Liga TDP
Mexican association football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liga TDP is a professional association football league in Mexico and the fourth level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly named Tercera División de México (1967–2017). The league has 240 participating clubs, organized into two zones (Zona A with 131 clubs and Zona B with 109 clubs), divided into 17 groups by geographic location. The season consists of one tournament per year, according to FIFA world football calendar. The champions are decided by a final knockout phase in each zone. The champions of Zona A and Zona B compete in the national final, known as Campeón de Campeones de la Liga TDP, the winners are crowned as the Liga TDP champions.
(as Tercera División de México)
| |
| Organising body | Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 (as Tercera División de México) |
| Country | Mexico |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of clubs | 240 (Zona A and Zona B) |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | Liga Premier |
| Domestic cup(s) | Copa Conecta Copa Promesas MX |
| Current champions | Héroes de Zaci (2nd title) |
| Most championships | Celaya San Luis Tecos Atlético Tecomán Cuautitlán Cihuatlán Héroes de Zaci (2 titles each) |
| Website | ligatdp.mx |
| Current: 2025–26 Liga TDP season | |
The inaugural edition was the 1967–68 season, with Zapata as the first champions in history. In all, sixty-five editions of the league have been held.
From 1967 to 1982, it was the third level division of Mexican football. The 17 groups consist of clubs eligible for four promotion spots to Liga Premier, teams affiliated with clubs from the highest divisions, which are known as "filiales" are not eligible for promotion.
Celaya, San Luis, Tecos, Atlético Tecomán, Cuautitlán, Cihuatlán and Héroes de Zaci are the most successful clubs with two titles each. In all, fifty-eight clubs have won the league at least once.
History
Tercera División de México (1967–2017)
Founded in 1967 as the third level division, it was one of the three divisions originally created for the Mexican football league system, along with the Primera División and Segunda División. The inaugural season had sixteen founding clubs: ADO, Cuautla, Cuautitlán, Chalco, Electra, Gutiérrez Zamora, Iguala, Las Brisas, Naucalpan, Querétaro, San Luis, San Marcos, UAEM, U de Puebla, UV de Coatzacoalcos and Zapata.
The participating clubs were divided into two zones of eight clubs by geographic location. Two phases of 14 rounds each were played, the two zone winners from each phase qualified for the final championship group, which consisted of a round-robin format with six rounds played.
From 1982, it became the fourth level division of Mexican football, after the creation of the Segunda División "B" de México as an intermediate league between the Segunda División and Tercera División, which was later abolished in 1994. However, it continued as the fourth level, after the creation of the Primera División "A" de México in 1994 as an intermediate league between the Primera División and Segunda División.
Since the 1992–93 season, teams affiliated with Primera División clubs have been integrated into the Tercera División, which are commonly known as "filiales". From 2001 to 2008, two short tournaments were played per season.
Liga TDP (2017–present)
In 2017, the league was rebranded as Liga TDP, it had 215 participating clubs divided into two zones with 13 groups by geographic location. The final phase included 72 clubs and consisted of seven stages.
Since the 2020–21 season, the competition format has been modified and the clubs have been divided into two zones with 17 groups by geographic location, both zones were renamed as Zona A and Zona B. A final phase with 32 clubs is contested in each zone with a trophy awarded to the champions of each zone, and they also advance to the national final for the overall Liga TDP title, which was also renamed as Campeón de Campeones de la Liga TDP.
Competition format
Regular phase
One tournament is played per season, throughout the FIFA's world footballing calendar, the 240 clubs are divided into two zones with 17 groups by geographic location. Zona A consists of nine groups (1–9) and Zona B consists of eight groups (10–17), each group has 11 to 16 participating clubs. The Liga TDP is played in a double round-robin format, with each club facing all other participating clubs twice during the season, except against clubs located in its own group. A penalty shootout is held in matches that end in a draw, the winners get an extra point.
The teams known as "filiales" also participate, which are the reserve teams affiliated with clubs at higher levels (Liga MX, Liga de Expansión MX and Liga Premier). These clubs are not eligible for promotion, however, they qualify for its own final knockout phase for the affiliated teams title, known as Torneo de Filiales de la Liga TDP.[1]
Final phase
The final phase consists of 64 participating clubs, the best 32 clubs from each zone qualify for the final knockout phase. In each zone, the round of 16, quarter-finals, semifinals and final are played with a home and away format, and the winners being determined by the aggregate score.
The champions of Zona A and Zona B compete in the national final for the league's main title, known as Campeón de Campeones de la Liga TDP, and the winners are crowned officially as the Liga TDP champions.
The national champions and runners-up, and also the runners-up from Zona A and Zona B will be promoted, according to their infraestructure and the requirements of the Liga Premier.
