Mexican football league system

The Mexican football league system is organized by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF), except for the Liga MX and the Liga de Expansión MX, which are organized independently; The league system consist of six professional divisions (four men's levels and two women's levels).

In addition to having other national competitions that are the Campeón de Campeones, which is a super cup that is played in each division, except in Liga TDP and Liga TDP Femenil. The Copa MX was played for the top and second levels, and the Copa Conecta is also played for the third and fourth levels.

Men's professional divisions

Liga MX formerly called as Liga Mayor from 1943 to 1949, and Primera División de México from 1949 to 2012, is the top level division of Mexican football and consists of 18 clubs. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments called Apertura and Clausura. In each short tournament, a club plays the other 17 clubs once in the regular phase.

A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a final phase called liguilla, consisting of 10 teams. The top six teams advance to the quarterfinals, qualifying directly to quarterfinals, while the next 4 teams qualify for the play-in round, which determines the next two liguilla spots.[1][2][3] The clubs are re-seeded after each round so that the highest seeded team remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. In the play-in, the 7th-placed team host the 8th, the winner of that match advances to the quarterfinals, and the losing team has another chance facing the winning team between 9th and 10th-placed. The winner of that last play-in match advances to complete the 8 teams for the liguilla. If the two clubs are tied after 90 minutes, it proceeds directly to a penalty shoot-out. Starting in the quarterfinal round, 8 teams (6 directly qualified clubs and 2 play-in round winners) play in a two-legged tie, with the higher-seed hosting the second leg. The team with the higher aggregate score advances to the next round. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, if the two clubs are tied on aggregate after both legs, the higher seed advances automatically. In the final, if both teams are tied after both legs, 30 minutes of extra time are played. If the clubs are still tied after that, the champion is determined by a penalty shoot-out. Currently the promotion and relegation are suspended from 2020 to 2026, due to the shutdown of the Ascenso MX's which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and financial woes.[4]

It is organized by the FMF and consists of four men's division.

Level League/Division
1 Liga MX
18 clubs
↓↑ suspended
2 Liga de Expansión MX
15 clubs
↓↑ suspended
3 Liga Premier
49 clubs (divided into Serie A with 36 clubs and Serie B with 13 clubs)
↓↑ 4 clubs
4 Liga TDP
225 clubs (divided into 17 groups)

Qualification for international competitions

  • CONCACAF Champions Cup: 6 clubs qualified (Champions and runners-up of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, and the best two clubs in the accumulated table points of the season).
  • Leagues Cup: All 18 Liga MX clubs qualified.

Women's professional divisions

See also: Women's football in Mexico

The women's top level in Mexico is the Liga MX Femenil started in September 2017.[5] The Liga TDP Femenil was started in October 2024, as the second women's professional league in Mexico. Another non-professional women's league organized in parallel is the Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil organized by (LIMEFFE), was established in 2007.

Level League/Division
1 Liga MX Femenil
18 clubs
2 Liga TDP Femenil
46 clubs (divided into 5 zones)

Qualification for international competitions

  • CONCACAF W Champions Cup: 3 clubs (Champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, and the best runners-up of the season).
  • Summer Cup: 6 clubs (The best six clubs in the accumulated table points of the season).

See also

References

  1. ^ Rouse, Daniel. "Liga MX to return in July with altered Apertura playoff format, new-look clubs". theScore.com. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  2. ^ "Calendario Liga MX, Apertura 2020: Conoce aquí todos los partidos". AS México (in Mexican Spanish). 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  3. ^ "Liga MX Takes Playoff Expansion Trend International With New 12-Team Postseason Format". Morning Consult. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  4. ^ Enrique Martínez Villar (24 April 2020). "¡Se confirma! No habrá ascenso ni descenso en 6 años; aprueban Liga de Desarrollo". Mediotiempo. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Mayoría de clubes preparan visorías para Liga Femenil". mediotiempo.com.