Enhancements to the Talent Pipeline in Mexican Football
In a significant shift aimed at enhancing the talent pipeline in Mexican football, Liga MX announced updates to its Youth Rule during the recent assembly of league owners. Starting with the upcoming 2025-26 season, teams will be mandated to allocate 1,170 minutes for young players, an increase from the previous season’s requirement of 1,000 minutes. This new measure reflects the league’s commitment to fostering the development of emerging talent.
Changes to Minute Accrual for Youth Players
The revisions also introduce a notable change regarding how minutes are accrued for youth players. From now on, players born in or after 2003 will contribute minutes equally, replacing the prior system where younger players contributed more significantly based on their age. This alteration aims to ensure a fairer and more consistent approach to youth development.
Penalties for Non-compliance
In addition to these changes, clubs must be aware of the penalties associated with failing to meet the stipulated minutes for young players; infractions will result in a deduction of three points from their overall standings.
Support for National Team Players
To further support national team members who are unable to play for their club teams, Liga MX is implementing a new formula. If such players have accumulated at least 180 minutes of play, the average minutes they would have played, multiplied by the number of games missed due to national team commitments, will also be incorporated into the teams’ totals. This adjustment is designed to recognize the contributions of players representing the country while still honoring the requirements for youth participation.