Promotion
Four clubs from Liga TDP will be promoted to Liga Premier, the national champions and runners-up will be promoted to Serie A, the runners-up from Zona A and Zona B will be promoted to Serie B. Depending on their economic and sporting infraestructure, the clubs promoted to Serie A could be placed in Serie B in case of failure to comply with the requirements of Serie A.[2]
Certification requirements
For Liga TDP certificate be considered, you must meet the social, sporting, financial and legal requirements; clubs who win promotion and get the support settlement letter from the division to participate in the Liga Premier complying with the following:
- Having full legal rule and membership record with the corporate documents, legal and financial sport under the rules of affiliation, name and headquarters.
- Facilities must comply with the guidelines by the rules of membership, name and ground of Liga Premier.
- Having no debt in the statement of the division or FMF.
Participating clubs
2025–26 season
The 2025–26 Liga TDP season has the following 240 participating clubs.[3]
Zona A
| Group I | Group II | Group III |
|---|---|---|
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| Group IV | Group V | Group VI |
|---|---|---|
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| Group VII | Group VIII | Group IX |
|---|---|---|
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Zona B
| Group X | Group XI | Group XII |
|---|---|---|
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| Group XII | Group XIII | Group XIV |
|---|---|---|
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| Group XVI | Group XVII |
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- Notes
- Affiliated teams of Liga MX club.
- Affiliated teams of Liga de Expansión MX club.
- Affiliated teams of Liga Premier club.
Performances
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celaya3 | 2 | 2 | 1973–74, 1990–91 |
| San Luis4 | 2 | 0 | 1969–70, Mex–1970 | |
| Tecos/UAG3 | 2 | 0 | 1972–73, 2016–17 | |
| Atlético Tecomán4 | 2 | 0 | 1982–83, Cla–2004 | |
| Cuautitlán4 | 2 | 0 | 1996–97, 2011–12 | |
| Cihuatlán | 2 | 0 | 1998–99, Cla–2007 | |
| Héroes de Zaci3 | 2 | 0 | 2018–19, 2024–25 | |
| 8 | UAEM4 | 1 | 2 | 1974–75 |
| Atlético San Francisco3 | 1 | 2 | 1991–92 | |
| UdeC/Colimense4 | 1 | 2 | 1992–93 | |
| Zamora4 | 1 | 1 | 1977–78 | |
| Águila Progreso Industrial4 | 1 | 1 | 1986–87 | |
| Tepic "B"4 | 1 | 1 | Ape–2002 | |
| Soccer Manzanillo/América Manzanillo4 | 1 | 1 | Cla–2006 | |
| Acatlán3 | 1 | 1 | 2017–18 | |
| Zapata4 | 1 | 0 | 1967–68 | |
| Naucalpan4 | 1 | 0 | 1968–69 | |
| Lobos de Querétaro4 | 1 | 0 | 1970–71 | |
| Orizaba4 | 1 | 0 | 1971–72 | |
| TAMSA4 | 1 | 0 | 1975–76 | |
| Osos Grises4 | 1 | 0 | 1976–77 | |
| Lobos de Tlaxcala4 | 1 | 0 | 1978–79 | |
| Oaxtepec4 | 1 | 0 | 1979–80 | |
| Azucareros de Córdoba4 | 1 | 0 | 1980–81 | |
| Poza Rica3 | 1 | 0 | 1981–82 | |
| San Mateo Atenco4 | 1 | 0 | 1983–84 | |
| Búfalos Curtidores4 | 1 | 0 | 1984–85 | |
| Progreso de Cocula4 | 1 | 0 | 1985–86 | |
| Ecatepec4 | 1 | 0 | 1987–88 | |
| Ayense3 | 1 | 0 | 1988–89 | |
| Zitlaltepec4 | 1 | 0 | 1989–90 | |
| Tigrillos UANL4 | 1 | 0 | 1993–94 | |
| Monterrey FAAC4 | 1 | 0 | 1994–95 | |
| Zitácuaro4 | 1 | 0 | 1995–96 | |
| Cachorros de Sayula4 | 1 | 0 | 1997–98 | |
| Chivas Verde Valle4 | 1 | 0 | 1999–00 | |
| Pumas Naucalpan4 | 1 | 0 | 2000–01 | |
| Académicos4 | 1 | 0 | Inv–2001 | |
| Apatzingán4 | 1 | 0 | Ver–2002 | |
| Inter Playa del Carmen3 | 1 | 0 | Cla–2003 | |
| Jersy Nay Ixcuintla4 | 1 | 0 | Ape–2003 | |
| Autlán "B"4 | 1 | 0 | Ape–2004 | |
| Atlético Cuauhtémoc4 | 1 | 0 | Cla–2005 | |
| Tecamachalco4 | 1 | 0 | Cla–2006 | |
| Búhos de Hermosillo | 1 | 0 | Ape–2006 | |
| Atlético Comonfort4 | 1 | 0 | Ape–2007 | |
| Soccer Manzanillo "B"4 | 1 | 0 | Cla–2008 | |
| Héroes de Caborca4 | 1 | 0 | 2008–09 | |
| Patriotas de Córdoba4 | 1 | 0 | 2009–10 | |
| Vaqueros de Ixtlán4 | 1 | 0 | 2010–11 | |
| Poblado Miguel Alemán4 | 1 | 0 | 2012–13 | |
| Tuzos Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 2013–14 | |
| Aguacateros CDU3 | 1 | 0 | 2014–15 | |
| UdeG "C" | 1 | 0 | 2015–16 | |
| Fuertes de Fortín4 | 1 | 0 | 2020–21 | |
| Mazorqueros "B"4 | 1 | 0 | 2021–22 | |
| Aguacateros de Peribán3 | 1 | 0 | 2022–23 | |
| Faraones de Texcoco3 | 1 | 0 | 2023–24 | |
| 59 | Querétaro/UAQ1 | 0 | 3 | — |
| Itzaes/Grupo Yucatán | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Potros de Hierro de Neza4 | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Cruz Azul Xochimilco4 | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Sporting Canamy3 | 0 | 2 | — | |
