Liga Premier de México
| Organising body | Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 (as Segunda División de México) |
| Country | Mexico |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of clubs | 51 (Serie A and Serie B) |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Liga de Expansión MX |
| Relegation to | Liga TDP |
| Domestic cup(s) | Copa Conecta Copa Promesas MX |
| Current champions | Irapuato (4th title) |
| Most championships | Zacatepec Tampico Madero (5 titles each) |
| Broadcaster(s) | AYM Sports Televisa[1] TVC Deportes[2] |
| Website | ligapremier.mx |
| Current: 2025–26 Serie A de México season 2025–26 Serie B de México season | |
Liga Premier is a professional association football league in Mexico and the third level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly named Segunda División de México (1950–2017). The league has 51 participating clubs, organized into two subdivisions (Serie A with 41 clubs and Serie B with 10 clubs). The season consists of one tournament per year, according to FIFA world football calendar. The champions are decided by a final knockout phase in each subdivision. The winners of Serie A are crowned as the Liga Premier champions, the winners of Serie B are the secondary champions and aspire to participate in Serie A.
The inaugural edition was the 1950–51 season, with Zacatepec as the first champions in history. In all, ninety-nine editions of the league have been held.
From 1950 to 1994, it was the second level division of Mexican football. Serie B clubs and teams affiliated with clubs from the highest divisions, which are known as "filiales" are not eligible for promotion to Liga de Expansión MX.
Zacatepec and Tampico Madero are the most successful clubs with five titles each, followed by Irapuato and Universidad del Fútbol with four titles each, Loros UdeC, Atlas, Durango and Pachuca Juniors with three titles each. In all, sixty-four clubs have won the league at least once.
History
Segunda División de México (1950–2017)
Founded in 1950 as the second level division, it was one of the three divisions originally created for the Mexican football league system, along with the Primera División and Tercera División. The inaugural season had seven founding clubs: Irapuato, Morelia, Pachuca, Querétaro, Toluca, Zacatepec and Zamora. The champions of the 1993–94 Segunda División season was the last to be promoted to the Primera División. In 1994–95 season, the FMF created the Primera División "A" as an intermediate league[3] with 15 clubs from the Segunda División, and all other clubs remained in the league as the new third level division of Mexican football. Each season divided into groups by geographic location, with the matches predominantly among the clubs from the same group.
From 1994, it became the third level division of Mexican football, after the creation of the Primera División "A" de México as an intermediate league between the Primera División and Segunda División, which was later abolished in 2019. However, it continued as the third level, after the creation of the Liga de Expansión MX in 2020 as the new intermediate league. Two short tournaments were played during two periods (1997–2018, 2021–2023), and also the 2024–25 season.
In 2008, the FMF, with the approval of the chairmen of the clubs in the second and third levels, change the competition format dividing the league into two subdivisions (Liga Premier de Ascenso and Liga de Nuevos Talentos). The champions could earn promotion to Primera División "A", provided their stadium and financial stability met the licensing requirements of the second level division. From 2011 to 2016, no clubs were relegated to Liga Premier, promotion still occurred during these years provided the club was licensed to participate. In June 2016, Ascenso MX announced they would resume relegating clubs. Since that year only Loros UdeC in 2017 and Murciélagos in 2018 were relegated from the Ascenso MX.
In 2020, the Ascenso MX was replaced by Liga de Expansión MX, two clubs from the Segunda División were invited (Tepatitlán and Tlaxcala), both clubs won their promotion but were rejected in the second level for not meeting the requirements to participate. Since that year, the requirements to be admitted to the second level have been tightened, only three clubs were promoted in the following years, Durango in 2022, Jaiba Brava in 2024, Irapuato in 2025.
Liga Premier (2017–present)
In June 2017, the league announced its rebranding as Liga Premier; its two subdivisions were also renamed as Serie A and Serie B. In Serie A, clubs with the best infraestructure could continue to participate, while Serie B would be for clubs in sporting and economic development.[4]
Promotion and relegation would be formalized between the leagues. Serie A would promote one club to Liga de Expansión MX.[4] Additionally, one Serie B club could promote to Serie A and one club would be relegated from Serie A each year.[5] Four clubs would be promoted from Liga TDP provided they meet the Serie requirements of Article 57.[6]
Competition format
Regular phase
One tournament is played per season, throughout the FIFA's world footballing calendar, the 51 clubs are divided into two subdivisions (Serie A and Serie B). The Serie A includes clubs with the best economic and sporting infraestructure to compete for promotion to Liga de Expansión MX. It has 41 participating clubs divided into three groups by geographic location, two groups with 14 clubs and one group with 13 clubs.
