Liga TDP is a professional association football league in Mexico and the fourth level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly known as Tercera División de México (1967–2017). The league is contested by 246 participating clubs, organized into two zones (Zona A with 136 clubs and Zona B with 110 clubs), divided into 18 groups by geographic location. The season consists of an annual tournament, and the champions are decided by a final knockout phase in each zone. The Zona A and Zona B champions compete in the national final and the winners are crowned Liga TDP champions.
The league has held 67 editions. The inaugural edition was the 1967–68 season, with Zapata crowned as the first champions.
From 1967 to 1994, it was the third level of Mexican football. The 18 groups consist of clubs eligible for four promotion spots to Liga Premier, teams affiliated with clubs from the highest levels, which are known as "filiales" are not eligible for promotion.
Fifty-nine clubs have won the title at least once. Celaya, San Luis, Tecos, Atlético Tecomán, Cuautitlán, Cihuatlán and Héroes de Zaci are the most successful clubs with two titles each.
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 1994, it became the fourth level division of Mexican football, after the creation of the Primera División "A" de México 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 18 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 246 clubs are divided into two zones with 18 groups by geographic location. Zona A consists of nine groups (1–9) and Zona B consists of nine groups (10–18), each group has 9 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.
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 infrastructure 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.
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 2026–27 season The 2026–27 Liga TDP season has the following 246 participating clubs.
Zona A Group IGroup IIGroup III Boston Cancún Corsarios de Campeche
Deportivo Chetumal Deportivo CTM Búhos Ejidatarios de Bonfil Guerreros CozumelLoan of Los Ángeles. Inter Playa TDP ItzaesLoan of Progreso. Marinos ISG Mons Calpe Yucatán Pioneros Junior Alebrijes de Oaxaca TDP Antequera
Cefor Chiapas Dragones de Oaxaca TDP Felinos 48 Jaguares TDP Huracanes de ArriagaLoan of PRO CAMP. Lechuzas UPGCH Milenarios de OaxacaLoan of Lobos ITECA. Loan of Academia Dragones. Pavones ADMC PijijiapanLoan of Iguanas. Plataneros de Tabasco Tapachula Soconusco TDP UDS Afouteza XalapaLoan of Formación Metropolitana. Águila Azteca Atlético Boca del Río Caballeros de Córdoba Chayoteros Ixtac Conejos de Tuxtepec Córdoba Delfines UGM Delfines Universidad de SotaventoLoan of Delfines de Coatzacoalcos TDP. Manta Rayas Montañeses-Potros Casino Español Performance Piratas Minatitlán Piratas Poza Rica Piratas Sozca
Group IVGroup VGroup VI Cafeteros de Atlixco Cóndor Delta Deportivo JEM Guerreros de Puebla Licántropos Loan of Tlapa. PDLA Real Morelos 27 Real TlaxcalaLoan of Atlético Tulancingo. Reales de Puebla Selva Cañera Tehuacán Yautepec Zapata Álamos Alebrijes CDMX Aragón Around Soccer Aztecas AMF Soccer Loan of Valle de Xico. CDM Coyotes NezaLoan of Halcones Zúñiga. FORMAFUTINTEGRAL Gama SoccerLoan of Novillos Neza. Halcones de Rayón Héroes de Zaci TDP León IzcalliLoan of Muxes. Politécnico Oceanía Arietes CEFAR Azul IztacalcoLoan of Ciervos TDP. CEFOR 3030 CH Fútbol Club Club Unión Cruz Azul TultepecLoan of Atlético Mexicano. Ecatepec Guardianes de Oriente
LLO Marina Nicolás RomeroLoan of Cañoneros TDP. Sangre de Campeón TBALoan of Colegio Once México. TBALoan of Lonsdaleíta. TBALoan of Sk Sport Street Soccer. Group VIIGroup VIIIGroup IX Águilas UAGro América TDP Cantera Coka CEFOR MexiquenseLoan of Domínguez Osos. CILESI Club de Fútbol RX CuemancoLoan of Atlético Pachuca.
