Six games into the new season, and everyone has their eyes on the first new team to join the Mexican top flight in 6 years, Atlante Fútbol Club.
Serving as a major controversial topic, the Mexican football federation has once again rejected the opportunity to reintroduce promotions and relegations.
A decision that has infuriated the masses while Atlante find other ways to rejoin the Liga MX after 12 years away. Ever since 2020, the top two divisions of Mexican football have been unchanged, much to the disappointment of its diehard fans.
However, Atlante, one of Mexico’s oldest and most historic teams, made a long-awaited return to the league last month.
Who are Atlante Fúbtol Club?
Atlante Fútbol Club came to life in 1918, building an image around “el Club del Pueblo” (the team of the people). Over the years, Los Potros de Hierro survived on a modest budget, competing amongst the very best in the country.
Atlante have found themselves fighting for followers since the early days. Based in Mexico City, they competed with Club América, Cruz Azul and Pumas, three of the biggest fanbases in the entire country. Necaxa, who have since moved to Aguascalientes, was also a club siphoning off supporters.
While gaining support in the club’s early days was difficult, Atlante’s supporters today represent a loyal and passionate community. They live for much more than titles and success, but for genuine love for the beautiful game.
And what Atlante has endured throughout its recent history has put its fans through the ultimate test — and why their return to Liga MX represents far more than simply returning to the top flight.
… 15 years earlier
April 19, 2014 is a date that would become the worst in Atlante’s long and beautiful history. On that day, Puebla mathematically sent Los Potros out of the Liga MX with a 2-1 victory against Pachuca. Days earlier, Atlante dropped points in a 4-3 loss to Santos Laguna, all but confirming their relegation, but Puebla’s win the following week made it official.
This wasn’t this club’s first time falling out of the Liga MX, but for many, it seemed like the last. That’s because Los Potros spent six years fighting to claw their way back into the league, enduring significant financial losses year after year while being forced from one stadium to another — even relocating as far as Cancún.
For a club that had spent its entire history in the capital, a 1,500 km move to the Gulf of Mexico challenged the supporters’ loyalty.
2020 – a year to forget
Everybody will remember 2020 for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought life around the world to a standstill while leaving sports teams everywhere struggling to survive.
For Atlante, their whole world came crashing down. That’s because, on the 24th April 2020 – almost exactly six years after their last-ever Liga MX appearance, the Mexican football federation (FMF) decided that they would be suspending promotion and relegation for six seasons, leaving clubs like Atlante with no route back to Liga MX.
The decision was initially a temporary solution during the pandemic, but despite fans’ best wishes for a return, the FMF never attempted to reintroduce it.
In one quick announcement, Atlante went from a team pushing for a way back into the league, to seemingly being locked out forever.
That was until April 23rd 2026, the day Atlante purchased the rights of Mazatlán FC, meaning that Los Potros would finally be returning to the Liga MX after 12 long, painful years.
How has Atlante’s return been?
As expected, Atlante’s return has had its rocky moments, but after six matches they have proven to be a difficult team to break down.
The season started before a ball was kicked when the club confirmed a legendary return of Miguel ‘Piojo’ Herrera who returned to the club that kickstarted his incredibly successful managerial career back in 2002.
However, 12 years in the second division means that the club is fighting with significantly lower resources than their competitors, but they start the season with one win, three draws and two defeats.
One thing that can be said is that Los Potros have been hard to beat at home, where they have returned to a place they called home for so many years in the Estadio Banorte (formerly the Estadio Azteca).
From the opening four matches, they have had the hard task of facing Club América and Toluca – two teams who have enjoyed dominant spells within Mexican football and reigning Liga MX champions – Cruz Azul. Despite the uphill challenge, Los Potros remain undefeated at home, recording draws against the former two while beating La Máquina.
As far as the Apertura table is cocnerned, Atlante find themselves in 13th after six matches, four points adrift of the Liguilla positions but having faced many of the stronger sides in the league already, there are reasons to be optimistic heading into the next few months.
