Tijuana vs. America Free Pick and Preview

Last Updated on January 8, 2026 3:01 pm by Erwin Noguera

The Clausura MX gets underway, and on opening day, Tijuana will host one of the title contenders, América, in Matchday 1.

Xolos de Tijuana were one of the surprises of the previous tournament, but had a disastrous outing and were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Tigres.

América, meanwhile, were knocked out at the same stage by Monterrey after conceding a goal in the 90+3 minute that sealed their elimination.

At Gambyl Exchange, you can explore all the predictions for the Liga MX Clausura 2026, the final bets for this Matchday, and the odds for each match.

Tijuana vs. América Betting Odds and Info

Why Bet on Tijuana?

Tijuana will look to improve on what they achieved last year. They finished sixth in the standings with 24 points, defeated Juárez 3–1 in the Play-In, and then beat Tigres 3–0 in the first leg of the quarterfinals, only to lose 5–0 in the return leg and be eliminated.

It was undoubtedly a tough blow for the team after securing such a strong result in the first match. However, the club’s leadership still believes in head coach Sebastián Abreu’s project, keeping him in charge and reinforcing the squad with two high-profile signings.

On one hand, there is Ignacio Rivero, who returns after four and a half years at Cruz Azul for his second spell at ‘La Perrera’. On the other hand, Josef Martínez arrives—a 32-year-old Venezuelan striker with more than a decade of experience in Europe and the United States. He joins from the San Jose Earthquakes and previously played alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

These two additions bring experience and leadership to the squad and are expected to be key partners for 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, considered Mexico’s latest rising star. The club is also pursuing the signing of Uruguayan forward Diego Abreu, the coach’s son, who previously had a stint with Toluca.

Among the notable departures are Ezequiel Bullaude, who is heading to Santos Laguna, and defender Aarón Mejía, who has moved to América. In addition, veteran Joe Corona will bid farewell at age 35 following Friday’s match.

Why Bet on América?

América are always title contenders and come into the tournament with a sense of frustration. Last season, they finished fourth in the overall standings but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Monterrey after losing 2–0 in the first leg and winning 2–1 in the second match, with Rayados scoring the decisive goal in the 90+3 minute.

It was a tough blow for the ‘Águilas’, who in 2026 are hoping to see the best version of Allan Saint-Maximin. The French forward arrived at the end of August and recorded three goals and two assists in 13 matches. There is also hope that Henry Martín can recover quickly from his injury and once again become the lethal striker the team needs.

So far, the confirmed signings are: 31-year-old Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Dourado, who arrives from Atlético San Luis; 24-year-old right back Aarón Mejía, who joins from Xolos; and 23-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Tapia, who returns after his stint with Tigres.

Among the departures is Chilean defender Igor Lichnovsky, who is leaving mainly due to the club’s foreign-player limit to register Dourado. The center back was a key piece in the team’s last three championships.

Final Betting Analysis: Tijuana vs. América

It will be the first match for both sides, with no major changes expected in the starting lineups, although it remains to be seen how sharp they look after preseason and whether they have found their rhythm. Tijuana did not lose at home in the last tournament, winning five matches and drawing four, and we believe that trend will continue, with the points being shared.

The odds at Gambyl Exchange favor América, with a Moneyline of -112, while Tijuana is listed at +266, and the draw is priced at +268.

The last time these teams met was on July 16, 2025, when América won 3–1 thanks to a brace from Brian Rodríguez and a goal by Rodrigo Aguirre. Playing at home, Tijuana have recorded two consecutive draws against this opponent and have not beaten them since 2022.

Go for a draw. If you bet $100 at +268, you will gain $268 for a total payout of $368.

Tijuana vs. América Betting Pick: Draw