Liga Premier de México explained

Liga Premier
Country:Mexico
Confed:CONCACAF
Founded:, as Segunda División de México
Relegation:Liga TDP
Levels:3
Divisions:2
Teams:49
Promotion:Liga de Expansión MX
Domest Cup:Copa Conecta
Champions:Jaiba Brava (4th title)
Most Successful Club:Zacatepec
(5 titles)
Tv:AYM Sports
Televisa[1]
TVC Deportes[2]
Website:ligapremier.mx
Current:2024–25 Serie A de México season
2024–25 Serie B de México season

Liga Premier is the third level professional division of Mexican football. Formerly called Segunda División de México (1950–2017). It has 49 teams divided into two divisions (Serie A and Serie B). They compete from the fall to spring each season, promotion and relegation between each group, and promotion to Liga de Expansión MX and relegation to Liga TDP within the league system.

History

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 (renamed Ascenso MX in 2012)[3] with 15 teams from the Segunda División, and all other teams remained in the league that continued to be called Segunda División but at the new third level of Mexican football.

Each season has Segunda División teams divided into geographic zones with matches predominantly among the teams of that group. Each season had one tournament.

In 2008, the FMF, with the approval of the chairmen of the clubs in the second and third levels, change the format of the league dividing the number of teams into two divisions, the Liga Premier and the Liga de Nuevos Talentos. Each of the new leagues was divided into geographic groups. The winning club could earn promotion to Primera División A, renamed Liga de Ascenso in 2009, provided their stadium and financial stability met the licensing requirements of Liga de Ascenso. From 2011 and 2016, no teams were relegated to Liga Premier, although Pumas Morelos was to be relegated in 2013 but they dissolved before they could play in the lower league. Promotion still occurred during these years provided the club was licensed to participate. In June 2016, Ascenso MX announced they would resume relegating teams. Since that year only Loros UdeC in 2017 and Murciélagos in 2018 were relegated from the upper level.

In 2020, the Ascenso MX was abolished and replaced by a new league that was called Liga de Expansión MX, two Liga Premier teams were invited to the new category: Tepatitlán and Tlaxcala, teams who had won their promotion in 2016 and 2018 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, so only one team, Durango, could be promoted in 2022, although it only remained in the Liga de Expansión for one year. In 2024, another team achieved promotion to the Liga de Expansión, Tampico Madero, although it also obtained its place in the second level division as a guest team and not as a full member.

Rebranding

In June 2017, Segunda División announced a rebranding of the league. Instead of being referred to as the Segunda División de México they would be called Liga Premier. The league would continue to have two groups/divisions, however these new divisions would be called Serie A and Serie B. Serie A which would have independent teams as well as the affiliate teams of the higher level leagues in Mexico, Liga MX and Liga de Expansión MX, while Serie B would only have independent teams.

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] Finally, and four clubs would be promoted from Liga TDP provided they meet the Serie requirements of Article 57.

Clubs

See main article: Serie A de México and Serie B de México. The Serie A has 36 teams divided into three geographical groups. The top 2 teams from each group and the two best third places at end of the tournament will qualify to the final phase, the two tournament champions will play in the Campeón de Campeones Liga Premier for promotion to Liga de Expansión MX provided that the club meets the requirements for the stadium and financial stability.

The Serie B has 13 teams in development, that cannot be promoted to the Liga de Expansión MX.[6]

Below are listed the member clubs of the Serie A for the 2024–25 season.[7]

Below are listed the member clubs of the Serie B for the 2024-25 season.[10]

Champions

See main article: List of Mexican football champions.

