Mexican football faces Leagues Cup schedule and protests over removal of promotion system

The 2026 Leagues Cup kicked off on 4 August, pitting Mexican clubs such as Club Universidad Nacional (Pumas), León, Toluca and others against MLS teams. Imagen Televisión will broadcast twelve group‑stage matches, including Pumas vs Charlotte FC, Toluca vs Seattle Sounders and América vs San Diego. To accommodate the tournament, Liga MX has paused the Apertura 2026 for eleven days, with the domestic league resuming on 15 August after the group phase.

At the same time, the Federación Mexicana de Futbol’s decision to eliminate promotion and relegation for Liga MX and the Liga de Expansión has triggered a wave of protests. Players from clubs including Mineros de Zacatecas, Atlético Morelia, Leones Negros, Atlético La Paz and others have staged symbolic actions—covering their mouths, refusing to play the first minute, and filing joint statements demanding the return of the ascenso system. The FMF opened a disciplinary investigation and warned of fines exceeding US$11,500 for repeat offenses. Club president Alberto Castellanos defended the right to protest, while players warned of salary cuts, lower attendance and reduced sponsorships caused by the closed‑league format. A quoted player said, “No pedimos un lugar en Primera División. Pedimos el derecho a ganarlo.”