Background on Mikel Arriola and His Role in Liga MX
Mikel Arriola recently took over the responsibilities of Juan Carlos “Bomba” Rodríguez, who resigned as Commissioner during the December 13, 2024 assembly after his proposed Apollo Global Management fund was not accepted. Arriola, who has been directing Liga MX since 2020, is the primary figure in Mexican football organization for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Context: Liga Expansión MX’s Demand for Ascent
Ten teams from Liga Expansión MX filed a lawsuit against the Mexican Football Federation (Femexfut) seeking the return of promotion, which was eliminated since the 2019 season. On April 23, Íñigo Riestra, Secretary General and Legal Director of the FMF, responded that the six-season agreement had passed. He reminded everyone of the creation of a Development Fund in 2020, which allocated $20 million annually to Expansión teams with the condition of investing in infrastructure and sports development. The following year, a “Certifications” process was approved to provide improvements based on investment results.
Pending Issues: Ascent and Multi-Ownership
The issue of promotion remains unresolved, affecting Grupo Pachuca, which manages León and Atlético Tuzos. FIFA stripped Guanajuato’s club of its right to the Club World Cup and scheduled a play-off match between Club América and LAFC.
New Regulations for Foreign Players Starting Apertura 2025
Liga MX will introduce new rules for foreign players to enhance the quality of signings.
“One of the measures was to authorize criteria for non-Mexican players based on their performance points, national team participation in youth categories, playing minutes, age, if they are a franchise player, and their playing minutes. Currently, 40% of foreign players play 50% or less of the total minutes. This is similar to the Premier League. This will undoubtedly be a game-changer in foreign player regulations, ensuring continued quality and fostering better talent to surpass themselves while raising their level and quality,” said Francisco Iturbide, General Director of Competitions, Operations, and Development at Liga MX.
On June 19, 2024, during the FMF Evolution 2030 plan presentation, new player acquisition requirements for foreign players were unveiled. The first phase included Apertura 2024 and Clausura 2025, requiring each of the 18 teams to register at least 1,000 minutes of participation from players born between 2002 and 2005 during the 17-game regular season.
The second phase, covering Apertura 2025 and Clausura 2026 before the 2026 World Cup, mandates each Liga MX team to register 1,530 minutes of participation from players born between 2003 and 2006 during the regular season.
Liga MX had been stating for a year that starting with the 2025-26 season (Apertura 2025), it would operate similarly to the English Premier League, while maintaining proportions. The rules for hiring foreign players with a minimum (unspecified) playing time in Liga MX, registration (unspecified) of certain European and South American leagues, or being a player from the second division of unspecified European leagues with a minimum playing time in the previous season were established.
The return of promotion and relegation had been pending for a year until ten owners filed a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Winning a championship does not feel the same in Liga Expansión MX.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Mikel Arriola, and why is he relevant? Mikel Arriola recently took over as the Commissioner of Liga MX after Juan Carlos “Bomba” Rodríguez’s resignation. He has been directing Liga MX since 2020 and is the primary figure in organizing Mexican football for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026.
- What is the issue with Liga Expansión MX? Ten teams from Liga Expansión MX filed a lawsuit against Femexfut, seeking the return of promotion, which was eliminated since the 2019 season. They argue that winning a championship does not feel the same in Liga Expansión MX.
- What changes are being implemented for foreign players in Liga MX? Starting Apertura 2025, new rules will be introduced for foreign players based on performance points, national team participation in youth categories, playing minutes, age, franchise player status, and playing minutes. This change aims to improve the quality of signings, similar to the Premier League.
- What are the new player acquisition requirements for foreign players? A new set of requirements was presented during the FMF Evolution 2030 plan presentation. The first phase required teams to register at least 1,000 minutes of participation from players born between 2002 and 2005. The second phase, covering Apertura 2025 and Clausura 2026, mandates registering 1,530 minutes of participation from players born between 2003 and 2006.