ClubTitles Runners-upWinning editions
Zacatepec531950–51, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1977–78, 1983–84
Tampico Madero/Jaiba Brava431993–94, Clausura 2016, Clausura 2023, 2023–24
Universidad del Fútbol40Clausura 2008, Clausura 2009, Apertura 2009, Bicentenario 2010
Irapuato371953–54, 1984–85, 2020–21
UdeC32Clausura 2015, Clausura 2018, 2018–19
Atlas301954–55, 1971–72, 1978–79
Durango30Invierno 1998, Verano 1999, Apertura 2021
Pachuca Juniors30Clausura 2004, Apertura 2006, Apertura 2007
Ciudad Madero231964–65, 1972–73
Pachuca231966–67, 1991–92
Monterrey221955–56, 1959–60
Zitácuaro22Invierno 1997, Verano 2001
Coatzacoalcos21Clausura 2003, Apertura 2005
Tlaxcala21Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017
Celaya201957–58, Independencia 2010
San Luis201970–71, 1975–76
Atlante201976–77, 1990–91
Cobras201985–86, 1987–88
Académicos20Apertura 2004, Clausura 2005
Tulancingo20Apertura 2011, Clausura 2012
UAEM20Apertura 2014, Apertura 2015
Real Zamora131956–57
Cihuatlán13Invierno 2001
Unión de Curtidores121982-–3
Cruz Azul Hidalgo121994–95
Gallos de Aguascalientes12Verano 1998
Coras12Apertura 2002
La Piedad111951–52
Tampico111958–59
Jabatos de Nuevo León111965–66
Laguna111967–68
UANL111973–74
Morelia111980–81
León111989–90
Bachilleres UdeG111996–97
Real Cuautitlán11Invierno 1999
Marte11Verano 2000
Mérida/Atlético Yucatán11Apertura 2008
Chivas Rayadas11Revolución 2011
Murciélagos11Apertura 2012
UAZ11Apertura 2022
Toluca101952–53
Nacional101960–61
UNAM101961–62
Cruz Azul101963–64
Torreón101968–69
Tecos101974–75
Atletas Campesinos101979–80
Oaxtepec101981–82
UAT101986–87
Potros Neza101988–89
Toros Neza101992–93
Tigrillos UANL101995–96
Tamaulipas10Invierno 2000
Astros CDJ10Verano 2002
BUAP1align=Center0Apertura 2003
Pegaso Anáhuac10Clausura 2006
Cruz Azul Jasso10Clausura 2007
Galeana Morelos10Clausura 2013
Linces de Tlaxcala10Apertura 2013
Atlético Coatzacoalcos10Clausura 2014
Tepatitlán10Apertura 2017
Mazorqueros10Clausura 2022
Tapatío05
Poza Rica03
Tecamachalco03
San Sebastián02
Cuautla02
UAQ02
Inter Playa del Carmen02
Veracruz01
UdeG01
Tecnológico de Celaya01
Osos Grises01
Jalisco01
Inter de Tijuana01
Delfines Xalapa01
Real de la Plata01
América Coapa01
Autlán01
Cachorros UdeG01
Pumas Naucalpan01
Atlas Premier0align=Center1
Necaxa San Juan01
Tiburones de Córdoba01
Dorados de Los Mochis01
Altamira01
Nuevo Laredo01
Sonora01
Cafetaleros01
Los Cabos United01

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Includes Adrenalina Sports Network
  2. includes TVC Deportes 2
  3. Between 2009 and 2011 the league was called Liga de Ascenso.
  4. News: Segunda División se convierte en Liga Premier . esto.com.mx . June 15, 2017.
  5. . Promotion/relegation between the Serie A and Serie B is covered in Section M on pages 28-29 in Articles 61-63.
  6. Web site: ¡REGRESA LA SERIE B! . ligapremiermagazine.mx . 31 May 2021 . es . 29 May 2021.
  7. Web site: TRES GRUPOS EN SERIE A . Liga Premier Magazine . 18 July 2023 . es . 18 July 2023.
  8. Web site: Oficializan la llegada de Agricultores a la Liga de Segunda División Premier . Debate Sinaloa . 28 May 2024 . es . 21 May 2024.
  9. Web site: Tapachula participará en la Liga Premier del Futbol Mexicano . Diario del Sur . 21 June 2024 . es . 19 June 2024.
  10. Web site: SON 15 CLUBES EN SERIE B . Liga Premier Magazine . 18 July 2023 . es . 18 July 2023.