Liga de Expansión MX Clubs Take Fight for Promotion to CAS Ahead of Key Assemblies

The push to reinstate promotion and relegation in Mexican football has reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). As first reported by The Athletic and confirmed by ESPN, a majority of Liga de Expansión MX clubs have filed a joint complaint demanding that promotion to Liga MX resume as originally agreed in 2019.

According to those clubs, the six-season suspension approved in 2019—later validated by CAS—was meant to stabilize the second division, with promotion expected to return by 2026. The complaint, filed in 2024, argues that any extension or permanent removal would violate that initial agreement. CAS has accepted the case and will hear it in due course.

In response, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) issued a statement saying it has not yet been formally notified of the legal proceedings. “If we are notified, we will present our position to the appropriate authorities,” the FMF said.

Two key meetings are scheduled: Liga MX will hold its assembly on May 26, a day after the final between América and Toluca, where club owners are expected to debate the future of promotion. On May 27, Liga de Expansión will convene with hopes of receiving a clear answer about when the pathway to the top tier will reopen.

Since 2019, promotion and relegation have been suspended, largely due to financial instability and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with rumors circulating about a permanent MLS-style structure, discontent has grown among second-tier clubs. For them, clarity on whether promotion will resume in 2025–26 or 2026–27 is vital for strategic and financial planning.