Primera Division Futbol in Mexico

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Congratulations to Monterrey defeating Cruz Azul to win the 2009 Apertura in the Primera Division of Mexico!

Toluca, America, and Monterrey are leading the Primera Division at this moment in the 2009 Apertura. Pachuca and Morelia also look very strong. Cruz Azul is playing well. It seems clear that UNAM will not repeat as champion this time.

The Gallos Blancos of Queretaro joined the division for the Apertura to
take the place of Necaxa. They face strong competition in their group
from Toluca and Atlas. The Chivas of Guadalajara are also in this same group. Many think Pachuca is favored to win the division after their great performance in the Clausura. They still have something to prove to their loyal fanaticos.

The 2009 Gran Final of the Primera Division Clausura in Mexico was truly
a match of champions. The Pumas of UNAM finally defeated Pachuca in overtime. Each team had won one of the two regular tournament games. Pablo Barrera scored in the second extra period to give UNAM a 3-2 edge
in total points. This was the sixth title for the Pumas.

The Primera División is the top level of la liga Mexicana and it is controlled by the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol Asociacion. This was established in 1943 and as of 2008 had 18 clubs divided into three groups. Each season the league holds two tournaments, the Apertura (August- December) and the Clausura (January-May). At the end, the worst team
is demoted to a lower division and the best team from the lower division takes its place.

The 1970 World Cup held in Mexico was the first World Cup televised
on a grand scale. The following season, the F.M.F. changed their league format for the Primera Division and established a playoff to determine a national champion. This was done to increase the popularity and reward the better teams.

The start of the playoffs modernized the league. Clubs that were near bankruptcy were now able to compete and generate profits. The playoffs have evolved since then. The 18 teams are divided into three groups. The top 8 teams qualify for a playoff phase called La Liguilla. As in other leagues of the world, rankings are determined by the average points per game for each team.

After the 1996/97 futbol season, the F.M.F. decided to split the year into 2 separate championships. This change was done to correspond with the FIFA calendar in Europe. So throughout the world, the action lasts about ten months.

In Europe, tournaments are played as one single championship throughout the entire schedule, so there is only one champion per year. In Mexico and several other countries, there is a champion every six months, or two per year.

During each season, all of the clubs play 19 games, usually on weekends. The two seasons are completely separate, each with individual champions. There is no overall title game held between the Clausura and the Apertura champion. Mexico no longer has a national cup competition due to its clubs' involvement in many international competitions.

Winning the Apertura or the Clausara gets the team entrance into the CONCACAF Champions Cup while the other qualified Mexican teams enter the South American Copa Libertadores tournament. They qualify for that by competing in the Interliga, usually held in the United States. The CONCACAF includes clubs from the Primera Division of Mexico as well as competition from many other teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

So who do you think will win the Apertura this year?