2025–26 Liga de Expansión MX season
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 21 |
| Goals scored | 57 (2.71 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Apertura 2025: Alejandro Bravo Vladimir Moragrega (3 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Apertura 2025: Irapuato 4–1 Venados (1 August 2025) |
| Biggest away win | Apertura 2025: Tapatío 1–3 Tepatitlán (17 August 2025) |
| Highest scoring | Apertura 2025: UdeG 4–2 Irapuato (10 August 2025) |
| Longest winning run | Apertura 2025: 3 matches Cancún |
| Longest unbeaten run | Apertura 2025: 3 matches Cancún Jaiba Brava Tepatitlán Zacatecas |
| Longest winless run | Apertura 2025: 3 matches Atlético La Paz Tlaxcala UAT Venados |
| Longest losing run | Apertura 2025: 3 matches Venados |
| Highest attendance | Apertura 2025: 12,772 Irapuato vs Venados (1 August 2025) |
| Lowest attendance | Apertura 2025: 164 Sinaloa vs Cancún (2 August 2025) |
| Total attendance | Apertura 2025: 84,492 |
| Average attendance | Apertura 2025: 4,023 |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
Stats are from the regular season only | |
The 2025–26 Liga de Expansión MX season is the sixth professional season of the second-tier football division in Mexico. The season is divided into two championships—the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura—each in an identical format. The Apertura tournament will begin on 1 August 2025. The Clausura tournament will begin in January 2026.
Changes from the previous season
The Liga de Expansión MX is a Mexican football league founded in 2020 as part of the Mexican Football Federation's "Stabilization Project", which has the primary objective of rescuing the financially troubled teams from the Ascenso MX and prevent the disappearance of a second-tier league in Mexico, for which there will be no promotion and relegation during the following six years.[1] The project also attempts for Liga MX and former Ascenso MX teams to consolidate stable projects with solid basis, sports-wise and administrative-wise, financially wise and in infrastructure.
- The 2024–25 Serie A runner–ups Irapuato was certified for promotion to the Liga de Expansión MX. However, the team will participate as a guest team and not as a full member of the league.[2]
- On June 10, 2025, Celaya F.C. sold the franchise to businessmen from Veracruz, who formed a team called Piratas de Veracruz. However, the new team had to be approved by the owner's assembly. On June 19 the transaction was blocked by a vote among the owners of the other Liga de Expansión clubs,[3] so the franchise was put on hiatus for the 2025–26 season.[4]
- In May 2025, Cimarrones de Sonora attempted to sell its franchise to Club Jaiba Brava, so the Tampico–Madero team would become a full member of the league.[5] However, the transaction was blocked by a vote among the owners of the other Liga de Expansión clubs.[6] Following the vote, Cimarrones de Sonora was granted an additional year to maintain its franchise on hiatus, while Jaiba Brava will continue to participate in the league as a guest team.[7]
- Dorados de Sinaloa will continue playing their home games at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana due to security issues in Culiacán.[8]
Stadiums and locations
|
 Location of teams in the 2025–26 Liga de Expansión MX season
|
Personnel and kits
| Team | Chairman | Head Coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) front |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlante | Jorge Santillana |  Miguel Fuentes
|
Javier Ibarra
|
Keuka | Caliente |
| Atlético La Paz | Samuel Hernández |  Hugo Castillo
|
Martín Barragán
|
Sporelli | Baja Ferries |
| Atlético Morelia | Rubens Sambueza | Gilberto Adame
|
Daniel Parra
|
Keuka | Akron, ArcelorMittal, Harinera Monarca, Biocup, Michoacán, Cemex Tolteca, Electrolit, Autovías |
| Cancún | Jeff Luhnow |  Miguel Bravo
|
Benjamín Galindo Jr.
