TUDN to Sue Pachuca Over Blocked Broadcast of Liga MX Clash

MIAMI – April 4, 2025, has proven to be a frustrating day for soccer fans in the United States as Club Pachuca has unjustifiably blocked TUDN from broadcasting the highly anticipated match against Club América. Set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. PT), this Liga MX matchday 14 fixture was expected to feature two teams with vastly different fortunes this season.

The U.S. supporters of both Club América and Pachuca, along with Liga MX fans, are left unable to watch the game, which was originally set to air on TUDN and Univision. The blackout stems from ongoing legal disputes between Club Pachuca and Grupo Lauman, the owner of Fox Sports México, complicating the broadcasting rights for this match.

TUDN, the sports programming division of Univision, expressed deep disappointment in a public statement, asserting that Pachuca’s actions constitute a breach of contract. “Today, Club Pachuca unjustifiably prevented TUDN from broadcasting the match in the United States,” the statement read.

<p“In the wake of this disruption, TUDN has announced plans to take legal action against Pachuca for the harm caused to their audience, stating: ‘TUDN will take appropriate legal action for the harm being suffered by our audience and for Club Pachuca’s breach of contract.’” The network further extended its “deepest apologies to soccer fans in the United States,” emphasizing the unexpected nature of this blackout.

As the match approached, Club América entered the game in first place in the Liga MX standings, demonstrating strong form this season, while Pachuca lagged behind in seventh place, nine points back. The match was anticipated to showcase an exciting competition between two top-tier teams.

However, complications from the legal disputes have left fans disheartened. On April 4, Pachuca officially declared that the match would not stream on the free platform Tubi due to ongoing legal complications with Fox Sports. This restriction later extended to TUDN, which holds Spanish-language broadcasting rights in the U.S.

<p“Due to unfortunate circumstances beyond our control, which were announced yesterday, today’s match will also not be broadcast in the United States through TUDN,” Pachuca stated via social media. The club thanked fans for their understanding while expressing regret over the situation.

As kickoff looms, many fans are left seeking alternative ways to follow the match, with radio broadcasts being their primary option. The difficult circumstances have resulted in widespread dissatisfaction as fans, relying heavily on streaming services or VPNs, discover they have no access to the match.

The outcry from fans has escalated on social media, with many questioning how such a situation could have arisen and calling for accountability from both Pachuca and the broadcasting networks involved. This legal battle has sparked concern about the future of broadcasting rights in Liga MX, particularly for fans located outside of Mexico.

This incident raises questions on how clubs and networks will manage broadcasting rights to avoid similar disruptions moving forward. Despite the turmoil, Club América aims to leverage their current form and clinch a crucial victory against Pachuca, though the absence of their fan support will be palpable.

As the situation continues to evolve, TUDN’s legal actions may reshape the broadcasting landscape of Liga MX in the United States. Soccer enthusiasts across North America will have to depend on radio broadcasts and social media for updates. The disappointment expressed by fans signifies a growing need for resolution in these broadcasting matters.