Mexican football league system

Men's professional divisions

Liga MX formerly named Liga Mayor (1943–1949), and Primera 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 named Apertura and Clausura. 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 as liguilla, 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. 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 a penalty shoot-out. Starting in the quarterfinal round, 8 teams (6 directly qualified clubs and 2 play-in round winners) play in a two-legged tie, with the higher-seed hosting the second leg. The club with the higher aggregate 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.

It is organized by the FMF and consists of four men's division.

Qualification for international competitions

• CONCACAF Champions Cup: 6 clubs qualified (Champions and runners-up of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, and the best two clubs in the accumulated table points of the season).
• Leagues Cup: All 18 Liga MX clubs qualified.

Women's professional divisions

The women's top level in Mexico is the Liga MX Femenil started in September 2017. The Liga 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 the Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil organized by (LIMEFFE), was established in 2007.

Qualification for international competitions

• CONCACAF W Champions Cup: 3 clubs (Champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, and the best runners-up of the season).
• Summer Cup: 6 clubs (The best six clubs in the accumulated table points of the season).

References

References

1. Rouse, Daniel. "Liga MX to return in July with altered Apertura playoff format, new-look clubs".
2. (2020-07-22). "Calendario Liga MX, Apertura 2020: Conoce aquí todos los partidos".
3. (2020-11-18). "Liga MX Takes Playoff Expansion Trend International With New 12-Team Postseason Format".
4. Enrique Martínez Villar. (24 April 2020). "¡Se confirma! No habrá ascenso ni descenso en 6 años; aprueban Liga de Desarrollo". Mediotiempo.
5. "Mayoría de clubes preparan visorías para Liga Femenil".