[REVISION HISTORY]

Liga MX promotion and relegation debate

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2026-08-21 02:52 UTC → 2026-08-22 15:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The debate over the reinstatement of the promotion and relegation system in Mexican football has intensified following legal and public challenges. Jorge Álvarez Máynez, a national coordinator for Movimiento Ciudadano, filed a formal petition with Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission to investigate the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). The petition alleges that the indefinite elimination of promotion and relegation constitutes monopolistic practices that create barriers to competition, violate economic rights, and remove sporting merit from the game. A subsequent complaint following the announcement of the ‘Nuevo Modelo Deportivo’ argues that blocking access to the First Division benefits current clubs while limiting opportunities for new investors, teams, players, sponsors, and fans. In response to the ongoing discussion, Club América owner Emilio Azcárraga Jean expressed support for returning to the system to improve sporting competitiveness. While acknowledging economic challenges regarding television rights and infrastructure, Azcárraga proposed implementing certification mechanisms for stadiums and training facilities to ensure the economic viability of promoted teams. He noted that for a transition to occur, the Liga de Expansión MX must first achieve greater economic and sporting stability. For the 2026-2027 cycle, the FMF and Liga MX have officially announced a new sporting model that definitively eliminates sporting promotion and relegation. Under this structure, Liga MX will operate as a closed circuit of 18 franchises, where access is determined by the acquisition of franchises or direct invitations based on meeting strict financial, infrastructural, and institutional requirements, rather than on-field results. The new pyramid places the Liga de Expansión MX at the top of the developmental structure. To maintain connectivity between tiers, the FMF plans to introduce cup tournaments, joint competitions, and the integration of Liga MX club affiliates within lower divisions, while also aiming to centralize broadcasting rights.

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