|
Adidas | Cancún |
| Irapuato | Selomith Ramírez Moreles | Daniel Alcántar
|
Humberto Hernández
|
Keuka | Healthy People, Chay Printer, Tonic Music, Tonic Life |
| Jaiba Brava | Gerardo Nader | Marco Antonio Ruiz
|
Sergio Flores
|
Keuka | Nexum, GDL Transportes, Unitam, Grupo Velas, Mega, Bricer Logistics, Grúas Arias |
| Oaxaca | Juan Carlos Jones | Arturo Alvarado
|
Octavio Paz
|
Romed | Ballove Ballon Bar, Fiestamas App, Piticó, San Francisco Laboratorios |
| Sinaloa | José Antonio Núñez | Cirilo Saucedo
|
Alfonso Sánchez
|
Charly | Coppel, Caliente, SuKarne |
| Tapatío | Amaury Vergara | Arturo Ortega
|
Diego Delgadillo
|
Puma | |
| Tepatitlán | Bruno Marioni | Héctor Jair Real
|
Jesús Venegas
|
Joma | Pacífica |
| Tlaxcala | Rafael Torre Mendoza | Marco Fabián Vázquez
|
José Plascencia
|
UIN | Tlaxcala, Pronto |
| UAT | Javier Garibaldi |  Héctor Hugo Eugui
|
Daniel Cisneros
|
JAG Sportswear | |
| U. de G. | José Alberto Castellanos Gutiérrez | Alfonso Sosa
|
Arturo Ledesma
|
Keuka | Electrolit |
| Venados | Rodolfo Rosas Cantillo |  Nacho Castro
|
William Guzmán
|
Joma | Yucatán, Nus-káh |
| Zacatecas | Eduardo López Muñoz | Mario García
|
Andrés Ávila
|
Spiro | Fresnillo plc, Mifel, Chirey, Mobil |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Apertura changes | |||||||
| Cancún | Luis Arce
|
End of contract | 23 April 2025 | Miguel Bravo
|
22 May 2025 | Pre–season | [9][10] |
| Sinaloa | Sebastián Abreu
|
Signed by Tijuana | 30 April 2025 | Cirilo Saucedo
|
30 April 2025 | [11][12] | |
| Tlaxcala | Luis Orozco
|
Sacked | 14 May 2025 | Marco Fabián Vázquez
|
16 May 2025 | [13][14] | |
| Atlético La Paz | Antonio López (Interim)
|
End of tenure as caretaker | 31 May 2025 | Hugo Castillo
|
31 May 2025 | [15] | |
| Atlético Morelia | Nacho Castro
|
Mutual agreement | 2 June 2025 | Gilberto Adame
|
9 June 2025 | [16][17] | |
| Irapuato | Víctor Medina
|
Signed by Montañeses | 24 June 2025 | Daniel Alcántar
|
14 July 2025 | [18][19] | |
| Apertura changes | |||||||
| Venados | Rigoberto Esparza
|
Mutual agreement | 18 August 2025 | Nacho Castro
|
21 August 2025 | 15th | [20][21] |
Torneo Apertura
The defending champions are UdeG. The regular tournament will begin on 1 August and will end on 9 November.
Regular season
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancún | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 9 | Qualification to the quarter-finals[a] |
| 2 | Zacatecas | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | |
| 3 | Jaiba Brava | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 | |
| 4 | Irapuato | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 6 | |
| 5 | Tapatío | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |
| 6 | UdeG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |
| 7 | Tepatitlán | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 | |
| 8 | Atlético Morelia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | |
| 9 | Sinaloa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
| 10 | UAT | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 | |
| 11 | Atlante | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 1 | |
| 12 | Atlético La Paz | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 | |
| 13 | Tlaxcala | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 1 | |
| 14 | Oaxaca | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | |
| 15 | Venados | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 17 August 2025. Source: Liga de Expansión MX
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of goals scored away; 5) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of goals scored away; 5) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points
Notes:
- ^ The Teams ranked from 1st to 8th place qualify to the Liguilla quarter-finals.
Positions by round
| Leader and qualification to Liguilla quarter-finals | |
| Qualification to quarter-finals | |
| Last place in table |
Updated to match(es) played on 17 August 2025. Source: Liga de Expansión MX
Notes: † indicates team rested that round
Notes: † indicates team rested that round
Results
Each team plays once all other teams in 15 rounds regardless of it being a home or away match.
Regular season statistics
Top goalscorersPlayers sorted first by goals scored, then by last name.
