Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Soccer

Liga MX

Liga MX is the top professional men’s football league in Mexico.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Liga MX is Mexico’s top professional men’s football league, operating with 18 clubs and a split-season format. It is widely followed in Canada, especially among Latin American communities.

What it is

Liga MX is the highest level of the Mexican football league system. It was founded in 1943 as Liga Mayor, later renamed Primera División de México, and adopted the Liga MX branding in 2012. The league is currently sponsored as Liga BBVA MX.

Why it matters

Liga MX is one of the major leagues in North American soccer and has a significant audience in Canada, particularly among Mexican and broader Latin American communities. Its matches are commonly followed alongside MLS in Canadian soccer coverage.

Key details

The season is split into two tournaments: Apertura (July–December) and Clausura (January–May). Each ends with a knockout playoff phase called the liguilla. Promotion and relegation have been suspended since 2020. The league has 18 clubs.

In short

  • Liga MX is Mexico’s top men’s football league with 18 clubs.
  • Season is split into Apertura and Clausura tournaments, each with a playoff liguilla.
  • Promotion and relegation have been suspended since 2020.
  • Has a notable Canadian audience, especially among Latin American communities.
Canadian angle

Liga MX has a significant audience in Canada, especially among Mexican and broader Latin American communities, and its matches are commonly followed alongside MLS in Canadian soccer coverage.

Quick questions

What is Liga MX?
Liga MX is Mexico’s top professional men’s football league and the highest level of the Mexican football league system.
How many teams are in Liga MX?
Liga MX has 18 teams.
When does Liga MX start?
Its Apertura tournament typically runs from July to December, while the Clausura runs from January to May.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_MX
    Supports: League identity, 18 teams, split-season format, former names, and suspended promotion/relegation.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_football_league_system
    Supports: Liga MX as the highest level of the Mexican football league system and its organizational context.
  3. Leagues Cup — https://www.leaguescup.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-liga-mx-understanding-the-passion-the-pride-and-the-party-of-mexican-soccer
    Supports: Apertura/Clausura format and recent champion context.
  4. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_MX
    Supports: A 2026 championship result cited in the available results.