Liga Premier de México
| Organising body | Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 (as Segunda División de México) |
| Country | Mexico |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Divisions | 2 (Serie A and Serie B) |
| Number of clubs | 51 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Liga de Expansión MX |
| Relegation to | Liga TDP |
| Domestic cup | Copa Conecta |
| Current champions | Irapuato (4th title) |
| Most championships | Zacatepec (5 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | AYM Sports Televisa[1] TVC Deportes[2] |
| Website | ligapremier.mx |
| Current: 2025–26 Serie A de México season 2025–26 Serie B de México season | |
Liga Premier is a professional association football league in Mexico and the third level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly named Segunda División de México (1950–2017). It has 51 participating clubs, divided into two series (Serie A with 41 clubs in 3 groups and Serie B with 10 clubs in a single group). The season consists of a single tournament, which is held from August to May and the champions are decided by a final phase. The winners of Serie A are crowned as the official Liga Premier champions, and the winners of Serie B are the secondary champions of the division.
Serie B clubs and teams affiliated with clubs from the highest divisions, which are known as "filiales" are not eligible for promotion to Liga de Expansión MX.
Zacatepec is the most successful club with 5 titles, followed by Irapuato, Tampico Madero and Universidad del Fútbol with 4 titles each. In all, sixty-five clubs have won the Liga Premier at least once.
History
The champions of the 1993–94 Segunda División season was the last to be promoted to the Primera División. In 1994–95 season, the FMF created the Primera División A (renamed Ascenso MX in 2012)[3] with 15 teams from the Segunda División, and all other teams remained in the league that continued to be called Segunda División but at the new third level of Mexican football.
Each season has Segunda División teams divided into geographic zones with matches predominantly among the teams of that group. Each season had one tournament.
In 2008, the FMF, with the approval of the chairmen of the clubs in the second and third levels, change the format of the league dividing the number of teams into two divisions, the Liga Premier and the Liga de Nuevos Talentos. Each of the new leagues was divided into geographic groups. The winning club could earn promotion to Primera División A, renamed Liga de Ascenso in 2009, provided their stadium and financial stability met the licensing requirements of Liga de Ascenso. From 2011 and 2016, no teams were relegated to Liga Premier, although Pumas Morelos was to be relegated in 2013 but they dissolved before they could play in the lower league. Promotion still occurred during these years provided the club was licensed to participate. In June 2016, Ascenso MX announced they would resume relegating teams. Since that year only Loros UdeC in 2017 and Murciélagos in 2018 were relegated from the upper level.
In 2020, the Ascenso MX was abolished and replaced by a new league that was called Liga de Expansión MX, two Liga Premier teams were invited to the new category: Tepatitlán and Tlaxcala, teams who had won their promotion in 2016 and 2018 but were rejected in the second level for not meeting the requirements to participate. Since that year, the requirements to be admitted to the second level have been tightened, so only one team, Durango, could be promoted in 2022, although it only remained in the Liga de Expansión for one year. In 2024, another team achieved promotion to the Liga de Expansión, Tampico Madero, although it also obtained its place in the second level division as a guest team and not as a full member.
Rebranding
In June 2017, Segunda División announced a rebranding of the league. Instead of being referred to as the Segunda División de México they would be called Liga Premier. The league would continue to have two groups/divisions, however these new divisions would be called Serie A and Serie B. Serie A which would have independent teams as well as the affiliate teams of the higher level leagues in Mexico, Liga MX and Liga de Expansión MX, while Serie B would only have independent teams.[4]
Promotion and relegation would be formalized between the leagues. Serie A would promote one club to Liga de Expansión MX.[4] Additionally, one Serie B club could promote to Serie A and one club would be relegated from Serie A each year.[5] Finally, and four clubs would be promoted from Liga TDP provided they meet the Serie requirements of Article 57.[6]
Participating clubs
The Serie A has 41 clubs divided into three geographical groups. The top four clubs from each group and the best fifth place at end of the tournament will qualify to the final phase, the season champions will be eligible to participate in a certification audit for obtain a promotion to Liga de Expansión MX provided that the club meets the requirements for the stadium and financial stability.
