paco Ramírez Alfonso Sánchez Charly Coppel, Caliente, SuKarneTapatío Amaury Vergara José Luis Meléndez Diego Delgadillo PumaTepatitlán Bruno Marioni Gabriel Pereyra Jesús Venegas Joma PacíficaTlaxcala Rafael Torre Mendoza Gustavo Leal José Plascencia UIN Tlaxcala, ProntoUAT Armando Arce Gustavo Díaz Daniel Cisneros JAG Sportswear Doña TotaU. de G. Alfonso Sosa Arturo Ledesma Keuka ElectrolitVenados Rodolfo Rosas Cantillo Nacho Castro William Guzmán Joma Yucatán, Nus-káhZacatecas Eduardo López Muñoz Luis Ángel Muñoz Andrés Ávila Spiro Fresnillo plc, Mifel, Chirey, Mobil
Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table Ref.Pre-Apertura changesCancún Luis ArceEnd of contract23 April 2025 Miguel Bravo22 May 2025Pre–seasonSinaloa Sebastián AbreuSigned by Tijuana30 April 2025 Cirilo Saucedo30 April 2025Tlaxcala Luis OrozcoSacked14 May 2025 Marco Fabián Vázquez16 May 2025Atlético La Paz Antonio López (Interim)End of tenure as caretaker31 May 2025 Hugo Castillo31 May 2025Atlético Morelia Nacho CastroMutual agreement2 June 2025 Gilberto Adame9 June 2025Irapuato Víctor MedinaSigned by Montañeses24 June 2025 Daniel Alcántar14 July 2025Apertura changesVenados Rigoberto EsparzaMutual agreement18 August 2025 Nacho Castro21 August 202515thOaxaca Arturo AlvaradoSacked6 September 2025 Juan Manuel Rivera (interim)6 September 202515thUAT Héctor Hugo Eugui8 September 2025 Jorge Urbina (interim)8 September 202512thZacatecas Mario GarcíaMutual agreement23 September 2025 Luis Ángel Muñoz (interim)23 September 202511thSinaloa Cirilo SaucedoSacked29 September 2025 Paco Ramírez3 October 202515thAtlético Morelia Gilberto Adame5 October 2025 Mario Ortiz7 October 202511thPre-Clausura changesTapatío Arturo OrtegaSacked13 November 2025 José Luis Meléndez4 December 2025Pre–seasonAtlante Miguel Fuentes15 November 2025 Ricardo Carbajal26 November 2025Tepatitlán Héctor Jair RealMutual agreement24 November 2025 Gabriel Pereyra9 December 2025Zacatecas Luis Ángel Muñoz (Interim)Ratified as manager1 December 2025 Luis Ángel Muñoz1 December 2025Oaxaca Juan Manuel Rivera (Interim)End of tenure as caretaker8 December 2025 Efrén Hernández8 December 2025UAT Jorge Urbina (interim)9 December 2025 Gustavo Díaz9 December 2025Clausura changesTlaxcala Marco Fabián VázquezSacked18 January 2026 Gustavo Leal19 January 202611th
Torneo Apertura The defending champions are UdeG. The regular tournament began on 1 August and will end on 9 November.
Regular season
Standings
Positions by round
Results Each team plays once all other teams in 15 rounds regardless of it being a home or away match.
Regular season statistics
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Rank Player Club Goals1 Juan José CaleroVenados152 Sergio AguayoTapatío8 Martín BarragánAtlético La Paz Eduardo PérezJaiba Brava5 Maximiliano GarcíaAtlante7 Christopher TrejoCancún7 Alonso FloresAtlético Morelia6 Óscar MillánAtlético La Paz Vladimir MoragregaTapatío Mauro PérezZacatecas Luis RazoZacatecas José RodríguezCancún Source: Liga de Expansión MX
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Round José RodríguezCancúnAtlético Morelia5 – 0 (H)23 August 20254 Juan José CaleroVenadosOaxaca4 – 5 (A)30 August 20255 Juan José CaleroVenadosZacatecas4 – 3 (H)20 September 20258 Juan José CaleroVenadosUAT3 – 6 (A)26 September 20259 Sergio AguayoTapatíoSinaloa4 – 1 (H)9 November 202514 4 Player scored four goals(H) – Home; (A) – Away
First goal of the season: Juan Gamboa for Irapuato against Venados (1 August 2025) Last goal of the season: Sergio Aguayo for Tapatío against Sinaloa (9 November 2025)
Discipline
Team Most yellow cards: 56 Tlaxcala Most red cards: 6 Atlético Morelia Sinaloa Fewest yellow cards: 22 Atlante Fewest red cards: 3 Tapatío Tlaxcala UdeG
Source Liga de Expansión MX
Attendance Per team
Highest and lowest Highest attended Lowest attendedWeek Home Score Away Attendance Home Score Away Attendance 1 Irapuato 4–1 Venados 12,772 Sinaloa 0–1 Cancún 1642 Atlético Morelia 3–1 Oaxaca 6,011 Zacatecas 3–0 Sinaloa 2,0703 Irapuato 3–0 Tlaxcala 8,950 Sinaloa 1–0 Venados 3334 UdeG 1–1 Tapatío 3,956 Tlaxcala 0–2 UAT 1,3605 Irapuato 1–1 Jaiba Brava 9,559 Tapatío 3–0 Atlante 5766 Jaiba Brava 2–1 Tapatío 7,227 Sinaloa 0–1 Irapuato 4337 UAT 1–2 Jaiba Brava 8,945 Tlaxcala 1–0 Tapatío 1,2778 Jaiba Brava 2–1 Cancún 7,496 Tapatio 2–2 UAT 199 9 Cancún 1–0 Tapatío 6,235 Sinaloa 2–3 Jaiba Brava 33310 Irapuato 4–1 UAT 10,532 Tapatío 0–1 Oaxaca 55111 Atlético Morelia 0–0 Tapatío 5,147 Sinaloa 0–0 Atlante 23312 Irapuato 0–3 Atlético Morelia 10,324 Atlante 3–0 Venados 63213 Atlético Morelia 2–3 UdeG 5,181 Sinaloa 1–1 Tlaxcala 13314 Jaiba Brava 3–1 Oaxaca 5,971 UAT 0–2 Zacatecas 1,14215 Atlético Morelia 0–0 Jaiba Brava 4,870 Tapatío 4–1 Sinaloa 626
Source: Liga de Expansión MX
Final phase Bracket
Quarter–finals The first legs were played on 12 and 13 November, and the second legs were played on 15 and 16 November 2025.