The Serie B includes developing clubs with less infraestructure, but committed to improving in order to aspire to participate in Serie A. It has 10 participating clubs in a single group.
The teams known as "filiales" also participate, which are the reserve teams affiliated with clubs at higher levels (Liga MX and Liga de Expansión MX). These clubs are not eligible for promotion, however, they qualify for its own final knockout phase for the affiliated teams title, known as Torneo de Filiales de la Liga Premier.
Final phase
The final phase of Serie A cosists of thirteen clubs, the top four clubs from each group and the best fifth place qualify for the final knockout phase. The winners of each group advance directly to the quarter-finals, and the remaining ten clubs compete in a reclassification round. The Serie A champions are crowned officially as the Liga Premier champions, and also will be eligible to participate in a certification audit for obtain the promotion to Liga de Expansión MX, provided that the club meets the requiriments for the stadium and financial stability.
The final phase of Serie B consists of seven clubs, the seven highest-placed from the group of ten qualify for the final knockout phase. The winners of the group advance directly to the semifinals, and the remaining six clubs compete in a reclassification round. The Serie B champions cannot be promoted to Liga de Expansión MX,[7] but they can participate in Serie A depending on improvements to their infraestructure.
Participating clubs
2025–26 season
The 2025–26 Serie A de México season has the following 41 participating clubs.[8][9]
| Serie A clubs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group I | Group II | Group III |
| On hiatus |
|---|
The 2025–26 Serie B de México season has the following 10 participating clubs.[15]
| Serie B clubs |
|---|
Performances
- Notes
- Clubs currently in Liga MX.
- Clubs currently in Liga de Expansión MX.
- Clubs currently in Liga TDP.
- Defunct clubs.
Liga Premier Serie B
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UAT "B" | 3 | 1 | Ape–2009, Ape–2015, Ape–2016 |
| Aguacateros CDU | 3 | 0 | Ape–2021, Cla–2022, 2023–24 | |
| 3 | UAE de Hidalgo | 2 | 1 | Ape–2008, Bic–2010 |
| Académicos/Atlas "B" | 2 | 1 | Cla–2012, Ape–2012 | |
| Santiago | 2 | 0 | Ape–2024, Cla–2025 | |
| Yalmakán | 2 | 0 | Cla–2017, Ape–2017 | |
| 7 | América Coapa | 1 | 2 | Cla–2009 |
| Calor | 1 | 2 | Ape–2022 | |
| Alebrijes "B" | 1 | 2 | Cla–2023 | |
| Durango | 1 | 1 | Cla–2013 | |
| Pioneros de Cancún | 1 | 1 | Ape–2013 | |
| Selva Cañera | 1 | 1 | Cla–2014 | |
| Real Zamora | 1 | 1 | Cla–2016 | |
| Cachorros UANL | 1 | 0 | Ind–2010 | |
| Cachorros de León | 1 | 0 | Rev–2011 | |
| Estudiantes Tecos "B" | 1 | 0 | Ape–2011 | |
| Mineros de Fresnillo | 1 | 0 | Ape–2014 | |
| Sahuayo | 1 | 0 | Cla–2015 | |
| Orizaba | 1 | 0 | Cla–2018 | |
| Cañoneros "B" | 1 | 0 | 2018–19 | |
| 21 | Santos de Soledad/Atlético San Luis "B" | 0 | 3 | — |
| Alto Rendimiento Tuzo | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Alacranes "B" | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Pumas Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Sporting Canamy | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Lobos Prepa | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tlaxcala | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UdeG "B" | 0 | 1 | — | |
| CAFESSA Jalisco | 0 | 1 | — | |
| T'HÓ Mayas | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Ayense | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Artesanos Metepec | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlético Pachuca | 0 | 1 | — |
Cup tournament
Copa de la Liga Premier de Ascenso was the domestic cup tournament of the division. Formerly named Copa México de la Segunda División (1950–1964, 1970–1972, 1995–96) and Copa Presidente de la Segunda División (1964–1970), it was held consecutively from 1950 to 1972, and five more editions were held later (1995–96, Apertura 2013, Clausura 2014, Apertura 2014 and Clausura 2015).
