 | |
| Organising body | Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950; 76 years ago (1950) (as Segunda División de México) |
| Country | Mexico |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of clubs | 51 (Serie A and Serie B) |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Liga de Expansión MX |
| Relegation to | Liga TDP |
| Domestic cup | Copa Conecta |
| Current champions | Irapuato (4th title) |
| Most championships | Zacatepec Tampico Madero (5 titles each) |
| Broadcaster(s) | AYM Sports Televisa[1] TVC Deportes[2] |
| Website | ligapremier.mx |
| Current:2025–26 Serie A de México season 2025–26 Serie B de México season | |
Liga Premier is a professionalassociation football league inMexico and the third level of theMexican football league system. Formerly namedSegunda División de México (1950–2017). The league has 51 participating clubs, organized into two subdivisions (Serie A with 41 clubs andSerie B with 10 clubs). The season consists of one tournament per year, according to FIFA's world footballing calendar. The champions are decided by a final knockout phase in each subdivision. The winners of Serie A are crowned as the Liga Premier champions, the winners of Serie B are the secondary champions and aspire to participate in Serie A.
The inaugural edition was the1950–51 season, withZacatepec finishing as the first champions in history. In all, ninety-nine editions of the league have been held.
From 1950 to 1994, it was the second level division of Mexican football. Serie B clubs and teams affiliated with clubs from the highest divisions, which are known as "filiales" are not eligible for promotion to Liga de Expansión MX.
Zacatepec andTampico Madero are the most successful clubs with five titles each, followed byIrapuato andUniversidad del Fútbol with four titles each,Loros UdeC,Atlas,Durango andPachuca Juniors with three titles each. In all, sixty-four clubs have won the competition at least once.
Founded in 1950 as the second level division, it was one of the three divisions originally created for theMexican football league system, along with thePrimera División andTercera División. The inaugural season had seven founding clubs:Irapuato,Morelia,Pachuca,Querétaro,Toluca,Zacatepec andZamora. The champions of the 1993–94 Segunda División season was the last to be promoted to thePrimera División. In 1994–95 season, theFMF created the Primera División "A" as an intermediate league[3] with 15 clubs from the Segunda División, and all other clubs remained in the league as the new third level division of Mexican football. Each season divided into groups by geographic location, with the matches predominantly among the clubs from the same group.
From 1994, it became the third level division of Mexican football, after the creation of thePrimera División "A" de México as an intermediate league between the Primera División and Segunda División, which was later abolished in 2019. However, it continued as the third level, after the creation of theLiga de Expansión MX in 2020 as the new intermediate league. Two short tournaments were played during two periods (1997–2018, 2021–2023), and also the 2024–25 season.
In 2008, theFMF, with the approval of the chairmen of the clubs in the second and third levels, change the competition format dividing the league into two subdivisions (Liga Premier de Ascenso andLiga de Nuevos Talentos). The champions could earn promotion to Primera División "A", provided their stadium and financial stability met the licensing requirements of the second level division. From 2011 to 2016, no clubs were relegated to Liga Premier, promotion still occurred during these years provided the club was licensed to participate. In June 2016, Ascenso MX announced they would resume relegating clubs. Since that year onlyLoros UdeC in 2017 andMurciélagos in 2018 were relegated from the Ascenso MX.
In 2020, the Ascenso MX was replaced byLiga de Expansión MX, two clubs from the Segunda División were invited (Tepatitlán andTlaxcala), both clubs won their promotion but were rejected in the second level for not meeting the requirements to participate. Since that year, the requirements to be admitted to the second level have been tightened, only three clubs were promoted in the following years,Durango in 2022,Jaiba Brava in 2024,Irapuato in 2025.
In June 2017, the league announced its rebranding as Liga Premier; its two subdivisions were also renamed asSerie A andSerie B. In Serie A, clubs with the best infraestructure could continue to participate, while Serie B would be for clubs in sporting and economic development.[4]
Promotion and relegation would be formalized between the leagues. Serie A would promote one club to Liga de Expansión MX.[4] Additionally, one Serie B club could promote to Serie A and one club would be relegated from Serie A each year.[5] Four clubs would be promoted from Liga TDP provided they meet the Serie requirements of Article 57.[6]
One tournament is played per season, throughout the FIFA's world footballing calendar, the 51 clubs are divided into two subdivisions (Serie A andSerie B). The Serie A includes clubs with the best economic and sporting infraestructure to compete for promotion toLiga de Expansión MX. It has 41 participating clubs divided into three groups by geographic location, two groups with 14 clubs and one group with 13 clubs.
The Serie B includes developing clubs with less infraestructure, but committed to improving in order to aspire to participate in Serie A. It has 10 participating clubs in a single group.
