TheMexican football league system is organized by theFederación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF), except forLiga MX andLiga de Expansión MX, which are organized independently. The league system consist of six professional divisions (four levels for men and two levels for women).
In addition to having other national competitions, the nationalSuper cup namedCampeón de Campeones between the champions of the two short tournaments of the season (Apertura and Clausura). TheCampeón de Campeones de la Liga de Expansión MX is also contested for the second level division. Until 2020, theCopa MX was the cup tournament for the top and second level divisions. Since 2021, theCopa Conecta is the cup tournament for the third and fourth level divisions.
Liga MX formerly namedLiga Mayor (1943–1949), andPrimera División de México (1949–2012), is the highest level of Mexican football, consists of 18 participating clubs. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments namedApertura andClausura. 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 knockout phase, commonly known asliguilla, consisting of 10 clubs. The top six clubs advance to the quarterfinals, qualifying directly to quarterfinals, while the next 4 clubs 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 club remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. In the play-in, the 7th-placed club host the 8th, the winner of that match advances to the quarterfinals, and the losing club has another chance facing the winning club between 9th and 10th-placed. The winner of that last play-in match advances to complete the 8 clubs for the Liguilla. If the two clubs are tied after 90 minutes, it proceeds directly to apenalty shoot-out. Starting in the quarterfinal round, 8 teams (6 directly qualified clubs and 2 play-in round winners) play in atwo-legged tie, with the higher-seed hosting the second leg. The club with the higheraggregate 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 clubs 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 theFMF 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 51 clubs (divided into Serie A with 41 clubs and Serie B with 10 clubs) |
| ↓↑ 4 clubs | |
| 4 | Liga TDP 240 clubs (divided into Zona A with 115 clubs and Zona B with 125 clubs) |
The women's top level in Mexico is theLiga MX Femenil started in September 2017.[5] TheLiga 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 theLiga 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) |
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