Primera División

The Primera División (First Division) is the highest level of Mexican football and consists of 18 clubs divided into three groups of six clubs each. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments, the Apertura (Opening) and the Clausura (Closing). Each short tournament a club plays the other 17 clubs once, where the home team is switched depending on which short tournament is currently being played.

A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a playoff system consisting of eight teams. The top two clubs in each group qualify directly to the Liguilla (playoffs), as well as the next two highest highest placed clubs, regardless of group. The clubs are arranged before each round so that the highest seeded team remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. The clubs play a home and home series 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 through penalty kicks.

One club is relegated to the Primera División A 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 Primera División A.

International Competitions

The champions and runners-up of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments earn spots in the CONCACAF Champions League. 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: the highest placed eligible club of the Apertura tournament, and the winner and runner-up of the InterLiga tournament. The two highest placed eligible clubs in the Clausura tournament are invited to participate in the Copa Sudamericana.

Primera División A

The Primera División A (First Division A) is the second level of Mexican football and consists of 27 clubs divided into three groups of nine clubs each. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments, the Apertura (Opening) and the Clausura (Closing). Each short tournament a club plays the other eight teams in its group twice, once at home and once away.

A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a playoff system consisting of eight teams. The top two clubs in each group qualify directly to the Liguilla (playoffs), as well as the next two highest highest placed clubs, regardless of group. The clubs are arranged before each round so that the highest seeded team remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. The clubs play a home and home series 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 through penalty kicks.

One team is promoted to the Primera División each year (two short tournaments). After the Clausura tournament, the champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments play a home and home series to determine which club will be promoted. If the same club wins both tournaments it will be promoted automatically. In order for a club to be promoted, it has to obtain a certification from the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación. If the winner of the promotional final is not certified for promotion, a home and home series is played between the highest placed certified club and the club being relegated to the Primera División A to determine which will be in the Primera División.

One club is relegated to the Segunda División 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 Segunda División.

Segunda División

Tercera División

Current system

See also

• Football in Mexico

External links

• Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación