The possibility of the return of promotion and relegation to Mexican soccer has been all but ruled out. Just hours before the start of the 2026 Apertura Tournament, Liga MX published its new Competition Regulations, a document confirming that First Division clubs will continue to be immune from relegation and that teams in the Liga de Expansión MX will also not be able to earn promotion based on sporting merit.
The provision appears in Article 35 of the regulations and stipulates that, by decision of the Executive Committee of the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF), starting with the 2026–2027 season, there will be no promotion or relegation between the two divisions. The decision marks a new chapter in one of the most controversial issues in Mexican soccer in recent years and confirms that the current model will remain in place.
What do the new regulations say?
The Competition Regulations state verbatim that:
“Pursuant to the decision made by the FMF Executive Committee, starting with the 2026–2027 season, clubs in Liga MX will not be relegated to Expansión MX.”
“Likewise, the team from Expansión MX will not be promoted.”
As a result, Liga MX maintains a closed system that eliminates the competitive incentive to earn promotion.
Or the risk of being relegated due to poor results (Filed under: Liga MX Eliminates Promotion and Relegation).
A debate that began in 2020
The suspension of promotion and relegation was originally approved by the Clubs’ Assembly in April 2020.
When the former Ascenso MX was replaced by the current Liga de Expansión MX.
At that time, the FMF and Liga MX argued that the measure was intended to provide financial stability to the clubs.
This comes in the wake of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
And to strengthen the institutional development of the participating organizations.
Since then, the possibility of promotion has become one of the most hotly debated topics among executives, owners, and fans.
(Filed under: Liga MX Eliminates Promotion and Relegation).
The case went all the way to the CAS
The dispute was even brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by clubs in the Liga de Expansión MX.
Although the international body upheld the validity of several decisions made by the FMF, it also noted that the sports system provided for the reinstatement of promotion for the 2026–2027 season.
Always subject to compliance with the requirements established by the Federation itself.
However, the publication of the new Competition Regulations confirms that the FMF decided to maintain the model without player mobility between the two divisions (Filed under: Liga MX Eliminates Promotion and Relegation).
Liga MX published its new Competitions Regulations
NuevaOnda.com
Which team was the last to be promoted and relegated?
Atlético de San Luis was the last club to earn promotion to Liga MX on the field, after winning what was then known as Ascenso MX.
For its part, Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz was the last team to be relegated from the First Division at the end of the 2018–2019 season (Filed under: Liga MX Eliminates Promotion and Relegation).
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