September 14, 2026
| The Investigative Authority of Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission (Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio or “CNA”) announced the launch of an ex officio investigation (investigation file IO-001-2026) into potential relative monopolistic practices (abuse of dominance) in the market for the affiliation, organization of, and access to professional federated football competitions in Mexico, as well as similar or related services.[1] |
According to the CNA press release,[2] the investigation follows several months of monitoring news reports and concerns raised by football fans regarding potential anticompetitive conduct in Mexican professional football. Against this backdrop, clubs from Mexico’s second division have challenged the Mexican Football Federation (“FMF”) and Liga MX before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) in connection with the suspension of the promotion and relegation system.[3] The issue has also recently attracted broader public attention in Mexico.
Potential theory of harm
The investigation order expressly refers to Article 56(XI) of the Federal Economic Competition Law (“FECL”), which addresses conduct having the purpose or effect of increasing costs, hindering the productive process, or reducing the demand faced by other economic agents.
This provision is commonly associated with raising rivals’ costs theories of harm, under which an economic agent with substantial market power may increase the costs or otherwise hinder the ability of other market participants to compete effectively.
The preliminary scope of the investigated market (which expressly includes affiliation, organization, and access to professional federated football competitions) suggests that the CNA may examine the rules and conditions governing clubs’ access to and participation in professional football competitions in Mexico.
In this context, one issue that has recently attracted significant public attention is the suspension of the promotion and relegation system between Liga MX and Liga de Expansión, together with certification requirements and other conditions applicable to access to Mexico’s top division.
At this stage, the CNA has not publicly identified the economic agents under investigation or determined that any conduct constitutes an infringement of the FECL.
What will the CNA assess?
According to article 54 of the FECL, to establish a relative monopolistic practice, the Investigative Authority must assess, among other elements, the existence of substantial market power in the relevant market and determine whether the investigated conduct has or may have anticompetitive effects.
In this case, a key issue may be identifying which economic agent or agents establish and enforce the rules governing affiliation and access to professional competitions, whether they hold substantial market power, and whether those rules increase costs, hinder the activities of, or otherwise limit the ability of other clubs to compete.
The FECL also provides for the consideration of efficiencies and other economic justifications arising from the conduct under review. The investigation may therefore require the CNA to distinguish between restrictions that produce anticompetitive effects and rules that are necessary or justified for the legitimate organization and operation of a professional sports competition.
Implications for market participants
The CNA’s investigation may have implications for football clubs, leagues, sports federations, club owners and investors, as well as broadcasters, sponsors, commercial partners and other businesses involved in the organization and commercialization of professional football in Mexico.
During the investigation, the CNA may issue requests for information, summon individuals with knowledge of the investigated market, and conduct dawn raids or other investigative measures. Market participants contacted by the CNA should assess at an early stage their response strategy, document preservation obligations and potential exposure under Mexican competition law.
The opening of investigation file IO-001-2026 does not imply that the CNA has determined that an abuse of dominance or other anticompetitive practice has occurred, nor that any particular economic agent is liable for an infringement.
Basham, Ringe y Correa has a highly specialized Competition and Antitrust team that combines public and private sector experience in complex antitrust investigations and proceedings. We advise companies, trade associations and other market participants on abuse of dominance matters, including risk assessments, internal reviews, responses to information requests, dawn raids, and representation throughout investigations and proceedings before the Mexican antitrust authority.
Amílcar Peredo, Partner,
Gustavo González, Senior Associate
León Jiménez, Senior Associate
[1] The investigation order was published in the Mexican Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación, “DOF”) on September 14, 2026. Available at: https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5798773&fecha=14/09/2026#gsc.tab=0
[2] Available here: https://www.gob.mx/antimonopolio/prensa/cna-investiga-posibles-practicas-monopolicas-en-el-futbol-profesional-mexicano
[3] See: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49610787/cas-hear-promotion-relegation-appeal-five-mexico-second-division-clubs