Source: Liga de Expansión MX
|
Hat-tricks
4 Player scored four goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- First goal of the season: Juan Gamboa for Irapuato against Venados (1 August 2025)
- Last goal of the season:
Discipline
Team
- Most yellow cards: 12
- 4 teams
- Most red cards: 2
- Fewest yellow cards: 3
- Fewest red cards: 0
- 9 teams
Source Liga de Expansión MX
Attendance
Per team
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irapuato | 21,722 | 12,772 | 8,950 | 10,861 | +164.0%1 |
| 2 | Jaiba Brava | 13,743 | 7,010 | 6,733 | 6,872 | +1.1% |
| 3 | UAT | 12,484 | 7,571 | 4,913 | 6,242 | −7.4% |
| 4 | Atlético Morelia | 6,011 | 6,011 | 6,011 | 6,011 | −8.3% |
| 5 | UdeG | 4,754 | 4,754 | 4,754 | 4,754 | +44.3% |
| 6 | Tepatitlán | 3,112 | 3,112 | 3,112 | 3,112 | −0.9% |
| 7 | Cancún | 3,047 | 3,047 | 3,047 | 3,047 | −7.1% |
| 8 | Venados | 3,019 | 3,019 | 3,019 | 3,019 | −17.0% |
| 9 | La Paz | 5,641 | 2,958 | 2,683 | 2,821 | +11.5% |
| 10 | Oaxaca | 2,321 | 2,321 | 2,321 | 2,321 | +2.0% |
| 11 | Tlaxcala | 2,207 | 2,207 | 2,207 | 2,207 | +50.3% |
| 12 | Zacatecas | 2,070 | 2,070 | 2,070 | 2,070 | −43.5% |
| 13 | Atlante | 1,746 | 1,746 | 1,746 | 1,746 | −57.7% |
| 14 | Tapatío | 2,118 | 1,120 | 998 | 1,059 | +27.6% |
| 15 | Sinaloa | 497 | 333 | 164 | 249 | +17.5% |
| League total | 84,492 | 12,772 | 164 | 4,023 | +18.0% |
Source: Liga Expansión MX
Notes:
Only regular season listed
1: Irapuato played Liga Premier last season
Highest and lowest
| Highest attended | Lowest attended[a] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Home | Score | Away | Attendance | Home | Score | Away | Attendance |
| 1 | Irapuato | 4–1 | Venados | 12,772 | Sinaloa | 0–1 | Cancún | 164 |
| 2 | Atlético Morelia | 3–1 | Oaxaca | 6,011 | Zacatecas | 3–0 | Sinaloa | 2,070 |
| 3 | Irapuato | 3–0 | Tlaxcala | 8,950 | Sinaloa | 1–0 | Venados | 333 |
Source: Liga de Expansión MX
- ^ Does not include matches played behind closed doors.
Torneo Clausura
The Clausura tournament will begin on January 2026.
Coefficient table
As of the 2020–21 season, the promotion and relegation between Liga MX and Liga de Expansión MX (formerly known as Ascenso MX) was suspended, however, the coefficient table will be used to establish the payment of fines that will be used for the development of the clubs of the silver circuit.[22] As of the 2023–24 season, the bottom three ranked Liga de Expansión MX teams will not pay a fine. The last ranked team can not qualify for the Clausura 2026 liguilla.
- As of matches played 17 August 2025
| Pos |
Team | '23 A Pts |
'24 C Pts |
'24 A Pts |
'25 C Pts |
'25 A Pts |
'26 C Pts |
Total Pts |
Total Pld |
Avg |
GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UdeG | 27 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 119 | 59 | 2.0169 | +49 |
| 2 | Irapuato[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2.0000 | +4 |
| 3 | Atlante | 25 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 108 | 58 | 1.8621 | +56 |
| 4 | Venados | 21 | 32 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 59 | 1.6441 | +23 |
| 5 | Zacatecas | 24 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 96 | 59 | 1.6271 | +29 |
| 6 | Cancún | 28 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 96 | 59 | 1.6271 | +20 |
| 7 | Jaiba Brava[a] | 0 | 0 | 18 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 49 | 31 | 1.5806 | +2 |
| 8 | Tapatío[b] | 14 | 22 | 29 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 90 | 59 | 1.5254 | +27 |
| 9 | Tepatitlán | 23 | 8 | 18 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 73 | 59 | 1.2373 | –4 |
| 10 | Atlético Morelia | 21 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 71 | 58 | 1.2241 | –14 |
| 11 | UAT | 20 | 16 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 59 | 1.1017 | –25 |
| 12 | Atlético La Paz | 20 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 65 | 59 | 1.1017 | –44 |
| 13 | Sinaloa | 12 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 59 | 0.9492 | –41 |
| 14 | Tlaxcala[a] | 6 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 59 | 0.7966 | –49 |
| 15 | Oaxaca | 13 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 58 | 0.7931 | –65 |
Tiebreakers: 1) Coefficient; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 5) Number of goals scored away; 6) Fair Play points
Source: Liga de Expansión
Aggregate table
The Aggregate table is a sum of the Apertura 2025 and Clausura 2026 tournament standings. The aggregate table is used to determine seeding for the "Campeón de Campeones" Final.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancún | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 9 | |
| 2 | Zacatecas | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | |
| 3 | Jaiba Brava | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 | |
| 4 | Irapuato | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 6 | |
| 5 | Tapatío | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |
| 6 | U. de G. | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |
| 7 | Tepatitlán | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 | |
| 8 | Atlético Morelia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | |
| 9 | Sinaloa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
