Liga TDP
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. The Liga TDP has 240 participating clubs, organized into two zones by geographic location. The season consists of one tournament per year, according to FIFA's world footballing 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 of the league was the 1967–68 season, with Zapata finishing as the first champions in history.
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, Monterrey FAAC, Cuautitlán, Cihuatlán and Héroes de Zaci are the most successful clubs with 2 titles each. In all, fifty-seven clubs have won the competition at least once.
History
Tercera División de México
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 1967–68 season had 16 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
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 eight groups and Zona B consists of nine groups, 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. 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 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.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
The 2025–26 Liga TDP season has the following 240 participating clubs.Zona A
| Group IV | Group V |
|
Zona B
| Group XII | Group XIII | Group XIV |
|
- 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 | Celaya | 2 | 2 | 1973–74, 1990–91 |
| 1 | San Luis | 2 | 0 | 1969–70, |
| 1 | UAG/Tecos | 2 | 0 | 1972–73, 2016–17 |
| 1 | Atlético Tecomán | 2 | 0 | 1982–83, Cla–2004 |
| 1 | Cuautitlán/Real Cuautitlán | 2 | 0 | 1996–97, 2011–12 |
| 1 | Cihuatlán | 2 | 0 | 1998–99, Cla–2007 |
| 1 | Héroes de Zaci | 2 | 0 | 2018–19, 2024–25 |
| 9 | UAEM | 1 | 2 | 1974–75 |
| 9 | Atlético San Francisco | 1 | 2 | 1991–92 |
| 9 | Zamora/Real Zamora | 1 | 1 | 1977–78 |
| 9 | Águila Progreso Industrial | 1 | 1 | 1986–87 |
| 9 | Tepic "B" | 1 | 1 | Ape–2002 |
| 9 | Soccer Manzanillo/América Manzanillo | 1 | 1 | Cla–2006 |
| 9 | Acatlán | 1 | 1 | 2017–18 |
| 9 | Zapata | 1 | 0 | 1967–68 |
| 9 | Naucalpan | 1 | 0 | 1968–69 |
| 9 | Lobos de Querétaro | 1 | 0 | 1970–71 |
| 9 | Orizaba | 1 | 0 | 1971–72 |
| 9 | TAMSA | 1 | 0 | 1975–76 |
| 9 | Osos Grises | 1 | 0 | 1976–77 |
| 9 | Lobos de Tlaxcala | 1 | 0 | 1978–79 |
| 9 | Oaxtepec | 1 | 0 | 1979–80 |
| 9 | Azucareros de Córdoba | 1 | 0 | 1980–81 |
| 9 | Poza Rica | 1 | 0 | 1981–82 |
| 9 | San Mateo Atenco | 1 | 0 | 1983–84 |
| 9 | Bufalos Curtidores | 1 | 0 | 1984–85 |
| 9 | Progreso de Cocula | 1 | 0 | 1985–86 |
| 9 | Ecatepec | 1 | 0 | 1987–88 |
| 9 | Ayense | 1 | 0 | 1988–89 |
| 9 | Zitlaltepec | 1 | 0 | 1989–90 |
| 9 | Colimense | 1 | 0 | 1992–93 |
| 9 | Tigrillos UANL | 1 | 0 | 1993–94 |
| 9 | Monterrey FAAC | 1 | 0 | 1994–95 |
| 9 | Monarcas Zitácuaro | 1 | 0 | 1995–96 |
| 9 | Cachorros de Sayula | 1 | 0 | 1997–98 |
| 9 | Chivas Verde Valle | 1 | 0 | 1999–00 |
| 9 | Pumas Naucalpan | 1 | 0 | 2000–01 |
| 9 | Académicos | 1 | 0 | Inv–2001 |
| 9 | Apatzingán | 1 | 0 | Ver–2002 |
| 9 | Inter Playa del Carmen | 1 | 0 | Cla–2003 |
| 9 | Jersy Nay Ixcuintla | 1 | 0 | Ape–2003 |
| 9 | Autlán "B" | 1 | 0 | Ape–2004 |
| 9 | Atlético Cuauhtémoc | 1 | 0 | Cla–2005 |
| 9 | Tecamachalco | 1 | 0 | Cla–2006 |
| 9 | Búhos de Hermosillo | 1 | 0 | Ape–2006 |
| 9 | Atlético Comonfort | 1 | 0 | Ape–2007 |
| 9 | Soccer Manzanillo "B" | 1 | 0 | Cla–2008 |
| 9 | Héroes de Caborca | 1 | 0 | 2008–09 |
| 9 | Patriotas de Córdoba | 1 | 0 | 2009–10 |
| 9 | Vaqueros de Ixtlán | 1 | 0 | 2010–11 |
| 9 | Poblado Miguel Alemán | 1 | 0 | 2012–13 |
| 9 | Tuzos Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 2013–14 |
| 9 | Aguacateros CDU | 1 | 0 | 2014–15 |
| 9 | UdeG "C" | 1 | 0 | 2015–16 |
| 9 | Fuertes de Fortín | 1 | 0 | 2020–21 |
| 9 | Mazorqueros "B" | 1 | 0 | 2021–22 |
| 9 | Aguacateros de Peribán | 1 | 0 | 2022–23 |
| 9 | Faraones de Texcoco | 1 | 0 | 2023–24 |
| 58 | Querétaro/UAQ | 0 | 3 | — |
| 58 | Cruz Azul Oaxaca/Cruz Azul Xochimilco | 0 | 3 | — |
| 58 | Tecamachalco "B"/Teca Huixquilucan/Tecamachalco Sur | 0 | 3 | — |
| 58 | UdeC | 0 | 2 | — |
| 58 | Grupo Yucatán/Itzaes | 0 | 2 | — |
| 58 | Potros de Hierro de Neza | 0 | 2 | — |
| 58 | América Acoxpa/América Zapata | 0 | 2 | — |
| 58 | Sporting Canamy | 0 | 2 | — |
