León and Atlas open Apertura 2026 with new faces

The Father of All Classics returns to the scene

This Thursday the Apertura 2026 of Liga MX starts. The one in charge of opening the season is the duel between Necaxa and Atlante, two teams that represent the longest rivalry in Mexican soccer.

The return of the Iron Colts to the First Division could not have a better scenario: against the Rayos, their historic rival. The meeting revives the so-called “Father of All Classics”.

Félix Fernández, former Barça goalkeeper and now a Fox Sports analyst, described the duel as a compliment for the Atlantistas.

“In the return of Atlante – after 12 years – to the First Division, the fact that Necaxa welcomes us – in Aguascalientes – is a compliment. This possibility of returning against a team with which memorable confrontations were resumed in the 90s is good,” commented Fernández.

The former goalkeeper described that time as a very passionate and family rivalry, with full stadiums and enthusiastic fans. Regarding this Thursday’s game, he described it as “very atypical” and difficult to predict, due to the losses that both teams have suffered.

The last time they saw each other in the top circuit was on April 16, 2011. That day they signed a 1-1 draw that sent Necaxa to promotion, then the second category. Therefore, tonight’s meeting has a special flavor.

Both teams arrive with renewed squads. Los Rayos will look to start on the right foot at home, while Atlante will try to show that their return is to stay.

The World Cup final pits the best offense against the best defense. Argentina, with Lionel Messi as leader, arrives with 19 goals in favor. Spain, on the other hand, has only received one in the entire tournament.

On Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, defending champion Argentina will seek its fourth title. Spain aspires to its second crown after 2010. Argentina will try to become the first team to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

The semi-final: Spain eliminated France 2-0 on Tuesday. Argentina came back against England to win 2-1 on Wednesday.

A shared history

In 2007, a photo immortalized Messi with a baby in a UNICEF program. That baby was Lamine Yamal, now a left-footed star for Barcelona. Two decades later, both meet again in the most important final in football.

“It is a huge team, with great players, with a game… a football philosophy that has been around for many years,” Messi declared about Spain. “I follow them, several are at Barça, so it is a special game.”

How they arrived

Spain: six wins, one draw. 13 goals for, one against. They beat Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France in direct elimination.

Argentina: seven wins, zero draws. 19 goals for, seven against. They beat Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England.

Both teams arrive undefeated. Spain accumulates 37 games without losing; Argentina has not lost in 13 World Cup matches since its defeat against Saudi Arabia in 2022.

The duel promises to be a clash of styles: the present and the future of football are measured in the greatest final in history.

Controversy over message on the playing field

Atlanta, USA.- A group of Argentine soccer players showed a banner with the legend “The Malvinas are Argentine” after beating England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal. The blanket was held by Giovani Lo Celso, Nicolás Otamendi and other players while the rest of the team celebrated with the fans.

Before the match, Argentina’s Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva had warned that flags with allusions to the Falklands would not be allowed, citing FIFA’s code of conduct that prohibits politically divisive content. The warning generated criticism on social networks in Buenos Aires.

England has maintained control of the islands since the 1982 war. Argentina claims the territory, which it considers part of its national identity. The United Kingdom maintains that the islanders prefer the current status.

The day before, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had asked not to link the match with the conflict:

“It’s a football game. What can we do with everything that happened years ago? It’s useless, it’s sad. A lot has been suffered and it’s crazy. I’m not here to add more gasoline to the fire. Everything else was a very sad story to remove. We have memory and we remember it.”

The gesture of the players revived the debate on the intersection between sport and politics, in a meeting that already carried a strong symbolic load.