Mexican football league system

The Mexican football league system is the national football competition system in Mexico. It is organized by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación (Mexican Football Federation) and consists of four levels (it could be argued that there are five levels).

1. Primera División (18 teams)
2. Liga de Ascenso (16 teams)
3. Segunda División de México, 6 divisions
4. Tercera División de México, 15 groups

Tier	League(s)/Division(s)
1	Primera División 18 clubs - 1 relegation
2	Liga de Ascenso 16 clubs - 1 promotion, 1 relegation
3	Segunda División de México - Liga Premier de Ascenso 30 clubs (in 2 zones) - 1 promotion, 1 relegation	Segunda División de México - Liga de Nuevos Talentos 34 clubs (in 2 zones) - 1 relegation
4	Tercera División de México 244 clubs (in 15 groups) 2 promotions

Primera División

The Primera División (First Division) is the highest level of Mexican football and consists of 18 clubs. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments, the Apertura (Opening) and the Clausura (Closing). In each short tournament a club plays the other 17 clubs once. The home team switches, depending on the current short tournament.

A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a playoff system consisting of eight teams. The top eight clubs qualify to the playoffs. The clubs are arranged before each round so that the highest seeded team remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. The clubs play in a two-legged tie, with one match occurring at each club's home ground, and whichever club has the better aggregate score advances. If the two clubs are tied after both legs in the quarterfinals and semifinals, the higher seed advances automatically. In the finals, if the two clubs are tied after both legs two 15 minute halves of extra time are added. If the clubs are still tied after extra time the champion is determined by kicks from the penalty mark.

One club is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso each year (two short tournaments). To determine the club to be relegated, the ratio of points to games is kept for each team. The club that has the worst points to games ratio over the previous three years (six short tournaments) is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso.

International Competitions

The champions and runners-up of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments earn spots in the CONCACAF Champions League. Also the 4 best eligible clubs are invited to participate in the SuperLiga against the top four teams not already qualified for the Champions League of the US/Canadian Major League Soccer. In addition, clubs of the Primera División are inivited to participate in the CONMEBOL club tournaments, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, as long as they are not participating in the CONCACAF Champions League. Three clubs are invited to the Copa Libertadores: Starting the current season, Mexico 1 will be the first place in "Apertura," even if this team wins the playoffs. Mexico 2 and 3 will be the second and third best teams in the "Apertura," but those that participate in CONCACAF Champions League. The two highest placed eligible clubs in the Clausura tournament are invited to participate in the Copa Sudamericana.

Current female system

Level	League(s)/Division(s)
1	Super liga 25 clubs (2 groups)

See also

• Football in Mexico