The Mexican League Will Re-impose Promotion And Relegation Since Suspended Due To Covid-19

JAKARTA - The MX League (Mexico League) will reimpose promotion and relegation with the provisions that the format and date will soon be announced by the Sports Arbitration Court (CAS).

The MX League suspended promotions and relegation in 2019 for six seasons so that the first division maintained 18 teams during that period.

Now, the league is expected to return in 2026 with different conditions allowing the second division team to return to play in the MX League.

Initially, 10 clubs from the League de Expansion (second revision) submitted a request for promotional and relegational recovery by filing a lawsuit with CAS.

"The Sports Arbitration Court registered an appeal filed by 10 clubs in Mexico's second division against the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) on May 19, 2025."

"This appeal aims to restore promotional and relegational status in the MX League, Mexico's first division, which was suspended for six seasons in the 2019/2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic," the organization said in a statement.

This case was filed in 2024 and has gone through a CAS legal process.

"The parties exchanged written arguments in accordance with the arbitration rules that regulate the CAS appeal process. After this process and with the approval of the parties, the CAS trial will be scheduled," reads the press release reported by ESPN.

CAS will announce the decisions on the formats and requirements needed by the League de Expansion team to pass promotions.

Previously, the league required the second division team to get a special certification that would give them a promotional opportunity to the League MX if they played the tournament.

To complete this certification, the team must show financial stability, a match venue with an adequate capacity of 30,000 spectators, a business report compiled by external consultants, and economic funds for improvement.

It is still unknown how the promotion requirements will change due to the CAS decision. The court will also confirm whether promotions and relegation will take effect for the 2025/2026 season or before the 2026/2027 season.

The League MX will also continue to analyze the possibility of increasing the number of teams in the first division from 18 to 20, which will provide more teams with the opportunity for promotion.