The Serie B has 10 clubs in development, that cannot be promoted to the Liga de Expansión MX.[7]
The 2025–26 Serie A de México season has the following 41 participating clubs.[8][9]
| Serie A clubs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group I | Group II | Group III |
| On hiatus |
|---|
The 2025–26 Serie B de México season has the following 10 participating clubs.[15]
| Serie B clubs |
|---|
| On hiatus |
|---|
Performances
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zacatepec | 5 | 3 | 1950–51, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1977–78, 1983–84 |
| 2 | Irapuato | 4 | 8 | 1953–54, 1984–85, 2020–21, Clausura 2025 |
| Tampico Madero/Jaiba Brava | 4 | 3 | 1993–94, Clausura 2016, Clausura 2023, 2023–24 | |
| Universidad del Fútbol | 4 | 0 | Clausura 2008, Clausura 2009, Apertura 2009, Bicentenario 2010 | |
| 5 | UdeC | 3 | 2 | Clausura 2015, Clausura 2018, 2018–19 |
| Atlas | 3 | 0 | 1954–55, 1971–72, 1978–79 | |
| Durango | 3 | 0 | Invierno 1998, Verano 1999, Apertura 2021 | |
| Pachuca Juniors | 3 | 0 | Clausura 2004, Apertura 2006, Apertura 2007 | |
| 9 | Ciudad Madero | 2 | 3 | 1964–65, 1972–73 |
| Pachuca | 2 | 3 | 1966–67, 1991–92 | |
| Monterrey | 2 | 2 | 1955–56, 1959–60 | |
| Unión de Curtidores | 2 | 2 | 1970, 1982–83 | |
| Zitácuaro | 2 | 2 | Invierno 1997, Verano 2001 | |
| Tlaxcala | 2 | 1 | Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017 | |
| Celaya | 2 | 0 | 1957–58, Independencia 2010 | |
| San Luis | 2 | 0 | 1970–71, 1975–76 | |
| Atlante | 2 | 0 | 1976–77, 1990–91 | |
| Cobras | 2 | 0 | 1985–86, 1987–88 | |
| Académicos | 2 | 0 | Apertura 2004, Clausura 2005 | |
| Tulancingo | 2 | 0 | Apertura 2011, Clausura 2012 | |
| UAEM | 2 | 0 | Apertura 2014, Apertura 2015 | |
| 22 | Real Zamora | 1 | 3 | 1956–57 |
| Cihuatlán | 1 | 3 | Invierno 2001 | |
| La Piedad | 1 | 2 | 1951–52 | |
| Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 1 | 2 | 1994–95 | |
| Gallos de Aguascalientes | 1 | 2 | Verano 1998 | |
| Deportivo Tepic | 1 | 2 | Apertura 2002 | |
| Tampico | 1 | 1 | 1958–59 | |
| Nuevo León | 1 | 1 | 1965–66 | |
| Laguna | 1 | 1 | 1967–68 | |
| UANL | 1 | 1 | 1973–74 | |
| Morelia | 1 | 1 | 1980–81 | |
| León | 1 | 1 | 1989–90 | |
| Bachilleres UdeG | 1 | 1 | 1996–97 | |
| Real Cuautitlán | 1 | 1 | Invierno 1999 | |
| Marte | 1 | 1 | Verano 2000 | |
| Delfines de Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 1 | Clausura 2003 | |
| Chivas Rayadas | 1 | 1 | Revolución 2011 | |
| Murciélagos | 1 | 1 | Apertura 2012 | |
| UAZ | 1 | 1 | Apertura 2022 | |
| Aguacateros de Peribán | 1 | 1 | Apertura 2024 | |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | 1952–53 | |
| Nacional | 1 | 0 | 1960–61 | |
| UNAM | 1 | 0 | 1961–62 | |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 0 | 1963–64 | |
| Torreón | 1 | 0 | 1968–69 | |
| Tecos | 1 | 0 | 1974–75 | |
| Atletas Campesinos | 1 | 0 | 1979–80 | |
| Oaxtepec | 1 | 0 | 1981–82 | |
| UAT | 1 | 0 | 1986–87 | |
| Potros Neza | 1 | 0 | 1988–89 | |
| UTN | 1 | 0 | 1992–93 | |
| Tigrillos UANL | 1 | 0 | 1995–96 | |
| Águilas de Tamaulipas | 1 | 0 | Invierno 2000 | |
| Astros de Ciudad Juárez | 1 | 0 | Verano 2002 | |
| BUAP | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2003 | |
| Coatzacoalcos B | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2005 | |
| Pegaso Anáhuac | 1 | 0 | Clausura 2006 | |
| Cruz Azul Jasso | 1 | 0 | Clausura 2007 | |
| Mérida B | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2008 | |
| Galeana Morelos | 1 | 0 | Clausura 2013 | |
| Linces de Tlaxcala | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2013 | |
| Atlético Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | Clausura 2014 | |
| Tepatitlán | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2017 | |
| Mazorqueros | 1 | 0 | Clausura 2022 | |
| 66 | Tapatío | 0 | 5 | — |
| Poza Rica | 0 | 3 | — | |
| Tecamachalco | 0 | 3 | — | |
| San Sebastián | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Cuautla | 0 | 2 | — | |
| UAQ | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Inter Playa del Carmen | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Puebla | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Veracruz | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UdeG | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tecnológico de Celaya | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Osos Grises | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Jalisco | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlético Yucatán | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Inter de Tijuana | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Delfines Xalapa | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Real de la Plata | 0 | 1 | — | |
| América Coapa | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Deportivo Autlán | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cachorros UdeG | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Pumas Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlas B | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Necaxa San Juan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tiburones de Córdoba | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Dorados de Los Mochis | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Altamira | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Nuevo Laredo | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Sonora | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cafetaleros | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Los Cabos United | 0 | 1 | — |
Campeón de Campeones de Segunda División/Liga Premier
Campeón de Campeones de Segunda División/Liga Premier was the domestic Super cup of the division between the champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, the two champions of each season. It was initially a Super cup between the league and cup champions of the Segunda División. The trophy was contested from 1953 to 1972, and also from 1995 to 2025.
