Liga MX shakes up Mexican soccer with a US-style overhaul: no promotion or relegation, starting with Apertura 2026

A major new era kicks off in Mexican soccer this Thursday, July 16, as the Apertura 2026 season begins — and with it, a sweeping change that reshapes Liga MX from top to bottom.

The league has officially eliminated promotion and relegation, locking in a structure that mirrors the franchise‑based model familiar to American sports fans.

No more promotion or relegation — permanently

The biggest shift comes from Article 35 of Liga MX’s competition rules, which confirms that starting with the 2026–2027 season, clubs will no longer move between divisions based on performance.

The article states: “Beginning with the 2026–2027 season, Liga MX clubs will not be relegated to Expansión MX, and Expansión MX clubs will not be promoted to Liga MX.”

This formalizes a reality that’s been in place for nearly five years: first‑division teams haven’t faced the threat of relegation, and Expansión MX clubs haven’t been allowed to climb up. But until now, Liga MX teams still had to worry about hefty financial penalties tied to finishing at the bottom of the standings.

A shift toward the American franchise model

Mexico has been inching toward a U.S.-style sports structure for years. In leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS, teams don’t drop divisions for poor performance — the franchise stays put unless ownership relocates it.

Liga MX has already seen similar moves. Atlante, for example, purchased the franchise rights left behind by Mazatlán, allowing the Iron Colts to return to the first division without earning promotion on the field.

Goodbye to costly “relegation fines”

Under the previous system, the three lowest teams in the percentage table had to pay steep fines to maintain their first‑division status. With the new rule, those payments disappear entirely.

Clubs like Tijuana, Toluca, Puebla, Querétaro, and Atlas have paid between 33 million and 80 million pesos in recent seasons — roughly $1.8 million to $4.4 million USD — just to avoid relegation. That financial burden is now gone.

What this means for Liga MX

The league is fully embracing a franchise‑based future, prioritizing stability over traditional competitive movement. Supporters of the change argue it will strengthen long‑term investment and club development. Critics say it removes a core element of soccer culture: earning your place on the field.

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