Liga MX formerly named
Liga Mayor (1943–1949), and
Primera División de México (1949–2012), is the highest level of Mexican football, consists of 18 participating clubs. Each calendar year is split into two short tournaments named
Apertura and
Clausura. In each short tournament, a club plays the other 17 clubs once in the regular phase. A new champion is crowned for each short tournament through a final knockout phase, commonly known as
liguilla, consisting of 10 clubs. The top six clubs advance to the quarterfinals, qualifying directly to quarterfinals, while the next 4 clubs qualify for the play-in round, which determines the next two Liguilla spots. The clubs are reseeded after each round so that the highest seeded club remaining always plays the lowest seed remaining. In the play-in, the seventh-placed club host the eighth, the winner of that match advancing to the quarterfinals, and the losing club has another chance in facing the winner club between ninth and 10th place. The winner of that last play-in match advances to complete the eight clubs for the Liguilla. If the two clubs are tied after 90 minutes, it proceeds directly to a
penalty shoot-out. Starting in the quarterfinal round, eight teams (six directly qualified clubs and two play-in round winners) play in a
two-legged tie, with the higher-seed hosting the second leg. The club with the higher
aggregate score advances to the next round. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, if the two clubs are tied on aggregate after both legs, the higher seed advances automatically. In the final, if both clubs are tied after both legs, 30 minutes of extra time are played. If the clubs are still tied after that, the champion is determined by a penalty shoot-out. Currently the promotion and relegation are suspended from 2020 to 2026, due to the shutdown of the Ascenso MX's which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and financial woes. It is organized by the
FMF and consists of four men's division.
Qualification for international competitions •
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Six clubs qualified (champions and runners-up of the
Apertura and
Clausura tournaments, and the best two clubs in the accumulated table points of the season). •
Leagues Cup: All 18 Liga MX clubs qualified. ==Women's professional divisions==