Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna: Everything You Need to Know for Jornada 1 of the Apertura 2026

Hey there! Imagine two soccer teams getting ready to play a big match. This article will explain it all like you’re 5 years old. Let’s dive in!

The Big Match Is Back at the BBVA Stadium

The doors of the BBVA Stadium are opening again! This time, it’s for the Jornada 1 (that means "Matchday 1") of the Apertura 2026 tournament (a soccer competition that happens in Mexico).

Here, Monterrey (also called Rayados) plays against Santos Laguna (also called Guerreros). They both want to win the first 3 points of the tournament (winning gives you 3 points, like a gold star in a game).

• Matías Almeyda is coming back to coach in Mexican soccer. His goal is to bring back the "glory days" to Rayados (Monterrey).
• But they are facing a new and improved Santos Laguna team that wants to surprise everyone and forget about being at the bottom last time.
• We’ll also tell you the schedules, live TV channels, and the predictions from #RushBet (a sports betting brand).

Important Point: Matías Almeyda returns to Mexican football to lead Monterrey, while Santos Laguna has a fresh squad ready to fight.

How Are Monterrey and Santos Doing?

Let’s see how both teams finished before this game:

Monterrey’s Story

• They ended in 13th place in the CL 2026 (a previous tournament).
• They got only: 5 wins, 3 ties, and 9 losses.
• Because of that, coach Domenec Torrent left them out of the "Liguilla" (the playoff phase) for the first time in 17 tournaments in a row (that’s a long streak!).
• Now, Matías Almeyda is the new coach (the "timonel" or captain of the ship).
• He brought new players: Orbelín Pineda, Diego Rossi, and Esteban Andrada came back as the goalkeeper (the person who guards the net).

Santos Laguna’s Story

• They also had a bad season: only 3 wins, 3 ties, and 11 losses with coach Omar Tapia.
• Now, Renato Paiva is the new coach and wants to give the "Guerreros" their identity back.
• New helpers (players) include: Felipe Sánchez, Franco Pardo, Mauricio Cuevas, Joshua Mancha, Eduardo Aguirre, and Diego González.

What Time Does Monterrey vs. Santos Play TODAY?

Here are the simple details:

• Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
• Time: 7:05 PM (central Mexico time)
• Place: BBVA Stadium, in Monterrey, Nuevo León

Where to Watch Monterrey vs. Santos LIVE?

Want to see the game? Here’s how:

• TV channels: Canal 5, TUDN
• Streaming (watch on internet): VIX Premium
• Live minute-by-minute updates: mediotiempo (a sports website)

Match Stats Picture

There is a picture showing statistics for CF Monterrey vs Club Santos Laguna for Jornada 1 of the Apertura 2026 Liga MX. You can look at it to see fun numbers about the teams!

Predictions from #RushBet

#RushBet gives us the best sports betting numbers (called "momios" or odds – these are like guesses of who will win based on math). For Monterrey vs Santos Laguna, the odds are:

1. CF Monterrey: -210 (favorite to win)
2. Tie (Empate): +350
3. Club Santos: +450

Heads up: The odds change all the time, before and during the game!

There is also a YouTube video attached in the original source that you can watch for more info.

Summary

To wrap it up: Monterrey and Santos Laguna play on July 18, 2026 at 7:05 PM at the BBVA Stadium for the first match of the Apertura 2026. Monterrey has a new coach (Almeyda) and new players; Santos has a new coach (Paiva) and new players too. You can watch on Canal 5, TUDN, or VIX Premium. RushBet thinks Monterrey is more likely to win, but anything can happen!

FAQ

1. What is the Apertura 2026 tournament?
It’s a soccer competition in Mexico where teams like Monterrey and Santos play to win points and hopefully the championship.

2. Who is the new coach of Monterrey?
Matías Almeyda is the new coach, and he wants to bring back the team’s good old days.

3. Where can I watch the game live?
You can watch on TV via Canal 5 or TUDN, or stream it on VIX Premium. You can also follow live text on mediotiempo.

4. What does "momios" mean?
Momios are the odds or numbers that show how likely a team is to win, used by betting sites like #RushBet.

5. Why did Monterrey miss the playoffs before?
They finished 13th and had a bad record, so for the first time in 17 tournaments they didn’t make the Liguilla (playoffs).