The teams known as "filiales" also participate, which are the reserve teams affiliated with clubs at higher levels (Liga MX andLiga de Expansión MX). These clubs are not eligible for promotion, however, they qualify for its own final knockout phase for the affiliated teams title, known asTorneo de Filiales de la Liga Premier.
The final phase of Serie A cosists of thirteen clubs, the top four clubs from each group and the best fifth place qualify for the final knockout phase. The winners of each group advance directly to the quarter-finals, and the remaining ten clubs compete in a reclassification round. The Serie A champions are crowned officially as the Liga Premier champions, and also will be eligible to participate in a certification audit for obtain the promotion to Liga de Expansión MX, provided that the club meets the requiriments for the stadium and financial stability.
The final phase of Serie B consists of seven clubs, the seven highest-placed from the group of ten qualify for the final knockout phase. The winners of the group advance directly to the semifinals, and the remaining six clubs compete in a reclassification round. The Serie B champions cannot be promoted to Liga de Expansión MX,[7] but they can participate in Serie A depending on improvements to their infraestructure.
The2025–26 Serie A de México season has the following 41 participating clubs.[8][9]
| Serie A clubs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group I | Group II | Group III |
| On hiatus |
|---|
The2025–26 Serie B de México season has the following 10 participating clubs.[15]
| Serie B clubs |
|---|
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UAT "B" | 3 | 1 | Ape–2009, Ape–2015, Ape–2016 |
| Aguacateros CDU | 3 | 0 | Ape–2021, Cla–2022, 2023–24 | |
| 3 | UAE de Hidalgo | 2 | 1 | Ape–2008, Bic–2010 |
| Académicos/Atlas "B" | 2 | 1 | Cla–2012, Ape–2012 | |
| Santiago | 2 | 0 | Ape–2024, Cla–2025 | |
| Yalmakán | 2 | 0 | Cla–2017, Ape–2017 | |
| 7 | América Coapa | 1 | 2 | Cla–2009 |
| Calor | 1 | 2 | Ape–2022 | |
| Alebrijes "B" | 1 | 2 | Cla–2023 | |
| Durango | 1 | 1 | Cla–2013 | |
| Pioneros de Cancún | 1 | 1 | Ape–2013 | |
| Selva Cañera | 1 | 1 | Cla–2014 | |
| Real Zamora | 1 | 1 | Cla–2016 | |
| Cachorros UANL | 1 | 0 | Ind–2010 | |
| Cachorros de León | 1 | 0 | Rev–2011 | |
| Estudiantes Tecos "B" | 1 | 0 | Ape–2011 | |
| Mineros de Fresnillo | 1 | 0 | Ape–2014 | |
| Sahuayo | 1 | 0 | Cla–2015 | |
| Orizaba | 1 | 0 | Cla–2018 | |
| Cañoneros "B" | 1 | 0 | 2018–19 | |
| 21 | Santos de Soledad/Atlético San Luis "B" | 0 | 3 | — |
| Alto Rendimiento Tuzo | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Alacranes "B" | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Pumas Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Sporting Canamy | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Lobos Prepa | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tlaxcala | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UdeG "B" | 0 | 1 | — | |
| CAFESSA Jalisco | 0 | 1 | — | |
| T'HÓ Mayas | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Ayense | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Artesanos Metepec | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlético Pachuca | 0 | 1 | — |
Copa de la Liga Premier de Ascenso was the domestic cup tournament of the division. Formerly namedCopa México de la Segunda División (1950–1964, 1970–1972, 1995–96) andCopa Presidente de la Segunda División (1964–1970), it was held consecutively from 1950 to 1972, and five more editions were held later (1995–96, Apertura 2013, Clausura 2014, Apertura 2014 and Clausura 2015).
From 2013 to 2015, a tournament was held in each subdivision,Liga Premier de Ascenso andLiga de Nuevos Talentos (currently Serie A and Serie B).
The inaugural edition was the 1950–51 season, withIrapuato finishing as the first champions in history. The final edition was the Clausura 2015 tournament, withTecos finishing as the last champions. In all, twenty-seven editions of the competition were held.
Poza Rica was the most successful club with five titles, followed byIrapuato with three titles andPachuca with two titles. In all, twenty clubs won the competition at least once.
