The six second division Mexican soccer clubs that filed an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS) on Thursday celebrated the return of promotion and relegation in the local game for the 2026-2027 season.
“The reactivation of this model represents new opportunities not only for the clubs, but also for players, coaches, fans, sponsors and for the overall growth of our sport,” the teams explained in a press release.
Expansion Clubs support the FMF
The reaction of Morelia, Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalaraja, Mineros de Zacatecas, Cancun FC, Atletico La Paz and Venados FC followed the CAS ruling, which rejected their appeal for the immediate reactivation of promotion and relegation in Mexico.
“We reaffirm our total willingness to work in coordination with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) in building solid, transparent and sustainable competitions that strengthen the collective development of the national soccer industry,” the clubs added.
TAS upholds FMF and postpones promotion
Earlier, in the ruling, CAS denied the reinstatement of promotion and relegation from this season, the 2025-2026 campaign, and agreed with the FMF, which suspended this system for six seasons, starting in 2019-2020, in the covid-19 pandemic.
As a result of this setback, the teams of the Expansion circuit, the second category of soccer in the country, will assume the economic costs of the FMF in the process before the CAS.
It will now be up to the FMF to design the rules so that, in the 2026-2027 season, promotion and relegation can be reactivated, according to information from EFE.
The decision generated debate among fans and analysts, who believe that the return of promotion and relegation could revitalize national soccer and open up new opportunities for young talent throughout Mexico.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.