TUDN: Liga MX Clubs Denied Participating in Copa Libertadores

If Liga MX clubs had any hopes of returning to the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, they took a massive hit on Thursday. It’s been nearly a decade since Mexican clubs have played in South American competitions, and that won’t happen soon.

On Thursday, Victor Montagliani, President of Concacaf, confirmed to TUDN that FIFA rejected the Mexican Football Federation’s request to participate in the Copa Libertadores.

While the Concacaf Champions League, now the Champions League, provides a pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup, the rigor of playing in South American competitions is lacking.

Another hit for Mexican football to improve?

Playing in Concacaf doesn’t provide the elite club competition and atmosphere that the Libertadores and Sudamericana deliver. Furthermore, this latest decision is also a hit for improving Mexican football at the club level.

Recently, Liga MX president Mikel Arriola ruled out any prospect of promotion and relegation returning to the league – at least for the foreseeable future. 

Since 2020, there has been no relegation for the bottom-placed teams to drop to the second-tier Ascenso MX, and this measure is likely to remain in place until 2026.