A total of 10 Liga Expansion MX clubs have filed a formal complaint before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) and Liga MX, demanding the return of the promotion and relegation system as of the 2025-2026 season.
The information was confirmed by The New York Times, which had direct access to the legal document filed on March 24, 2025.
Who is suing and why?
The teams involved from Liga Expansion MX in the legal action are:
Atlante, Morelia, Leones Negros, Atlético La Paz, Alebrijes, Cimarrones, Cancún FC, Mineros de Zacatecas, Venados FC and Tampico Madero.
These clubs argue that the suspension of promotion and relegation since 2020 has generated economic, sporting and operative effects, limiting the possibility of:
Attract serious investment,
Develop infrastructure,
Negotiate broadcasting rights, and
Offer certainty to players, sponsors and fans.
Lawyer Eduardo Carlezzo, the group’s legal representative, called it “absurd” to maintain the elimination of the competitive system in force in most of the world’s leagues.
In his statement, he compared the Mexican model with those of Spain, Italy, England and Brazil, where annual promotions and relegations are a key part of sports development.
The document before the CAS
In the lawsuit, the Liga Expansion MX clubs request an urgent resolution before the start of the 2025-2026 season.
This is in order to plan contracts, infrastructure projects and signings in good time.
The text demands that the FMF begin legal proceedings to reinstate the promotion and relegation system immediately.
La información fue confirmada por el periódico The New York Times
QuéOnnda.com
They cite as a central argument the absolute silence on the part of the FMF, which has not issued a formal response on the matter.
Therefore, the CAS was asked to intervene to force the Mexican authorities to consider restarting the competitive model.
FMF Response
Buzzy
The FMF, for its part, maintains that the current suspension -which began in the 2020-2021 season- was implemented as part of a post-pandemic economic stabilization plan.
And that it is scheduled to last for six years, that is, until the 2026-2027 cycle.
This position was reiterated by official sources a few weeks ago.
The claim of the Liga Expansion MX clubs puts back on the table the debate on the viability and fairness of the current system in Mexican soccer.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
