In the fast-paced world of Liga MX, a slow start can doom a season before the weather turns. But for a handful of clubs, stumbling out of the gate isn't a one-time accident—it's a recurring nightmare. Only four teams in the history of Mexican top-flight football have opened a tournament with five or more straight losses on at least two separate occasions.
That exclusive (and unenviable) list includes Irapuato, Querétaro's Gallos Blancos, Santos Laguna, and the now-defunct Mazatlán FC. Each of these clubs has twice dropped their first 15 available points, a feat that all but eliminates any realistic shot at the Liguilla before the season even finds its rhythm.
A record no one wants to own
Irapuato, a club with deep roots in Mexican football, endured two such disastrous openings during their stints in the top division. Their struggles in the early weeks of those campaigns set a tone that was impossible to shake, even when the squad showed flashes of quality later on.
Querétaro's Gallos Blancos have also been here before—twice. For a team that has often fought to establish itself among the league's elite, these slow starts have been particularly painful, forcing the club into early-season crisis mode and, more often than not, a change on the bench.
Then there's Mazatlán FC, a club that no longer exists in the top flight. Before their departure, they too managed to open two separate tournaments with five consecutive defeats, a stat that now lives on as a cautionary tale for any expansion team hoping to make a quick impression.
Santos Laguna: a champion's stumble
The most surprising name on this list is Santos Laguna. The Torreón-based side has a trophy cabinet that includes multiple league titles and a reputation as one of the most consistent clubs in modern Mexican football. Yet even they couldn't escape the curse of the terrible start.
Twice in their history, Santos opened a short tournament with five straight losses, leaving their fans scratching their heads and their boardroom scrambling for answers. It's a reminder that in Liga MX, no pedigree can protect you from a bad stretch of form.
The cost of 15 lost points
For all four clubs, the impact of those opening losses went far beyond the standings. In a format where every point matters, dropping 15 right off the bat effectively ends any hope of a deep playoff run. It also tends to trigger immediate coaching changes, as boards look for a quick fix that rarely comes.
And the damage isn't just short-term. In a league that has used a relegation ratio table, such disastrous starts can haunt a club for years, affecting their standing and their ability to attract top talent.
While these four teams share this dubious distinction, it's worth noting that others have come close. The Tigres' recent slow start has already raised alarms in Monterrey, though they haven't hit the five-loss mark—yet.
For fans of the beautiful game, these stats are a reminder of how fragile success can be. One bad month can undo a season's worth of work, and for Irapuato, Querétaro, Santos, and Mazatlán, that lesson has been learned the hard way—twice.
