CAS rules out early return of LigaMX promotion and relegation until 2026-27 season

  
Mexican second tier clubs calling for an immediate return of promotion and relegation between the top two leagues in the country have had their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) turned down.

However in their ruling CAS emphasised that the suspension imposed by the Mexican federation (FMF) was only stipulated for six seasons, taking them to the end of the current 2025/26 season.

Initially, 10 clubs were involved in the appeal before CF Atlante (three times winners of the Liga de Expansion), Cimarrones de Sonora FC, Alebrijes de Oaxaca FC and Jaiba Brava withdrew, leaving Club Atlético La Paz, Club Atlético Morelia, Cancún FC, CD Mineros de Zacatecas, Venados FC and Leones Negros de la UdeG to continue.

A CAS statement said: “After examining the evidence, the CAS Panel concluded that the FMF had always determined to suspend the system until the conclusion of the 2025/2026 season, which was made clear to the clubs when the decision was taken. Specifically, the Panel found that the sporting seasons impacted by the agreement at the FMF General Assembly on 24 April 2020 to suspend promotion and relegation correspond to those in the FMF decision on 29 April 2025, the last one being the 2025/2026 season. Consequently, the appeal is dismissed.”

The Mexican league suspended promotion and relegation in 2019 for six seasons due to the covid 19 pandemic in a move that the league said would protect its structures and clubs.

The first division was maintained at 18 teams while the 15-team Liga de Expansión MX was founded in 2020 as part of the federation’s ‘Stabilisation Project’, to protect financially troubled teams and ensure there was a fully functioning second tier.

There was a fear among the clubs that Liga MX would extend the suspension of promotion and relegation, hence an initial case calling for its immediate removal filed in 2024. CAS has again ruled against lifting the suspension before the end of six seasons, but there is an implied expectation that it will be lifted for the 2026/27 season.

There is no information on the format and requirements needed for a Liga de Expansion team to qualify for promotion, which would include clubs needing to meet LigaMX financial and licensing requirements.

So far there has been no statement from LigaMX on the ruling or the lifting of promotion and relegation.

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