Country Mexico Website terceradivision.com.mx Current champion Leones Negros UdeG B Confederation CONCACAF | Divisions 14 groups Number of teams 237 Date founded 1967 | |
Current champions Leones Negros B
(2015–16) Promotion to Segunda División de México Level on pyramid Mexican football league system Profiles | ||
The Tercera División de México is Mexico's fourth tier in the Mexican League System. The Tercera División (Third Division) is divided into 14 groups. For the 2009/2010 season, the format of the tournament has been reorganized to a home and away format, which all teams will play in their respective group. The 14 groups consist of teams who are eligible to play in the liguilla ascenso for two promotion spots, teams who are affiliated with teams in the Liga MX (Primera División) and Ascenso MX, which are not eligible for promotion but will play that who the better filial team in an eight team filial playoff tournament for the entire season.
Contents
Teams
Participating clubs for the 2016–17 tournament:
* Teams with an affiliate in the Liga MX and that are not eligible for promotion.
** Teams with an affiliate in the Ascenso MX and that are not eligible for promotion.
*** Teams with an affiliate in the Segunda División and that are not eligible for promotion.
Current Format
Tercera División currently features 211 teams divided into 14 groups. There are 7 teams with filials (affiliates) in the Liga MX (First Division) or Ascenso MX, who are not eligible for promotion. The Tercera follows the usual double round-robin format in which each club plays every other club twice within their own group.
The teams will be divided in accordance to their geographical zone. The teams in each subgroup of 14 will then play each other in the double round-robin format within their own subgroup. Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. If a game ends in a draw both team are awarded one point for the draw in regulation time and will then move on to the execution of penalties. The team who wins in the penalty series will be awarded a point in addition to the point won for drawing during regulation time. Teams are ranked by total points won.
Qualification for Promotion
Two teams from the Tercera Division will be promoted to Second Division de Mexico, Campeon (Champion) and Sub-Campeon (Runner-Up). The champion will be promoted directly to the Liga Premier de Ascenso and the runner-up will be promoted to the Liga de Nuevos Talentos.
Of the teams that are eligible for promotion, 64 teams will qualify for play-offs to determine which two teams will be promoted. The play-offs will be played in a home and away format, the winner being determined by the aggregate score. Also, Participating in the play-offs is the 8 affiliate clubs without the right to be promoted to the Liga MX, Ascenso MX and Second Division de Mexico.
Round of 64
For Groups I, II, XII, XIII and XIV the top 4 teams will play-off amongst the teams in their own group as shown above.
Groups III - VII
For Groups III, IV, V, VI, and VII the teams will be repositioned from 1 to 20, into a single table, depending on their final overall record in regular season play.
Groups VIII - XI
For Group VIII, IX, X and XI the top 4 teams will face off against the top 4 teams of Group XI as shown above.
Round of 32
In this round the remaining 32 teams will be split into 2 groups of 16. Teams qualified from Groups I to VII will make up Zone 1 and teams qualified from Groups VIII to XIV will make up Zone 2. The teams will be repositioned into these groups depending on their final overall record in regular season play.
Round of 16
For the Round of 16 the teams will remain in the same group, the only difference being is the repositioning of the qualified teams.
Quarter-finals
Same format as the Round of 16.
Semi-finals
Same format as Quarter-finals.
Final
The final will be disputed between the winning team of Zone 1 and the winning team of Zone 2.
Promotion
The team that wins in the aggregate score will be crowned champion and will be promoted to the Liga Premier de Ascenso and the runner-up of the final will be promoted to the Liga de Nuevos Talentos.
Certification Requirements
For Tercera Division Profesional 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 Segunda Division de Mexico complying with the following:
List of Champions
Tercera División champions