From 2013 to 2015, a tournament was held in each subdivision, Liga Premier de Ascenso and Liga de Nuevos Talentos (currently Serie A and Serie B).
The inaugural edition was the 1950–51 season, with Irapuato as the first champions in history. The final edition was the Clausura 2015 tournament, with Tecos as the last champions. In all, twenty-seven editions of the tournament were held.
Poza Rica was the most successful club with five titles, followed by Irapuato with three titles and Pachuca with two titles. In all, twenty clubs won the tournament at least once.
Performances
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poza Rica | 5 | 1 | 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1967–68 |
| 2 | Irapuato | 3 | 2 | 1950–51, 1952–53, 1953–54 |
| 3 | Pachuca | 2 | 0 | 1963–64, 1965–66 |
| 4 | Laguna | 1 | 3 | 1954–55 |
| Morelia | 1 | 1 | 1955–56 | |
| Zacatepec | 1 | 1 | 1966–67 | |
| Unión de Curtidores | 1 | 1 | 1970–71 | |
| Cruz Azul Jasso | 1 | 1 | Ape–2013 | |
| La Concepción | 1 | 0 | 1951–52 | |
| San Sebastián | 1 | 0 | 1956–57 | |
| Nacional | 1 | 0 | 1957–58 | |
| Texcoco | 1 | 0 | 1959–60 | |
| Refinería Madero | 1 | 0 | 1961–62 | |
| Torreón | 1 | 0 | 1968–69 | |
| Zamora | 1 | 0 | 1969–70 | |
| Naucalpan | 1 | 0 | 1971–72 | |
| Chivas Rayadas | 1 | 0 | 1995–96 | |
| UACJ | 1 | 0 | Cla–2014 | |
| Murciélagos | 1 | 0 | Ape–2015 | |
| Tecos | 1 | 0 | Cla–2015 | |
| 21 | Atlas | 0 | 2 | — |
| Tampico | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Tepic | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Toluca | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Moctezuma | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Politécnico | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Monterrey | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UNAM | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Orizaba | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Puebla | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Celaya | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Salamanca | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UNACH | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Gallos Blancos | 0 | 1 | — |
Campeón de Campeones
Campeón de Campeones de la Liga Premier was the domestic Super cup of the division between the champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, the two champions of each season. Formerly named Campeón de Campeones de la Segunda División (1953–1972, 1995–2017), it was initially a Super cup between the league and cup champions of the Segunda División until 1996, and since 1997 it was contested by the two league champions of the year.
From 2009 to 2025, a trophy was held in each subdivision, Liga Premier de Ascenso/Serie A and Liga de Nuevos Talentos/Serie B. The trophy was held during three periods (1953–1972, 1995–2018, 2022–2025).
The inaugural edition was held in 1953, with Toluca as the first champions in history. The final edition was held in 2025, with Aguacateros de Peribán as the last champions. In all, forty-four editions of the trophy were held.
Pachuca Juniors was the most successful club with three titles, followed by Zacatepec, Tampico Madero, Zamora, Ciudad Madero and Durango with two titles each. In all, thirty-seven clubs won the trophy at least once.