Tepatilán won 2–1 on aggregate.
Atlético Morelia won 4–2 on aggregate.
Jaiba Brava won 4–2 on aggregate.
3–3 on aggregate. Irapuato advanced due to being the higher seeded club.
Semi–finals The first legs were played on 19 and 20 November, and the second legs were played on 22 and 23 November 2025.
Jaiba Brava won 2–0 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate. Irapuato advanced due to being the higher seeded club.
Final The first leg was played on 29 November, and the second leg was played on 6 December 2025.
Jaiba Brava won 1–0 on aggregate.
Torneo Clausura The Clausura tournament began on 9 January 2026. The defending champions are Jaiba Brava.
After Week 1 Tapatío was relocated to Estadio Gregorio "Tepa" Gómez in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, because the Estadio Akron, the usual venue, is undergoing improvement works for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Regular season
Standings
Positions by round
Results Each team plays once all other teams in 15 rounds regardless of it being a home or away match.
Regular season statistics
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Rank Player Club Goals1 Vladimir MoragregaTapatío10 José RodríguezCancún3 Luis PuenteAtlante94 Juan José CaleroVenados75 Martín BarragánAtlético La Paz6 Rubén del CampoAtlético Morelia Christopher TrejoCancún8 ChristianTlaxcala5 Amaury EscotoTepatitlán1011 players tied4 Source: Liga de Expansión MX
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Round Juan José CaleroVenadosAtlante4 – 1 (H)27 March 202612 4 Player scored four goals(H) – Home; (A) – Away
First goal of the season: Sleyther Lora for Venados against Irapuato (9 January 2026) Last goal of the season: Deivoon Magaña for Jaiba Brava against Atlético Morelia (19 April 2026)
Discipline
Team Most yellow cards: 45 UAT Most red cards: 6 Sinaloa Fewest yellow cards: 30 Atlante Fewest red cards: 2 3 teams tied
Source Liga de Expansión MX
Attendance Per team
Highest and lowest Highest attended Lowest attendedWeek Home Score Away Attendance Home Score Away Attendance 1 Atlético Morelia 3–0 UAT 4,974 UdeG 4–1 Jaiba Brava 2,0362 UAT 0–3 Atlético La Paz 5,841 Sinaloa 2–1 Zacatecas 2333 Venados 4–4 Sinaloa 4,056 Tlaxcala 2–1 Irapuato 1,4534 Atlético Morelia 0–1 Cancún 5,219 Sinaloa 0–0 Tepatitlán 2335 Jaiba Brava 0–1 Irapuato 7,443 Sinaloa 2–2 Atlético La Paz 2336 UAT 1–1 Atlante 5,611 Tapatío 3–1 Jaiba Brava 4787 Jaiba Brava 3–1 UAT 9,381 Sinaloa 0–1 Atlético Morelia 1338 Atlético Morelia 1–0 Atlético La Paz 4,657 Oaxaca 3–2 Sinaloa 1,1659 Jaiba Brava 2–0 Sinaloa 7,050 Tapatío 1–2 Cancún 37410 Atlético Morelia 3–2 Tepatitlán 6,222 Sinaloa 1–1 UdeG 23311 Jaiba Brava 0–0 Tlaxcala 7,078 Tapatío 2–1 Atlético Morelia 59512 Atlético Morelia 2–0 Irapuato 9,162 Sinaloa 2–1 UAT 13313 Jaiba Brava 1–1 Venados 7,050 Tlaxcala 2–0 Sinaloa 1,94914 Atlético Morelia 0–0 Tlaxcala 7,713 Tapatío 1–2 Irapuato 79015 Jaiba Brava 1–0 Atlético Morelia 7,933 Sinaloa 3–1 Tapatío 333
Source: Liga de Expansión MX
Final phase Bracket
Quarter-finals The first legs were played on 22 and 23 April, and the second legs were played on 25 and 26 April 2026.
Matches