Atlante eyes historic return to Liga MX: the project to bring “Los Potros de Hierro” back to the top

The dream of seeing Atlante back in Liga MX is alive and gaining momentum. Despite their recent move to Zacatepec, the club’s leadership has never abandoned the plan to return to Mexico’s top division. According to sources close to the institution, president Emilio Escalante is preparing an ambitious project worth around 80 million dollars to make the comeback a reality shortly after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The idea is to reintroduce Atlante, along with another historic club, likely Leones Negros de la UdeG, to expand the league to 20 teams. The move would not be through promotion, as the promotion-relegation system remains frozen, but rather by invitation, as part of Liga MX’s long-term restructuring plan.

The Zacatepec connection and the parallel project

Beginning in August 2025, Atlante will also operate a new franchise in Mexico’s Liga Premier, under the name Atlante Zacatepec FC, based at the Agustín Coruco Díaz Stadium. This second team will honor Zacatepec’s traditional green-and-white identity while serving as a developmental link between the lower divisions and Atlante’s main squad.

Negotiations are ongoing with the rights holders of the Zacatepec name and logo, which could allow the club to officially adopt the historic Cañeros branding. Once Atlante’s return to Liga MX is complete, the plan is for Zacatepec to move up from the Liga Premier to the Liga de Expansión, ensuring both clubs remain connected within the Escalante family’s football structure.

Ten years outside the elite

Atlante was relegated at the end of the Clausura 2014, marking a full decade away from the Primera División. The club’s absence has been prolonged by the suspension of promotion and relegation that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many expansion teams have since struggled to meet Liga MX’s certification requirements, preventing any from moving up.

Still, Atlante remains one of the most successful sides in the Liga de Expansión MX, holding three league titles and a Campeón de Campeones trophy, achievements that in the past would have guaranteed automatic promotion.

A club with more than a century of history

Founded over 106 years ago, Los Potros de Hierro have been a cornerstone of Mexican football culture. Known as El equipo del pueblo and Los Prietitos, Atlante has always been synonymous with grit, tradition, and loyal fan support. Their classic rivalry with Necaxa remains one of the oldest in Mexican football.

The club’s history is rich with legends: Horacio Casarín, Adalberto “Dumbo” López, Manuel “Chaquetas” Rosas, and Evanivaldo Castro “Cabinho”, among many others. Under iconic leaders like General Núñez and Toño García, Atlante became more than just a team, it became a symbol of working-class football in Mexico.

A comeback that would shake Mexican football

If approved, Atlante’s return alongside another traditional club like Leones Negros would not only revive two historic brands but also bring Liga MX to its largest format in years, with 20 teams competing at the highest level. For fans, it would mean the revival of an institution that defined an era, and perhaps the beginning of a new one.