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pachuca Juniors | 3 | 0 | 2004, 2007, 2008 |
| 2 | Poza Rica | 2 | 3 | 1961, 1968 |
| Zacatepec | 2 | 1 | 1963, 1967 | |
| Real Zamora | 2 | 0 | 1957, 1960 | |
| Ciudad Madero | 2 | 0 | 1962, 1965 | |
| Durango | 2 | 0 | 19991 | |
| 7 | Irapuato | 1 | 2 | 19542 |
| Universidad del Fútbol | 1 | 2 | 20101 | |
| Laguna | 1 | 1 | 1955 | |
| Nacional | 1 | 1 | 1958 | |
| Monterrey | 1 | 1 | 1960 | |
| Atlas | 1 | 1 | 1972 | |
| Celaya | 1 | 1 | 2011 | |
| UdeC | 1 | 1 | 2015 | |
| UAEM | 1 | 1 | 2016 | |
| Tampico Madero | 1 | 1 | 2023 | |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | 1953 | |
| Morelia | 1 | 0 | 1956 | |
| Tampico | 1 | 0 | 1959 | |
| Nuevo León | 1 | 0 | 1966 | |
| Torreón | 1 | 0 | 19692 | |
| Unión de Curtidores | 1 | 0 | 1971 | |
| Tigrillos UANL | 1 | 0 | 1996 | |
| Gallos de Aguascalientes | 1 | 0 | 1998 | |
| Marte | 1 | 0 | 2000 | |
| Águilas de Tamaulipas | 1 | 0 | 2001 | |
| Cihuatlán | 1 | 0 | 2002 | |
| Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | 2003 | |
| Académicos | 1 | 0 | 2005 | |
| Pegaso Anáhuac | 1 | 0 | 2006 | |
| Mérida B | 1 | 0 | 2009 | |
| Tulancingo | 1 | 0 | 20121 | |
| Galeana Morelos | 1 | 0 | 2013 | |
| Atlético Coatzacoalcos | 1 | 0 | 2014 | |
| Tlaxcala | 1 | 0 | 20171 | |
| Tepatitlán | 1 | 0 | 2018 | |
| Aguacateros de Peribán | 1 | 0 | 2025 | |
| 38 | Pachuca | 0 | 2 | — |
| Chivas Rayadas | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Zitácuaro | 0 | 2 | — | |
| San Sebastián | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Texcoco | 0 | 1 | — | |
| San Luis | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Real Cuautitlán | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Astros de Ciudad Juárez | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Deportivo Tepic | 0 | 1 | — | |
| BUAP | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Coatzacoalcos B | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cruz Azul Jasso | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Murciélagos | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Linces de Tlaxcala | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Mazorqueros | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UAZ | 0 | 1 | — |
- Notes
- Automatic winners of the trophy and promotion for winning both league tournaments of the season.
- Automatic winners of the trophy for winning the season's league and cup tournament.
See also
- Football in Mexico
- Mexican football league system
- Mexican Football Federation
- Liga MX
- Liga de Expansión MX
- Ascenso MX
- Liga TDP
- Copa Conecta
References
- ^ Includes Adrenalina Sports Network
- ^ includes TVC Deportes 2
- ^ Between 2009 and 2011 the league was called Liga de Ascenso.
- ^ a b "Segunda División se convierte en Liga Premier". esto.com.mx. June 15, 2017.
- ^ Reglamento de Competencia (PDF), Liga Premier, Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación. Promotion/relegation between the Serie A and Serie B is covered in Section M on pages 28-29 in Articles 61-63.
- ^ Reglamento de Competencia (PDF), Liga Premier, Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, p. 26
- ^ "¡REGRESA LA SERIE B!". ligapremiermagazine.mx (in Spanish). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Cambios en la Liga Premier MX; regresa el futbol al Neza 86' y Celaya pierde categoría". RÉCORD (in Spanish). 29 June 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "La Temporada 2025-2026 de la LIGA PREMIER está a la vuelta de la esquina". Liga Premier FMF (in Spanish). 31 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Neza FC volverá al fútbol mexicano en la Liga Premier". AF Deportes (in Spanish). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Tapachula participará en la Liga Premier del Futbol Mexicano". Diario del Sur (in Spanish). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "AGUACATEROS DE PERIBÁN NO DESAPARECE". Trascancha TV (in Spanish). 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Confirma Faraones de Texcoco su salida tras ascenso a Liga Premier". elcomentario.ucol.mx (in Spanish). University of Colima. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Hermetismo total en torno al Club Petroleros Salamanca C FC". El Sol de Salamanca (in Spanish). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "SON 15 CLUBES EN SERIE B". Liga Premier Magazine (in Spanish). 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
External links
- Official website (in Spanish)
- Magazine page (in Spanish)
- League information (in English)