Mexico professional soccer antitrust investigation, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): Mexico’s Comisión Nacional Antimonopolios (CNA), the National Antitrust Commission, has opened an investigation into companies participating in professional soccer in Mexico over possible monopolistic practices. The probe aims to determine whether any conduct is affecting competition in this market.
In its third-quarter report, which was submitted this afternoon during a session of the Senate of the Republic, the CNA said it began the investigation on September 8, 2026. The inquiry, filed as IO001-2026, is focused on possible relative monopolistic practices in the market for affiliation, organization and access to professional federated soccer competitions in Mexico.
The agency, which replaced the former Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece), argued that preserving competition in professional soccer is fundamental because of its economic and social impact in the country. According to the report, the sector generated gross production of 18,667 million pesos in 2024 and contributed GDP of 39,136 million pesos during the first quarter of 2026.
The CNA said it will gather data through information requests, summonses or verification visits over a period of 30 to 120 business days, which may be extended up to three times for periods of up to 120 days when duly justified. The commission stressed that opening the inquiry does not prejudge the responsibility of any economic agents.
Based on the evidence gathered, the investigating authority will either present the plenary with a report of probable liability or propose closing the case, with or without liability or through commitments.
The CNA also noted that if there are grounds to proceed to a trial, the parties involved may exercise their right of defense before any resolution. The agency highlighted that the soccer market comprises 111 economic units and employs 39,900 people.
The workforce is 87.6 percent male and 12.4 percent female, with an average monthly salary of 7,320 pesos.
On the social and audience side, sports content attracts 32 percent of pay-television viewers, 26 percent of open-television viewers and 21 percent of internet users, according to the report. The CNA also said that between June and September it opened two other investigations, bringing the total number of pending investigations into collusion, abuse of market power and illicit concentrations to 25.