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poza Rica | 5 | 1 | 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1967–68 |
| 2 | Irapuato | 3 | 2 | 1950–51, 1952–53, 1953–54 |
| 3 | Pachuca | 2 | 0 | 1963–64, 1965–66 |
| 4 | Laguna | 1 | 3 | 1954–55 |
| Morelia | 1 | 1 | 1955–56 | |
| Zacatepec | 1 | 1 | 1966–67 | |
| Unión de Curtidores | 1 | 1 | 1970–71 | |
| Cruz Azul Jasso | 1 | 1 | Ape–2013 | |
| La Concepción | 1 | 0 | 1951–52 | |
| San Sebastián | 1 | 0 | 1956–57 | |
| Nacional | 1 | 0 | 1957–58 | |
| Texcoco | 1 | 0 | 1959–60 | |
| Refinería Madero | 1 | 0 | 1961–62 | |
| Torreón | 1 | 0 | 1968–69 | |
| Zamora | 1 | 0 | 1969–70 | |
| Naucalpan | 1 | 0 | 1971–72 | |
| Chivas Rayadas | 1 | 0 | 1995–96 | |
| UACJ | 1 | 0 | Cla–2014 | |
| Murciélagos | 1 | 0 | Ape–2015 | |
| Tecos | 1 | 0 | Cla–2015 | |
| 21 | Atlas | 0 | 2 | — |
| Tampico | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Tepic | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Toluca | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Moctezuma | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Politécnico | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Monterrey | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UNAM | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Orizaba | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Puebla | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Celaya | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Salamanca | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UNACH | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Gallos Blancos | 0 | 1 | — |
Campeón de Campeones de la Liga Premier was the domesticSuper cup of the division between the champions of theApertura andClausura tournaments, the two champions of each season. Formerly namedCampeón de Campeones de la Segunda División (1953–1972, 1995–2017), it was initially a Super cup between the league and cup champions of the Segunda División until 1996, and since 1997 it was contested by the two league champions of the year.
From 2009 to 2025, a trophy was held in each subdivision,Liga Premier de Ascenso/Serie A andLiga de Nuevos Talentos/Serie B. The trophy was held during three periods (1953–1972, 1995–2018, 2022–2025).
The inaugural edition was held in 1953, withToluca finishing as the first champions in history. The final edition was held in 2025, withAguacateros de Peribán finishing as the last champions. In all, forty-four editions of the trophy were held.
Pachuca Juniors was the most successful club with three titles, followed byZacatepec,Tampico Madero,Zamora,Ciudad Madero andDurango with two titles each. In all, thirty-seven clubs won the trophy at least once.
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pachuca Juniors | 3 | 0 | 2004, 2007, 2008 |
| 2 | Poza Rica | 2 | 3 | 1961, 1968 |
| Zacatepec | 2 | 1 | 1963, 1967 | |
| Tampico Madero/Tamaulipas | 2 | 1 | 2001, 2021 | |
| Zamora | 2 | 0 | 1957, 1960 | |
| Ciudad Madero/Refinería Madero | 2 | 0 | 1962, 1965 | |
| Durango | 2 | 0 | 19991 | |
| 8 | Irapuato | 1 | 2 | 19542 |
| Universidad del Fútbol | 1 | 2 | 20101 | |
| Laguna | 1 | 1 | 1955 | |
| Nacional | 1 | 1 | 1958 | |
| Monterrey | 1 | 1 | 1960 | |
| Atlas | 1 | 1 | 1972 | |
| Celaya | 1 | 1 | 2011 | |
| UdeC | 1 | 1 | 2015 | |
| UAEM | 1 | 1 | 2016 | |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | 1953 | |
| Morelia | 1 | 0 | 1956 | |
| Tampico | 1 | 0 | 1959 | |
| Nuevo León | 1 | 0 | 1966 | |
| Torreón | 1 | 0 | 19692 | |
| Unión de Curtidores | 1 | 0 | 1971 | |
| Tigrillos UANL | 1 | 0 | 1996 | |
| Gallos de Aguascalientes | 1 | 0 | 1998 | |
| Marte Morelos | 1 | 0 | 2000 | |
| Cihuatlán | 1 | 0 | 2002 | |
| Delfines de Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | 2003 | |
| Académicos | 1 | 0 | 2005 | |
| Pegaso Anáhuac | 1 | 0 | 2006 | |
| Mérida "B" | 1 | 0 | 2009 | |
| Tulancingo | 1 | 0 | 20121 | |
| Galeana Morelos | 1 | 0 | 2013 | |
| Atlético Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | 2014 | |
| Tlaxcala | 1 | 0 | 20171 | |
| Tepatitlán | 1 | 0 | 2018 | |
| Aguacateros de Peribán | 1 | 0 | 2025 | |
| 37 | Pachuca | 0 | 2 | — |
| Chivas Rayadas | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Zitácuaro | 0 | 2 | — | |
| San Sebastián | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Texcoco | 0 | 1 | — | |
| San Luis | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cuautitlán | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Astros de Ciudad Juárez | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tepic | 0 | 1 | — | |
| BUAP | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Delfines "B" | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cruz Azul Jasso | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Murciélagos | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Linces de Tlaxcala | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Mazorqueros | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UAZ | 0 | 1 | — |
| National teams |
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| League system |
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