| 10 | UAT | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 | |
| 11 | Atlante | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 1 | |
| 12 | Atlético La Paz | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 | |
| 13 | Tlaxcala | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 1 | |
| 14 | Oaxaca | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | Team is last in the coefficient table. |
| 15 | Venados | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 17 August 2025. Source: Liga Expansión MX
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 5) Number of goals scored away; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 5) Number of goals scored away; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points
References
- ^ Enrique Martínez Villar (24 April 2020). "¡Se confirma! No habrá ascenso ni descenso en 6 años; aprueban Liga de Desarrollo". Mediotiempo. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ "Irapuato, nuevo integrante de la Liga BBVA Expansión MX". Liga BBVA Expansión MX (in Spanish). 10 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "No habrá futbol profesional en Veracruz; Liga Expansión MX cancela cambio de sede del Celaya". Diario de Xalapa (in Spanish). 19 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Congela Club Celaya oficialmente la franquicia para el torneo de Apertura 2025". El Sol de Bajío (in Spanish). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Jaiba Brava negocia comprar franquicia para dejar de ser equipo invitado". ESPN México (in Spanish). 16 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Celaya y Sonora se quedan sin futbol: Asamblea de la FMF autorizó su no participación en el Apertura 2025". ESTO (in Spanish). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Jaiba Brava podría heredar franquicia de Cimarrones para entrar a la Liga de Expansión". El Sol de Tampico (in Spanish). 10 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Por la violencia en Sinaloa, los Dorados seguirán jugando como locales en Tijuana". DEBATE (in Spanish). 17 June 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "CONCLUYE SU CICLO: Deja Luis Arce la dirección técnica del equipo Cancún FC" [HIS TERM ENDS: Luis Arce leaves the technical direction of the Cancún FC team]. Noticaribe (in Spanish). 22 April 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Cancún FC anuncia a su nuevo director técnico" [Cancún FC announces its new manager]. Luces del Siglo (in Spanish). 23 May 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "And what about Saucedo? Sebastián 'Loco' Abreu is the new coach of Xolos". ultimominuto.news. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "¡Llega un histórico! Cirilo Saucedo es el nuevo director técnico de Dorados" [A historic arrives! Cirilo Saucedo is Dorados' new manager.]. El Sol de Mazatlán (in Spanish). 1 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Despiden a Luis Orozco como técnico de los Coyotes ante malos resultados" [Luis Orozco fired as Coyotes coach due to poor results]. El Sol de Tlaxcala. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "¡Marco Fabián es nuevo director técnico de Coyotes de Tlaxcala!" [64 / 5.000 Marco Fabián is the new head coach of Coyotes de Tlaxcala!]. RÉCORD (in Spanish). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Hugo "el Misionero" Castillo asume la dirección técnica del Atlético La Paz" [Hugo "El Misionero" Castillo takes over as technical director of Atlético La Paz]. El Sudacaliforniano (in Spanish). 31 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Nacho Castro deja de ser técnico del Atlético Morelia, confirma la directiva encabezada por Higuera" [Nacho Castro leaves Atlético Morelia as manager, according to Higuera's board.]. La Voz de Michoacán (in Spanish). 2 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Gilberto Adame, nuevo entrenador del Atlético Morelia; tiene pasado con Monarcas, América y Tigres" [Gilberto Adame, Atlético Morelia's new coach; he has a history with Monarcas, América, and Tigres.]. La Voz de Michoacán (in Spanish). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ "¡ES OFICIAL! Le damos la bienvenida a nuestro nuevo Director Técnico el Profesor Víctor Harlem Medina" [IT'S OFFICIAL! We welcome our new Technical Director, Professor Víctor Harlem Medina.]. Montañeses F.C. (in Spanish). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "OFICIAL: DANIEL "BORITA" ALCANTAR ES ENTRENADOR DEL IRAPUATO" [OFFICIAL: DANIEL "BORITA" ALCANTAR IS THE NEW IRAPUATO'S MANAGER]. macesport.com.mx (in Spanish). 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "AL MOMENTO: Venados F.C. termina su relación laboral con el DT Rigoberto Esparza, esto se sabe" [BREAKING NEWS: Venados F.C. ends its employment relationship with coach Rigoberto Esparza, this is the information]. Azteca Yucatán (in Spanish). 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Venados F.C. da la bienvenida a Ignacio "Nacho" Castro como su nuevo director técnico" [Venados F.C. welcomes Ignacio “Nacho” Castro as its new head coach.]. Tinta Pública Noticias (in Spanish). 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ "Liga MX. Éste será el castigo para últimos lugares del descenso". www.milenio.com.