The potential return of Liga MX clubs to the Copa Libertadores is drawing renewed attention across North and South American soccer following recent broadcast announcements and media reports detailing how Mexican teams could soon find themselves back in South America’s premier club competition. According to reports from Mexican sports media, a prospective comeback for Liga MX sides could align with new broadcasting rights deals set for the 2027 through 2030 cycle.
Mexican clubs last appeared in the Copa Libertadores back in 2016, a decade-long absence that stemmed from complex scheduling conflicts between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF. When CONMEBOL restructured the tournament format ahead of the 2017 season, the Mexican Football Federation determined that accommodating continental matches in South America would overly strain domestic schedules and compromise participation in the Concachampions—a tournament that offers a direct path to the FIFA Club World Cup. Despite those hurdles, fan interest in a South American return has remained strong.
Reporting on the prospective shift indicates that commercial agreements are driving renewed momentum. According to sports journalist Luis Castillo of La Octava Sports, Liga MX clubs are targeted for a return to the Copa Libertadores by 2027, coinciding with recent broadcasting rights announcements by TelevisaUnivision for the tournament in the United States covering the 2027 to 2030 period.
During their historical run in the competition, Liga MX teams established a competitive footprint despite never lifting the trophy. In the final tournament appearance for Mexican clubs in 2016, Pumas reached the quarterfinals, Toluca exited in the Round of 16, and Puebla also featured in the group stage.
As governing bodies evaluate calendar harmonization between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, fans and analysts await official confirmations from club owners and tournament administrators regarding the precise format and qualification pathways for Mexican teams aiming to re-enter South American competition.
