Liga MX format: Tournaments, league and how are they decided?

Liga MX is contested over two annual tournaments which see two champions crowned per season. The season opens with the Apertura tournament (opening tournament- running from July to December, this season’s ends earlier due to the World Cup commencing in November) with the Clausura tournament (closing), running from January to May). 18 teams are currently involved in the Liga MX top flight with this system in place since the mid 90s.

The winners of each tournament go head-to-head in a final called the Campeon de Campeones in July. Over the course of the two competitions the home team is changed so that every team plays home and away against every other team.

The top 12 sides advance to the postseason with the top four fast tracked to the quarter final stage with 5th playing 12th, 6th vs 11th, 7th vs 10th and 8th and 9th going head to head.

The four winners advance and play off in a traditional knock-out procedure that will always see the highest team in the regular season enjoy home advantage. The winner is decided after the final game between the two remaining sides. Atlas FC are the current Liga MX Clausura champions having beaten Pachuca in the final with a 2-0 win despite Tigres winning the regular season league.

At present there is no relegation for the bottom placed sides down to Ascenso MX with ongoing debate ensuing amongst the governing body to overthrow this measure and re-introduce promotion-relegation as an incentive to the second tier clubs.