Liga de Expansión MX

The Liga de Expansión Sub-23 is the second most relevant football category in Mexico’s football system. It was created in 2020 following a stabilization project by Liga MX, which seeks to give certainty to all teams for both competitions in terms of financing, infrastructure, and administration. It replaced the Ascenso MX league, which had been created in 2013.

Although it sits below Liga MX in terms of its relevance for Mexico’s football system, the Liga de Expansión does not operate under a promotion-relegation system. As per Liga MX’s decision, the stabilization project suspended promotion and relegation to and from this league until 2026, giving teams a chance to work with a long-term focus and create a stable environment for them to thrive, and when the time comes to be promoted, they can put up a fight against the best teams from the Mexican top-flight. Even if relegation has been suspended in this category, there is still a penalty for the teams with the lowest number of points every season, which will see them paying a fine that will be used to develop talent in lower leagues.

The Liga de Expansión works under a format where all teams are divided in two groups. They will play once against each member of their group every six months. Then, the top teams in the league will enter the postseason, where two-legged ties will be used to crown a champion for each group. Once those teams are determined, the winners will face each other to name a winner in that tournament.

The league will have two titles per season: the Apertura, which is played between July and December, and the Clausura, which takes place between January and May. The winners of each competition face each other for the Campeón de Campeones, a tournament that will eventually give access to Liga MX once promotion is allowed between both leagues.

Coverage for this league in the United States has been available via ViX, the streaming platform owned by TelevisaUnivisión. In Mexico, the competition can be followed on pay-tv channels such as TUDN, Fox Sports, ESPN, TVC Deportes, and Hi Sports. Online options to follow this league include Claro Sports, ViX, and Star+, thanks to the league’s agreement with all its broadcasting partners.