The MX competition is renowned for its balance. Unlike some leagues in Europe where one team dominates, this league often feels like a tight race from start to finish. The tiered system, along with the Liguillas, ensures that every club has a real shot at glory, keeping anticipation high throughout the season.
Because of these factors, the champions gain several advantages beyond the trophy itself. They secure a substantial prize money package and earn the right to participate in additional competitions, which helps them build a stronger showcase over time and extend their competitive footprint. These rewards also create additional motivation for teams to invest in talent, depth, and development across the entire squad.
From a global perspective, this article explains which tournaments the MX League champion typically contends in and how those pathways fit into the wider football calendar.
WHAT TOURNAMENTS DOES THE MX LEAGUE CHAMPION PLAY?
Both the league champion and the runners-up earn spots in the Concacaf Champions League, where they test themselves against the strongest teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Mexican clubs have historically been strong contenders in this tournament, with Mexican teams steering the competition for many years. The period from 2006 through 2021 saw a dominant run by Mexican sides, reinforcing the country’s strength in the region. That said, changes in 2022 brought new dynamics when an American club, Seattle Sounders, defeated a Mexican side in the final, highlighting the evolving balance of power in North American football.
On the domestic front, the league champion also earns the right to participate in the Campeon de Campeones, a match that pits the Liga MX champion against the winner of the Apertura or Clausura tournament. If a club claims the title more than once within a football year, the Campeon de Campeones matchup is arranged against the most recent title holder, a format that produced a showdown between Atlas and Cruz Azul in 2022.
Since 2018, the Liga MX champion has faced the reigning MLS Cup champion in the so-called Champion Cup, a fixture born from growing ties between the two leagues. This cross-border competition adds an extra layer of prestige and provides another stage for Mexican clubs to demonstrate their quality against major rivals from the United States.
Which team will win the Clausura 2023 Liga MX?
- eleven%Monterrey
- 22%America
- 43%Chivas
- 2%Toluca
- 17%Tigres
- 5%Other
22719 to vote
These dynamics illustrate how the champion’s success in Liga MX can open doors to continental and cross-border opportunities, reinforcing the league’s appeal for players, clubs, and fans alike.
Overall, the championship pathway in Liga MX is designed to reward consistency and excellence across multiple competitions, while also feeding into a broader ecosystem of regional and international tournaments that drive growth, visibility, and competitiveness for Mexican football on a global stage.