Five clubs from Mexico's second division have filed an appeal against the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and top-flight Liga MX regarding promotion and relegation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed to ESPN on Friday.
The appeal was filed by Club Universidad de Guadalajara, Club Atlético La Paz, Club Atlético Morelia, Cancún FC, and Club Deportivo de Zacatecas.
Last September, a ruling from CAS paved the way for the expected return of promotion/relegation for the 2026-27 season.
Initially paused by Mexican soccer in 2020 due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the absence of pro/rel drove 10 second-tier sides to sue Liga MX for its reinstatement, leading to last year's decision from CAS.
By the start of the 2026-27 season, and after CAS' decision from last fall, Liga MX then stated in their league regulations that "...clubs comprising Liga MX will not be relegated to [the 2nd division] Expansion MX, and likewise, Expansion MX clubs will not be promoted to Liga MX," which led to the latest appeal.
After pro/rel was paused in 2020, clubs from the second division could still apply to be certified for promotion eligibility, which looked into stadiums, finances, and the overall structures of clubs.
Nonetheless, in order for a certified team to be able to move into Liga MX, had they won promotion at the end of the season, rules stipulated that there would need to be a minimum of four teams that had eligibility status -- a threshold that was never reached.
It remains unclear as to when CAS will make a decision.