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 (1967âÂÂ2017). 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.
The inaugural edition was the 1967âÂÂ68 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.
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 1992âÂÂ93 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.
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 2020âÂÂ21 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.
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 (1âÂÂ9) and Zona B consists of eight groups (10âÂÂ17), 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.
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.
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.
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:
The 2025âÂÂ26 Liga TDP season has the following 240 participating clubs.
Copa México de la Tercera División was the domestic cup tournament of the divsion. Formerly named Copa Presidente de la Tercera División (1967âÂÂ1970), it was held from 1968 to 1976, and one more edition was held in 1980âÂÂ81.
The inaugural edition was the 1968âÂÂ69 season, with Querétaro as the first champions in history. The final edition was the 1980âÂÂ81 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, TapatÃÂo, 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.
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.