Liga MX Appoints Francisco Iturbide as New President to End Dual Federation Role

A significant leadership shift has taken place at the highest level of Mexican football. Liga MX officially confirmed on Friday that Francisco Iturbide will take over as the new president of the country's top division. He replaces Mikel Arriola, who had recently been managing a dual role across both the domestic league and the national governing body.

Following this appointment, Arriola will step aside from the day-to-day administration of the league to focus exclusively on his responsibilities as commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).

A New Era of Executive Independence

Iturbide's arrival re-establishes structural separation between Liga MX and the FMF. The two leadership positions had previously been consolidated under Arriola, who took charge of the league in 2020 and later assumed federation duties on an interim basis last summer.

In an official statement following his appointment, Iturbide expressed his gratitude to the FMF commissioner for the opportunity. Reflecting on his personal journey, he noted that he first joined the institution as an intern 11 years ago, describing his appointment as a great honor as he steps up to lead the league into a new era.

Strategic Challenges Ahead

Iturbide brings prior playing experience to the administrative role, having spent time in Club America's youth setup before featuring in the second division for Alebrijes de Oaxaca.

His presidency comes at a transformative time for the Mexican top flight. He inherits a league navigating major structural developments, including centralization efforts, influxes of foreign and American investment, and ongoing debate regarding its competitive framework.

Notably, Liga MX confirmed over the summer that its regulations maintain the suspension of promotion and relegation between the top tier and Expansion MX, despite a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling last September that favored the reinstatement of the system.