Mexican League System
Encyclopedia
The Mexican football league system is the national football competition system in Mexico
. It is organized by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
(Mexican Football Federation) and consists of four levels (it could be argued that there are five levels).
(First Division) is the highest level of Mexican football and consists of 18 clubs. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments, the Apertura (Opening) and the Clausura (Closing). In each short tournament a club plays the other 17 clubs once. The home team switches, depending on the current short tournament.
A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a playoff system consisting of eight teams. The top eight clubs qualify to the playoffs. The clubs are arranged before each round so that the highest seeded team remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. The clubs play in a two-legged tie, with one match occurring at each club's home ground, and whichever club has the better aggregate score advances. If the two clubs are tied after both legs in the quarterfinals and semifinals, the higher seed advances automatically. In the finals, if the two clubs are tied after both legs two 15 minute halves of extra time are added. If the clubs are still tied after extra time the champion is determined by kicks from the penalty mark.
One club is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso
each year (two short tournaments). To determine the club to be relegated, the ratio of points to games is kept for each team. The club that has the worst points to games ratio over the previous three years (six short tournaments) is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso.
. Also the 4 best eligible clubs are invited to participate in the SuperLiga
against the top four teams not already qualified for the Champions League of the US
/Canadian
Major League Soccer
. In addition, clubs of the Primera División are inivited to participate in the CONMEBOL
club tournaments, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana
, as long as they are not participating in the CONCACAF Champions League. Three clubs are invited to the Copa Libertadores: Starting the current season, Mexico 1 will be the first place in "Apertura," even if this team wins the playoffs. Mexico 2 and 3 will be the second and third best teams in the "Apertura," but those that participate in CONCACAF Champions League
. The two highest placed eligible clubs in the Clausura tournament are invited to participate in the Copa Sudamericana.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is organized by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
The Mexican Federation of Football is the governing body of association football in Mexico. It administers the Mexican national team, the Mexican league and all affiliated amateur sectors, and is in charge of promoting, organizing, directing, spreading, and supervising competitive football in Mexico...
(Mexican Football Federation) and consists of four levels (it could be argued that there are five levels).
- Primera DivisiónPrimera División de MéxicoThe Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
(18 teams) - Liga de AscensoLiga de AscensoThe Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
(16 teams) - Segunda División de México, 6 divisions
- Tercera División de MéxicoTercera División de MéxicoTercera División is Mexico's fourth tier in the Mexican League System. The Tercera División is divided into 15 groups. For the 2009/2010 season, the format of the tournament has been reorganized to a home and away format, which all teams will play in their respected group...
, 15 groups
Tier |
League(s)/Division(s) |
|
1 |
Primera División Primera División de México The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing... 18 clubs - 1 relegation |
|
2 |
Liga de Ascenso Liga de Ascenso The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México .... 16 clubs - 1 promotion, 1 relegation |
|
3 |
Segunda División de México - Liga Premier de Ascenso 30 clubs (in 2 zones) - 1 promotion, 1 relegation |
Segunda División de México - Liga de Nuevos Talentos 34 clubs (in 2 zones) - 1 relegation |
4 |
Tercera División de México Tercera División de México Tercera División is Mexico's fourth tier in the Mexican League System. The Tercera División is divided into 15 groups. For the 2009/2010 season, the format of the tournament has been reorganized to a home and away format, which all teams will play in their respected group... 244 clubs (in 15 groups) 2 promotions |
|
Primera División
The Primera DivisiónPrimera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
(First Division) is the highest level of Mexican football and consists of 18 clubs. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments, the Apertura (Opening) and the Clausura (Closing). In each short tournament a club plays the other 17 clubs once. The home team switches, depending on the current short tournament.
A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a playoff system consisting of eight teams. The top eight clubs qualify to the playoffs. The clubs are arranged before each round so that the highest seeded team remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. The clubs play in a two-legged tie, with one match occurring at each club's home ground, and whichever club has the better aggregate score advances. If the two clubs are tied after both legs in the quarterfinals and semifinals, the higher seed advances automatically. In the finals, if the two clubs are tied after both legs two 15 minute halves of extra time are added. If the clubs are still tied after extra time the champion is determined by kicks from the penalty mark.
One club is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso
Liga de Ascenso
The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
each year (two short tournaments). To determine the club to be relegated, the ratio of points to games is kept for each team. The club that has the worst points to games ratio over the previous three years (six short tournaments) is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso.
International Competitions
The champions and runners-up of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments earn spots in the CONCACAF Champions LeagueCONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
. Also the 4 best eligible clubs are invited to participate in the SuperLiga
North American SuperLiga
The SuperLiga was an official North American association football competition between teams from the Primera División of Mexico and Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada, the top divisions in each country. The competition was sanctioned by CONCACAF, U.S...
against the top four teams not already qualified for the Champions League of the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
/Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. In addition, clubs of the Primera División are inivited to participate in the CONMEBOL
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
club tournaments, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana
Copa Sudamericana
The Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
, as long as they are not participating in the CONCACAF Champions League. Three clubs are invited to the Copa Libertadores: Starting the current season, Mexico 1 will be the first place in "Apertura," even if this team wins the playoffs. Mexico 2 and 3 will be the second and third best teams in the "Apertura," but those that participate in CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
. The two highest placed eligible clubs in the Clausura tournament are invited to participate in the Copa Sudamericana.
Current female system
Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Super liga Super Liga Femenil de Futbol The Super Liga Femenil de Fútbol is the top level women's football league in the Mexican football league system. The league was made as an attempt to help women's football grow in Mexico. The first nationwide league was established in 2008... 25 clubs (2 groups) |
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