MEXICO CITY, aug. 25,2024 — Mexico’s top football division will welcome back promotion starting with the 2026-27 season. The mexican Football Federation confirmed the decision Thursday, following a ruling by the court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
Promotion Returns to Mexican Football
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Six second-division clubs sought the return of promotion, initially aiming for the 2025-26 season.
Mexico’s top football league will reinstate promotion and relegation, bringing back a long-standing tradition after a four-year hiatus.
The Mexican Football Federation announced Thursday that promotion to the First Division will resume for the 2026-27 season. This decision comes after a ruling by the court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) addressed a claim lodged by six second-division teams.
These clubs had appealed to the sports arbitration body, pushing for the return of promotion as early as the 2025-26 season. However, the TAS ruled against their immediate reinstatement, leading to the confirmed start date in 2026.
When will promotion and relegation return to Mexican football? Promotion to the First Division will be reinstated from the 2026-27 season.
Abolition and Appeal
The owners of the First Division clubs voted to abolish promotion and relegation in 2020.This suspension was initially planned for five seasons, though the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted one of those campaigns.
The lower-division teams argued that the interrupted season should be factored into the five-year suspension. They believed this would justify an earlier return of the promotion system.
“The General Assembly,in accordance with its powers,will at the appropriate time determine the rules for the execution of the agreement taken in 2020,” the federation stated.
- Promotion to Mexico’s First Division will resume in the 2026-27 season.
- A ruling by the Court of Arbitration for sport (TAS) confirmed the return.
- Six second-division clubs championed the return of the promotion system.
- Relegation’s return remains uncertain, with discussions about league expansion ongoing.
Uncertainties Remain
While Mexican football leaders have pledged to reinstate promotion, the return of relegation is not yet guaranteed. Previously, officials discussed the possibility of expanding the first division from 18 to 20 teams.
Further details also need to be ironed out regarding the criteria for second teams to qualify for the top tier. The federation has consistently emphasized the need for teams to undergo certification before each season to be eligible for promotion.
Currently, only Atlante, a club with a rich history in Mexican football, possesses the necessary certification.
Clubs Celebrate, Costs Incurred
Despite losing their bid for an immediate return of promotion, the six clubs that pursued the TAS ruling celebrated the confirmation of the ascent’s return in summer 2027.
“The reactivation of this model represents new opportunities, not only for clubs but also for players, technical bodies, fans, sponsors, and for the integral growth of sport,” the six clubs saeid in a joint statement.
As a consequence of losing their initial claim, these six second-division teams are required to pay 12,000 Swiss francs (approximately $15,000) to the Mexican Federation to cover the legal costs associated with the arbitration process.
The last team to earn promotion to the top flight was Atlético de San luis at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season.
