Introduction
Liga MX, also known as Liga BBVA MX for sponsorship reasons,[6] is a professional association football league in Mexico and the highest level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly known as Liga Mayor (1943–1949) and Primera División de México (1949–2012). It has 18 participating clubs, the season is divided into two short tournaments, which are named Apertura from July to December and Clausura from January to May. The champions of each tournament are decided by a final phase, commonly known as Liguilla. Since 2020, promotion and relegation has been suspended until the 2025–26 season, while promotion and relegation return from 2026–27 season.
The league currently ranks first in CONCACAF's league ranking index.[7] According to the IFFHS, Liga MX was ranked as the 10th strongest league in the first decade of the 21st century.[8] According to CONCACAF, the league – with an average attendance of 25,557 during the 2014–15 season – draws the largest crowds on average of any football league in the Americas and the third largest crowds of any professional sports league in North America, behind only the NFL and MLB. It is also the fourth most attended football league in the world behind the Bundesliga, Premier League and La Liga.[9] Liga MX ranks second in terms of television viewership in the United States, behind the English Premier League.
América is the most successful club with 16 titles, followed by Guadalajara with 12 titles, Toluca with 11 titles, Cruz Azul with 9 titles, Tigres UANL and León with 8 titles each, Pachuca and Pumas UNAM with 7 titles each.[11] In all, twenty-four clubs have won the top professional division at least once.
Amateur era
Prior to the Liga Mayor, there was no national football league in Mexico, and football competitions were held within relatively small geographical regions. The Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association, a local league consisting of teams near and around Mexico City, was the first amateur football league created in Mexico, and also other regional leagues were created, which were the Liga Amateur de Veracruz, Liga Amateur de Puebla, Liga Occidental De Jalisco and the Liga Amateur del Bajío that had talented clubs.
In 1922, after the foundation of the first football federation in Mexico, they created the Campeonato de Primera Fuerza, which was the first amateur league organized by a national football federation. It was held from 1922 to 1943, although most of the participating teams were from Mexico City and the first matches held outside the country's capital were played until the 1940–41 season.
Many club owners were keen to remain amateur although they paid players under the table. The increasing interest in football would not thwart a unified professional football system in the country. The first true national and professional league in Mexico was established in 1943, under the name Liga Mayor.
Professional era
Prior to the Liga Mayor, there was no national football league in Mexico, and football competitions were held within relatively small geographical regions. The Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association, a local league consisting of teams near and around Mexico City, was the first amateur football league created in Mexico, and also other regional leagues were created, which were the Liga Amateur de Veracruz, Liga Amateur de Puebla, Liga Occidental De Jalisco and the Liga Amateur del Bajío that had talented clubs.
In 1922, after the foundation of the first football federation in Mexico, they created the Campeonato de Primera Fuerza, which was the first amateur league organized by a national football federation. It was held from 1922 to 1943, although most of the participating teams were from Mexico City and the first matches held outside the country's capital were played until the 1940–41 season.
Many club owners were keen to remain amateur although they paid players under the table. The increasing interest in football would not thwart a unified professional football system in the country. The first true national and professional league in Mexico was established in 1943, under the name Liga Mayor.
Final phase
Liga MX, also known as Liga BBVA MX for sponsorship reasons,[6] is a professional association football league in Mexico and the highest level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly known as Liga Mayor (1943–1949) and Primera División de México (1949–2012). It has 18 participating clubs, the season is divided into two short tournaments, which are named Apertura from July to December and Clausura from January to May. The champions of each tournament are decided by a final phase, commonly known as Liguilla. Since 2020, promotion and relegation has been suspended until the 2025–26 season, while promotion and relegation return from 2026–27 season.
The league currently ranks first in CONCACAF's league ranking index.[7] According to the IFFHS, Liga MX was ranked as the 10th strongest league in the first decade of the 21st century.[8] According to CONCACAF, the league – with an average attendance of 25,557 during the 2014–15 season – draws the largest crowds on average of any football league in the Americas and the third largest crowds of any professional sports league in North America, behind only the NFL and MLB. It is also the fourth most attended football league in the world behind the Bundesliga, Premier League and La Liga.[9] Liga MX ranks second in terms of television viewership in the United States, behind the English Premier League.
América is the most successful club with 16 titles, followed by Guadalajara with 12 titles, Toluca with 11 titles, Cruz Azul with 9 titles, Tigres UANL and León with 8 titles each, Pachuca and Pumas UNAM with 7 titles each.[11] In all, twenty-four clubs have won the top professional division at least once.