Liga Premier Approves Restructuring with Promotion and Relegation

Mexican football's Liga Premier has officially approved a major restructuring designed to invigorate competition and establish clearer pathways for club development. This significant shift, agreed upon in the latest assembly, is set to commence with the 2026-27 season, beginning in late August 2026.

A key element of the overhaul is the introduction of a new top-tier category named "Primera Premier." This division will feature 18 clubs competing in a round-robin format. The primary objective of this new league is to elevate the overall sporting competitiveness within the Liga Premier and serve as a crucial development platform for organizations aspiring to climb higher within the national football structure.

Below the Primera Premier will be the "Premier A" division, comprising two groups of 10 teams each. Crucially, this division will incorporate a promotion and relegation system with the Primera Premier. This mechanism will allow clubs demonstrating superior performance to earn a spot in the higher category, while those with lesser results risk demotion.

José Vázquez, president of the Liga Premier, emphasized the importance of this change, stating, "Let's not have the problem we've been having for the last three or four seasons, where unfortunately the one who didn't have the requirements won. So we would have to do things like it being the runner-up. This step gives certainty to the league in understanding that the champion that emerges from the Primera Premier will play in the Liga de Expansión without any problem." This move aims to ensure that promotion is based purely on sporting merit, providing greater certainty and competitive integrity.