| 58 | Cuautla | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Tecnológico de Celaya | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | España Veracruz | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Nuevo Necaxa | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Tapatío | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Estudiantes de Querétaro | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Torreón | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Universitario Xalapeño | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | UV de Coatzacoalcos | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Leones de Río Blanco | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | UPAEP | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Arroceros de Chetumal | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Alianza de Sayula | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Gallos de Ciudad Juárez | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Delfines de Xalapa | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Coacalco | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Chalco | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Guasave | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Atlético Carmen | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | UAEH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Tezonapa | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Tuxtepec | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Cacaoteros de Tabasco | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Sufacen Tepic | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Inter de Xalapa | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Club Santos Casino | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Calor de San Pedro | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Valle Verde Jiquipilas | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Cañoneros "B" | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Club RC-1128 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Deportiva Venados | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Atlético Aragón | 0 | 1 | — |
| 58 | Atlético Cocula | 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, it was held from 1968 to 1976, and one more edition was held in 1980–81.The inaugural edition of the competition was the 1968–69 season, with Querétaro finishing as the first champions in history. The final edition was the 1980–81 season, with U de Jalapa finishing as the last champions. In all, eight clubs won the competition at least once.
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
| 1 | Querétaro | 1 | 0 | 1968–69 |
| 1 | San Luis | 1 | 0 | 1969–70 |
| 1 | Tecnológico de Celaya | 1 | 0 | 1970–71 |
| 1 | Tlalnepantla | 1 | 0 | 1971–72 |
| 1 | Tapatío | 1 | 0 | 1972–73 |
| 1 | UAEM | 1 | 0 | 1974–75 |
| 1 | Osos Grises | 1 | 0 | 1975–76 |
| 1 | U de Jalapa | 1 | 0 | 1980–81 |
| 9 | Cuautla | 0 | 1 | — |
| 9 | Cuautitlán | 0 | 1 | — |
| 9 | Iguala | 0 | 1 | — |
| 9 | UdeG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 9 | U de Tamaulipas | 0 | 1 | — |
| 9 | SUOO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 9 | Uruapan | 0 | 1 | — |
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 trophy was contested from 1969 to 1975.The inaugural edition was held in 1969, with Querétaro finishing as the first champions. The final edition was held in 1975, with Potros UAEM finishing as the last champions. In all, six clubs won the competition at least once.
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Winning years |
| 1 | Querétaro | 1 | 0 | 1969 |
| 1 | San Luis | 1 | 0 | 1970 |
| 1 | Tecnológico de Celaya | 1 | 0 | 1971 |
| 1 | Tlalnepantla | 1 | 0 | 1972 |
| 1 | Tecos | 1 | 0 | 1973 |
| 1 | UAEM | 1 | 0 | 1975 |
| 2 | Naucalpan | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2 | Lobos de Querétaro | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2 | Orizaba | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2 | Tapatío | 0 | 1 | — |
;Notes
- Automatic winners of the trophy for winning the season's league and cup tournament.