Huracanes Izcalli TDP Mineros Carranza CDMX Mineros CDMX Olimpo San José del Arenal VillaLoan from Atlético Cuernavaca. Ajolotes Lerma Artesanos Huixquilucan Artesanos Metepec TDP Loan of Grupo Sherwood. Cordobés TDP Dragones Toluca Estudiantes Fuerza Mazahua Guerreros DoradosLoan of Iguala. Leones Huixquilucan Luma Sports Marlines Metepec Orishas Tepeji Real Santa Fe Real TM Águilas de Teotihuacán Alebrijes Teotihuacán Atlético de la PlataLoan of Caudillos de Morelos. Atlético Sierra Hermosa Atlético Hidalgo TDP Bombarderos de Tecámac Centro de Talentos Volten Hidalguense Héroes de Zaci Hidalgo Industriales de Altamira Jaiba Brava TDP Pachuca TDP Santiago Tulantepec Soles TeotihuacánLoan of Matamoros. UFD Tuzos Pachuca
Zona B Group XGroup XIGroup XII Cajeteros Celaya CEFOMH Celaya Linces
Fundadores Instituto de Fútbol de Alta Competencia Inter de QuerétaroLoan of Atlético Huejutla. La Piedad Querétaro Lobos ULMX TDP Metaleros de Zimapán San Juan del Río Titanes de Querétaro TBALoan of BFC. Aguacateros CDU
Guerreros ZacapuLoan of Atlético Valladolid. Delfines de Abasolo Deportivo Sahuayo Deportivo Zamora Furia Azul La Piedad Imperial Purépechas TDP Atlético ECCA Brujas Soccer CEFOR Promotora San Luis Centro de Especialización de Futbolistas LU Empresarios del RincónLoan of Real Olmeca Sport. Gorilas TDP León GEN Leyendas Magos Unión Deportiva
Necaxa TDP Pabellón Santa Ana del Conde Trinca de Mi Vida Tuzos UAZ TDP Group XIIIGroup XIVGroup XV Agaveros Alfareros de Tlaquepaque Aves Blancas Charales de Chapala Gorilas de Juanacatlán GrizzlyLoan of Deportivo Cimagol. Jabalís Mirasol
Nacional Tapatíos Soccer Tepatitlán TDP Zapotlanejo TDP Atlético CuauhtémocLoan of Hermanos Benítez. Atlético Punto SurLoan of Club Suré. CAFESSA Tlajomulco Caja Oblatos CAR Toros Catedráticos Elite Deportivo El Grullo Loan of Guerreros de Autlán TDP. Gambeta Loros UdeCLoan of ACF Acatlán. Progreso de CoculaLoan of Tlaxcala TDP. Real Ánimas de Sayula Atlético Tesistán Club Legado del Centenario Diablos Tesistán SD Eibar MexikoLoan of Volcanes de Colima. Fuerza HuracánLoan of Fénix CFAR. Gallos Viejos Guadalajara TDP Guardianes GDLLoan of Deportivo Aviña. Oro Sporting AKDLoan of Castores Gobrantacto. Tecos TDP Loan of Guerreros de Autlán-Tlaquepaque. Group XVIGroup XVIIGroup XVIII Atlético Acaponeta Atlético Nayarit
Halcones de Nayarit Naayari Puerto Vallarta Real Refineros TDP Sufacen Tepic Tigres de Álica TDP VADS Xalisco Académicos de la SEEDLoan of Fut–Car. Cadereyta Calor TDP Correcaminos UAT TDP Loan of Gallos Nuevo León. EscobedoLoan of Real San Cosme. Guerreros Reynosa Halcones de Saltillo Inter Nuevo LeónLoan of San Pedro 7-10. Irritilas Leones Nuevo León Real Apodaca TDP Nuevo León Santiago TDP T-Rex de Ramos ArizpeLoan of Querétaro 3D. Atlético Tijuana Cachanillas Cobras Fútbol Premier Datileros de San Luis RC Delfines Baja Deportivo Etchojoa
Obson Dynamo Soles de Sonora Sporting de Sonora Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente Notes Affiliate teams of Liga MX club. Affiliate teams of Liga de Expansión MX club. Affiliate teams of Liga Premier club.
Performances