Performances
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pachuca Juniors | 3 | 0 | 2004, 2007, 2008 |
| 2 | Poza Rica | 2 | 3 | 1961, 1968 |
| Zacatepec | 2 | 1 | 1963, 1967 | |
| Tampico Madero/Tamaulipas | 2 | 1 | 2001, 2021 | |
| Zamora | 2 | 0 | 1957, 1960 | |
| Ciudad Madero/Refinería Madero | 2 | 0 | 1962, 1965 | |
| Durango | 2 | 0 | 19991 | |
| 8 | Irapuato | 1 | 2 | 19542 |
| Universidad del Fútbol | 1 | 2 | 20101 | |
| Laguna | 1 | 1 | 1955 | |
| Nacional | 1 | 1 | 1958 | |
| Monterrey | 1 | 1 | 1960 | |
| Atlas | 1 | 1 | 1972 | |
| Celaya | 1 | 1 | 2011 | |
| UdeC | 1 | 1 | 2015 | |
| UAEM | 1 | 1 | 2016 | |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | 1953 | |
| Morelia | 1 | 0 | 1956 | |
| Tampico | 1 | 0 | 1959 | |
| Nuevo León | 1 | 0 | 1966 | |
| Torreón | 1 | 0 | 19692 | |
| Unión de Curtidores | 1 | 0 | 1971 | |
| Tigrillos UANL | 1 | 0 | 1996 | |
| Gallos de Aguascalientes | 1 | 0 | 1998 | |
| Marte Morelos | 1 | 0 | 2000 | |
| Cihuatlán | 1 | 0 | 2002 | |
| Delfines de Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | 2003 | |
| Académicos | 1 | 0 | 2005 | |
| Pegaso Anáhuac | 1 | 0 | 2006 | |
| Mérida "B" | 1 | 0 | 2009 | |
| Tulancingo | 1 | 0 | 20121 | |
| Galeana Morelos | 1 | 0 | 2013 | |
| Atlético Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | 2014 | |
| Tlaxcala | 1 | 0 | 20171 | |
| Tepatitlán | 1 | 0 | 2018 | |
| Aguacateros de Peribán | 1 | 0 | 2025 | |
| 37 | Pachuca | 0 | 2 | — |
| Chivas Rayadas | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Zitácuaro | 0 | 2 | — | |
| San Sebastián | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Texcoco | 0 | 1 | — | |
| San Luis | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cuautitlán | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Astros de Ciudad Juárez | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tepic | 0 | 1 | — | |
| BUAP | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Delfines "B" | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cruz Azul Jasso | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Murciélagos | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Linces de Tlaxcala | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Mazorqueros | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UAZ | 0 | 1 | — |
- Notes
- Automatic winners of the trophy and promotion for winning both league tournaments of the season.
- Automatic winners of the trophy for winning the season's league and cup tournament.
See also
- Sport in Mexico
- Football in Mexico
- Mexican football league system
- Mexican Football Federation
- Liga MX
- Liga de Expansión MX
- Ascenso MX
- Liga TDP
- Copa Conecta
- Copa Promesas MX
References
- ^ Includes Adrenalina Sports Network
- ^ includes TVC Deportes 2
- ^ Between 2009 and 2011 the league was named Liga de Ascenso.
- ^ a b "Segunda División se convierte en Liga Premier". esto.com.mx. June 15, 2017.
- ^ Reglamento de Competencia (PDF), Liga Premier, Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación. Promotion/relegation between Serie A and Serie B is covered in Section M on pages 28-29 in Articles 61-63.
- ^ Reglamento de Competencia (PDF), Liga Premier, Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, p. 26
- ^ "¡REGRESA LA SERIE B!". ligapremiermagazine.mx (in Spanish). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Cambios en la Liga Premier MX; regresa el futbol al Neza 86' y Celaya pierde categoría". RÉCORD (in Spanish). 29 June 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "La Temporada 2025-2026 de la LIGA PREMIER está a la vuelta de la esquina". Liga Premier FMF (in Spanish). 31 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Neza FC volverá al fútbol mexicano en la Liga Premier". AF Deportes (in Spanish). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Tapachula participará en la Liga Premier del Futbol Mexicano". Diario del Sur (in Spanish). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "AGUACATEROS DE PERIBÁN NO DESAPARECE". Trascancha TV (in Spanish). 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Confirma Faraones de Texcoco su salida tras ascenso a Liga Premier". elcomentario.ucol.mx (in Spanish). University of Colima. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Hermetismo total en torno al Club Petroleros Salamanca C FC". El Sol de Salamanca (in Spanish). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "SON 15 CLUBES EN SERIE B". Liga Premier Magazine (in Spanish). 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
External links
- Official website (in Spanish)
- Magazine page (in Spanish)
- League information (in English)