The return of Mexican clubs to the Copa Libertadores is in the hands of Concacaf and Conmebol

Liga MX President Mikel Arriola assured this Friday that the possible return of the Mexican clubs to the Copa Libertadores is in the hands of the confederations, since they are the ones who govern the football calendars, which is why he leaves the hands of Conmebol and Concacaf that determination

“Which is a conversation between confederations, it is not a conversation between leagues, the confederations are the ones that govern the calendar of the zones, so I would leave that decision to Conmebol and Concacaf,” said the president of the League in conference.

The issue of the possible return of the Mexican teams to the Copa Libertadores, began on April 5, when the president of Conmebol, Alejandro Domínguez, invited Jesús Martínez to participate in the confederation's tournaments and in which the Tuzos played history 15 years ago.

It was through a video that Domínguez addressed the president of Grupo Pachuca, who decided to leave his position as president of Los Tuzos and take control of the entire group and that has teams in Mexico and also in South America.

“I reiterate my participation so that you come back and that, at least you cheer up, and play the Copa Libertadores. Just as you did in the South American, you can put one of your plates in the Copa Libertadores,” said the South American director.

Similarly, in an interview with ESPN, Armando Martínez, president of the Pachuca Group, acknowledged that although the possible return of Mexican clubs to the Copa Libertadores looks complex, they are currently interested in returning to compete in the South American tournament.

In addition, for the Mexican National Football Team to be able to transcend in the 2026 World Cup, which it will organize together with the United States and Canada, it is necessary that it return to play the Copa America, as well as the Liga MX clubs in the Copa Libertadores. This was stated by Yon de Luisa, president of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), during a press conference in June 2020.

For many former players and analysts, not playing in major Conmebol tournaments represents a setback for Mexican football, since the demand to compete in tournaments in the region is not the same as in South America.

It should be remembered that Mexican clubs stopped competing in the Copa Libertadores since 2017, while the Mexican National Team last participated in the Copa America in 2016.

During the 18 editions that Mexican football participated in the Copa Libertadores won three runners-up: Cruz Azul (2001), Guadalajara (2010), and Tigres (2015); also, in the Copa Sudamericana, Pachuca won the championship in 2006 and Pumas reached the final in 2005.

As for the nine appearances in the Copa América, the “Tricolor” reached two finals: in 1993, on its debut in Conmebol, losing the title 2-1 against Argentina; and in 2001, falling 1-0 to host Colombia.