Liga MX Calendar Clausura and Apertura 2022

Mikel Arriola, Liga MX president, announced that the 2022 Clausura and Apertura Tournaments will have a few changes due to the Qatar World Cup held in December 2020. The schedule for Mexican soccer is ready, the league teams now can start to arrange their pre-season calendar according to the league schedule.

Clausura 2022

The first tournament of the year, the Clausura 2022, will begin on January 7, will have two double dates (matchdays 8 and 15), and will be paused for two FIFA World Cup qualifying dates (at the end of January and March). The first Liga MX final in 2022 will be held on Sunday, May 29.

Apertura 2022

Qatar World Cup will lead to a change in the Liga MX 2022 Apertura calendar. The tournament will run one month earlier than in previous years. It will start on July 1, 2022, and will end on November 6, eight days before the deadline established by FIFA for clubs and leagues to release players for the World Cup, which will kick off on Monday, November 21.

The Liga MX owners approved the changes by consensus. In addition, the 2022 Apertura will have three double dates (matchdays 5, 9, and 14), and will be stopped on only one occasion, given the September FIFA Date, the last one before the World Cup in Qatar. 

Eventually, another consequence of the World Cup will be the loss of several international players who could be considered by their national teams for the World Cup.

Mikel Arriola´s words

Meanwhile, Mikel Arriola pointed out that there was total willingness from the clubs for the modifications in the calendar since those were issues that were not only dealt with in time but before in other board meetings.

"What was perceived in the 18 owners is the great commitment to the national team, meetings were held with the 18 clubs, presidents, and sports directors and we have the unanimous approval of the calendar."

About repechage and foreign players

In addition to the competition schedule, the topic of the repechage was also addressed, which will be maintained for the following year, so the rumors regarding its removal in order to adjust the Apertura 2022 were dispelled. 

Concerning the limitation of foreign players until 2023, it was informed that this will have to wait one more year and it will be until the 2023-2024 season when the number of foreign players on the team will be reduced to nine, and only seven will be allowed on the pitch.

Promotion

Another of the agreements reached was the creation of a Certification and Admission Committee, which will be in charge of analyzing whether there are teams that fulfill the requirements for promotion.

It was also reminded that Liga MX will have a promoted team in mid-2023, as long as there are at least four certified teams and one of them becomes the champion to be promoted.

Violence Protocol

In order to reduce violent and discriminatory behavior in the Mexican soccer environment, Liga MX will develop a specific protocol to fight it. The focus is mainly on the suppression of homophobic chants and racism.

Women Liga MX and Liga de Expansión initiative will consist of a ''manual of narratives'' so that all clubs can have the capacity to respond in message and discourse in a homologated way, a ''regulatory diagnosis'' and a protocol against harassment and bullying. The purpose is to transform Mexican soccer into a safe and inclusive environment in all aspects.