Mediapro Canada Extends LigaMX Media Rights Deal

Mediapro Canada has extended its agreement for the media rights to LigaMX, the top tier of Mexican professional men’s soccer, for two further seasons, through to 2021-22. Live coverage of two games per week will be aired exclusively on OneSoccer, Mediapro Canada’s dedicated soccer channel, starting from July 24.

The coverage begins with the opening weekend of the Torneo Guard1anes 2020, the newly-rebranded Torneo Apertura which runs from July through to December. The new name honors the healthcare workers who are battling the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico, with LigaMX president Enrique Bonilla commenting that the name change represents a “message of unity and solidarity.”

OneSoccer will air exclusive live coverage of two matches per week of the home games of seven clubs; LigaMX giant Club América; Cruz Azul, the champion of the shortened 2020 Torneo Clausura season; perennial title contenders UANL Tigres; Necaxa, which reached the semi-finals of the 2019 Apertura playoffs; UNAM Pumas, one of the country’s most popular and titled clubs; Toluca, winner of 10 first division titles; and FC Juárez, which won promotion to the top tier in 2019.

The 18 LigaMX clubs will play 17 games in the Torneo Guard1anes 2020, running through to November 6 -9 . The league has adapted the format of the tournament, bringing back the Repechaje match or playoff qualifier, at the end of regular season play, which could see up to 12 clubs battling for a place in the Liguilla, the season-ending playoffs in November and December. The new format will “make every point count more than ever” and will increase the league’s competitiveness to the ultimate benefit of the fans, according to Bonilla.

Tigres’ cross-town rival Monterrey took the 2019 Apertura crown, defeating Club América in a penalty shoot-out after the two clubs finished the two-legged final drawn 3-3 on aggregrate. Cruz Azul were leading the table in the 2020 Clausura tournament when play was stopped due to Covid-19, with América, Tigres, Pumas and Juárez also in the top-eight after 10 matches.