Chivas vs Pumas in Jornada 8 is set for Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Estadio Akron, with kickoff scheduled for 19:07 hours in México and 21:07 hours in Estados Unidos. It is a matchup that now carries real weight in the Liga MX Apertura 2026 table, as both clubs try to stay in or move toward the best eight teams in the regular season.
Chivas arrive with a better recent run. After losing to Deportivo Toluca in Jornada 1, the Rebaño Sagrado opened a six-match unbeaten run in the Liga MX Primera División. They then beat Atlético de San Luis 0-3 before Sunday’s date and reached 14 points after seven matches, a strong position as the tournament moves deeper into the early rounds.
How Pumas arrive
Pumas UNAM are coming in from a more difficult stretch. Before Fecha 7, they were in twelfth place and had not won in their previous three matches. That leaves Club Universidad Nacional with less margin for error at Estadio Akron, especially with the standings still tight and the push for the top eight taking shape.
What the Leagues Cup means here
Both teams were also eliminated from the first phase of the Leagues Cup 2026 after failing to finish among the best four teams in Grupo A. That result shifts the focus fully back to Liga MX, where every point now matters more for clubs trying to build momentum and secure a place near the top of the table.
For Chivas and Pumas, this is more than a rivalry game. It is a chance to respond after the Leagues Cup exit and to take an important step in the Liga MX Apertura 2026 race.
