The Liga MX Owners Assembly briefing from GOAL summarizes a landmark gathering of the 18 top flight clubs as they chart the path for Mexican football. Hosted at the Mexican Football Federation facilities, the meeting maintained tradition while focusing on reforms that could reshape competition and federation governance. The discussions were framed by recent results and the national team’s showing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which raised questions about development, structure, and long-term strategy for the sport in the country.
GOAL outlines the most impactful outcomes from the Owners Meeting, highlighting changes designed to modernize the league and strengthen the federation’s operation, while keeping the integrity of competition at the forefront.
NEW FORMAT AND RECORDING
There was early talk about ending the current format, but the Opening 2023 schedule will proceed with a revised structure. The changes introduce a clearer path to the quarterfinals: teams finishing in the top six will advance directly. The seventh and eighth place teams will face off for a berth in the quarterfinals, and the loser will still have a late chance to qualify via a final playoff route. The winner of that playoff earns a place in ninth or tenth position. The design aims to balance competitive balance with opportunities for teams at different points in the standings, while preserving a climactic finish to the regular phase.
LIMIT ON FOREIGN PLAYERS
Starting with the Opening 2023, clubs will be limited to seven players on the field who were not trained in Mexico. This marks a shift from the previous rule, which allowed eight foreign-trained players to participate in a single match. The adjustment is intended to encourage the development and integration of domestic talent while maintaining a healthy level of international experience across squads.
ECONOMIC INCENTIVE
A season-long prize will be awarded to the team that accumulates the most points across the two halves of the 2023 opening and the 2024 closing seasons. The goal is to recognize sustained performance over both segments of the annual calendar, providing a tangible national-level incentive for consistency and competitive depth across the league.
RELEGATION AND PROMOTION MODIFICATIONS
The promotion and relegation system remains in place with a potential reset if fewer than four teams are certified in the second division. A reassessment could reactivate promotion mechanisms once a minimum threshold of clubs is reached, ensuring continuity and opportunity for upward movement as the professional pyramid evolves.
FMF MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Leadership transitions were announced as part of the reforms. Jon de Luisa steps down as chairman, and Juan Carlos Rodríguez takes the helm. Dulio Davino is appointed general manager for the senior national team, Andrés Lilini leads development squads as general manager, and Gerard Spinoza becomes coach of the Under-23 program. These changes are aimed at aligning federation management with the league’s competitive and developmental goals.
YOUTH COMPETITION TRANSITION
The Under-20 competition will be replaced by the Under-23 Expansion League. The objective is to provide younger players with greater exposure and a more effective bridge to first-team play in the top division, improving preparation and long-term professional pathways for homegrown talents.
Which team is favored to win Clausura 2023 Liga MX?
- Monterrey
- America
- Chivas
- Toluca
- Tigres
- Other
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Which team is favored to win Clausura 2023 Liga MX?
- Monterrey
- America
- Chivas
- Toluca
- Tigres
- Other
16251 to vote
Notes: The presented items reflect the discussions and outcomes reported by a major sports publication in relation to the assembly. (Goal)