Atlético Morelia president believes promotion and relegation will be reinstated in Liga MX in 2026

José Luis Higuera, president of Atlético Morelia, says he expects promotion and relegation to return to Liga MX by mid-2026. Speaking in an interview with Caliente TV, Higuera claimed the decision had already been agreed upon and signed during previous league meetings—though no official confirmation has been issued by Liga MX or the Mexican Football Federation.

"Everything will be reinstated in 2026, as agreed upon and signed in the assemblies. Technically, promotion and relegation are suspended, not eliminated, and they will return in mid-2026. And it's not just me saying this - our High Commissioner has publicly confirmed it," Higuera stated.

"I would say that what harms our football the most, even more than the temporary absence of promotion and relegation, is the relocation of franchises. You don’t see that in any major football league around the world. Of course, you also can’t truly understand Liga MX without promotion or relegation, but I believe the top-flight owners themselves have realized that this situation doesn't even benefit their business," he added.

In 2020, due to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican football executives decided to temporarily suspend the promotion and relegation system in Liga MX. This decision was made to support franchise owners in the first division and strengthen Liga Expansión, with the idea that, years later, the system would return with a stronger second division. However, it seemed that this reform would remain permanent.

This decision mainly affected the teams in the second division. Teams like Atlante, Leones Negros de la UDG, Venados de Mérida, and Atlético Morelia are among those that have expressed their dissatisfaction in recent years with the suspension of promotion and relegation. But, according to Liga MX, these teams do not meet the necessary requirements to be First Division clubs. It's a stance that has been heavily criticized by executives from the mentioned teams, who have even taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

At the end of 2023, Mikel Arriola, president of Liga MX and interim commissioner of FMF, last spoke about the promotion and relegation issue. He assured that the rules would not change in the near future, indicating that the suspension would continue for a couple of more years. "The rules will not change. We are working very hard to create a predictable environment for investors, both for the First Division and Expansion. We need to wait and see what happens", he stated.

Jaguares de Chiapas was the last team to be relegated from Liga MX, after their relegation in the Clausura 2017. However, starting in the Clausura 2018, a new rule was implemented in the league that allowed teams at risk of relegation to keep their place in the First Division under certain conditions. This rule stated that the team finishing in last place in the Coefficient Table could avoid relegation as long as they made a financial contribution, and if the Ascenso team that had earned their place in the First Division did not meet the requirements to occupy that spot. This measure was part of a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Liga MX and ensuring the financial stability of the teams.