Eleven clubs from Mexico’s second-tier Liga Expansión MX have lodged a formal complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and all 18 Liga MX teams, demanding the reinstatement of the promotion and relegation system for the 2025–26 season.
The legal move comes in response to the six-year suspension of promotion and relegation agreed in 2020 amid the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially intended as a temporary stabilisation measure, second-tier clubs now fear that FMF and several Liga MX teams are attempting to make the closed-league model permanent, mimicking Major League Soccer’s structure.
“Due to the total silence on behalf of the FMF, and considering the fact that there are only a few months left before the start of the new season … the appellant clubs highlighted the urgency of obtaining an answer,” the filing states. The clubs say clarity is urgently needed for infrastructure investment, player signings, and broadcast negotiations.
The complaint was filed through Brazilian sports law firm Carlezzo Advogados, which also raised alarms over multi-club ownership — a contentious issue in Mexican football. Currently, four ownership groups control multiple Liga MX clubs, raising concerns about competition integrity.
The issue was thrust into the spotlight earlier this month when Club León’s appeal to CAS was rejected after they were disqualified from the FIFA Club World Cup due to shared ownership with Pachuca. Both clubs are owned by businessman Jesús Martínez, in violation of FIFA’s ownership regulations.
The FMF responded on Tuesday by stating it had not yet been notified of any legal action by CAS. “If notified, we will present our position to the appropriate authorities,” the federation said in a brief statement.
The CAS is expected to deliver a decision on the matter by the end of 2025, a timeline that could have major implications for Mexican football ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host alongside the United States and Canada.
If successful, the case could restore the traditional promotion and relegation structure in Mexican football, a move welcomed by fans and clubs who see it as crucial for sporting merit, competitiveness, and long-term growth.
