Liga MX promotion and relegation to stay scrapped, second-tier clubs protest | OneFootball

The Mexican football federation announced that the top flight will remain a closed league, and second-tier clubs staged on-pitch protests on opening weekend.

Three Liga de Expansion MX fixtures paused at kick-off. Zacatecas Mineros v Correcaminos, Tlaxcala v Leones Negros, and Morelia v Atlético La Paz all spent the first minute with neither team contesting the ball.

In two of those games the referee told the captains to play, and normal action began once the first minute had elapsed. The federation has not yet responded publicly.

Promotion and relegation were scrapped in 2020 amid the Covid-19 crisis to prioritise youth development and financial stability. Clubs have since turned profits and attracted stars such as Sergio Ramos, Keylor Navas, James Rodríguez and Aaron Ramsey.

Six second-tier teams filed legal action that year. In September 2025 the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed promotion and relegation would return from 2026-2027.

Less than 24 hours before the Liga MX opening tournament began last week, the federation published regulations keeping the removal in place.

The 18 top-flight clubs will therefore remain in situ at season’s end, angering lower-tier sides. Some clubs say they are pursuing legal routes to defend what they call sporting merit.

Source: L'Équipe