| Cuautla4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tecnológico de Celaya4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| España Veracruz4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Nuevo Necaxa4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tapatío2 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Estudiantes de Querétaro4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Torreón4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Universitario Xalapeño4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UV de Coatzacoalcos4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Leones de Río Blanco4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UPAEP4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Arroceros de Chetumal4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Alianza de Sayula4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cruz Azul Hidalgo4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Gallos de Ciudad Juárez4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Delfines de Xalapa4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cruz Azul Oaxaca4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Coacalco4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Chalco4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Guasave4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlético Carmen4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| UAEH4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| América Acoxpa4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tecamachalco "B"4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tezonapa4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tuxtepec4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cacaoteros de Tabasco4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| América Zapata4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Sufacen Tepic4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Inter de Xalapa4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Teca Huixquilucan4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Club Santos Casino4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Calor de San Pedro3 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tecamachalco Sur4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Valle Verde Jiquipilas4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Cañoneros "B"4 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Club RC-11284 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Deportiva Venados3 | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlético Aragón | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Atlético Cocula3 | 0 | 1 | — |
- Notes
- Clubs currently in Liga MX.
- Clubs currently in Liga de Expansión MX.
- Clubs currently in Liga Premier.
- Defunct clubs.
Zone Finals
Liga TDP Zona A
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuertes de Fortín | 1 | 0 | 2020–21 |
| Deportiva Venados | 1 | 0 | 2021–22 | |
| Atlético Aragón | 1 | 0 | 2022–23 | |
| Faraones de Texcoco | 1 | 0 | 2023–24 | |
| Héroes de Zaci | 1 | 0 | 2024–25 | |
| 6 | Toluca "TDP" | 0 | 1 | — |
| Chilpancingo | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Artesanos Metepec | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Yautepec | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Dragones de Oaxaca | 0 | 1 | — |
Liga TDP Zona B
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Club RC–1128 | 1 | 0 | 2020–21 |
| Mazorqueros "B" | 1 | 0 | 2021–22 | |
| Aguacateros de Peribán | 1 | 0 | 2022–23 | |
| Acatlán | 1 | 0 | 2023–24 | |
| Atlético Cocula | 1 | 0 | 2024–25 | |
| 6 | CAFESSA Tlajomulco | 0 | 1 | — |
| Real Ánimas de Sayula | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Poza Rica | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Tigres de Álica | 0 | 1 | — | |
| Gorilas de Juanacatlán | 0 | 1 | — |
Cup tournament
Copa México de la Tercera División was the domestic cup tournament of the divsion. Formerly named Copa Presidente de la Tercera División (1967–1970), it was held from 1968 to 1976, and one more edition was held in 1980–81.
The inaugural edition was the 1968–69 season, with Querétaro as the first champions in history. The final edition was the 1980–81 season, with U de Jalapa as the last champions. In all, eight editions of the tournament were held.
Querétaro, San Luis, Tecnológico de Celaya, Tlalnepantla, Tapatío, Potros UAEM, Osos Grises and U de Jalapa were the most successful clubs with one title each. In all, only those eight clubs won the tournament.
Performances
Campeón de Campeones
Campeón de Campeones de la Tercera División was the domestic Super cup of the division between the league and cup champions of the Tercera División.
The inaugural edition was held in 1969, with Querétaro as the first champions in history. The final edition was held in 1975, with Potros UAEM as the last champions. In all, six editions of the trophy were held.
Querétaro, San Luis, Tecnológico de Celaya, Tlalnepantla, Tecos UAG and Potros UAEM were the most successful clubs with one title each. In all, only those six clubs won the trophy.
Performances
- Notes
- Automatic winners of the trophy for winning the season's league and cup tournament.