Club America Surges as Pumas and Juarez Struggle in Liga MX

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From LatiNation Futbol Club

America’s Scoring Surge Leads a Shifting Liga MX Race

America looks like the team to beat after scoring 14 goals across its last three games. The club defeated Atlas 5-2, Leon 5-3 and Necaxa 4-2, displaying the offensive strength it lacked during previous tournaments.

The team is also leaning on younger players, while Almada’s arrival has provided a fresh change that is already proving fruitful. With the old America seemingly back, another championship could be heading to the trophy cases of Cuapa.

Pumas, meanwhile, remains in the race despite a difficult loss to Santos Laguna. Pumas has 16 points, while eighth-place Queretaro has 20. A victory against Tigo, which has 14 points, would keep Pumas firmly in contention for a spot in the Liguilla.

The officiating against Santos Laguna was questionable, with goalkeeper and captain Kaylor Navas appearing surprised by several decisions. Still, Santos earned the victory and has won its last five games. The team is playing strongly, scoring consistently and seemingly using past criticism and mockery as motivation.

Santos Laguna’s young president grew up supporting the club and is the son of its previous president. His loyalty is clear from videos showing him supporting the team since childhood. His success represents an encouraging example of new ideas and new leadership challenging the established Liga MX business model.

Queretaro has also been a surprise. Although the club has cooled off slightly in recent games, it has played well and remains difficult to beat. Monterrey, Atlas and Leon must stay consistent as the competition continues.

At the bottom of the table, Juarez FC is enduring a terrible season with four points, a minus-24 goal differential, one win, one draw and 11 losses. Its upcoming match against Necaxa offers an opportunity to avoid finishing last.

Juarez is still a young club experiencing growing pains. It needs to establish an identity, build its name and potentially bring in a major figure who can lift the team. Unlike Santos Laguna, which has a history that includes roughly six championships, Juarez does not yet have that pedigree. The border-team concept has promise and could attract supporters from both sides of the border, but its development will take time.