No, FIFA 22 Does Not Have Liga MX
As a long-time FIFA player and fan of Liga MX club soccer, I was disappointed to learn that FIFA 22 does not include any Mexican teams. This stems from Liga MX signing an exclusive licensing deal with Konami for their eFootball series instead.
A Devastating Absence for the FIFA Community
To provide some scope, Liga MX is Mexico‘s top professional soccer league – home to legendary clubs like Chivas, Club América and Tigres UANL. Over the last decade, Liga MX has been featured in every FIFA game. So its sudden absence came as a shockwave.
FIFA 22 was set to have 31 leagues, over 700 clubs and 17,000+ players. Yet somehow, it lacked one of the biggest leagues just south of the American border – a crushing reality for fans of Liga MX and Mexican soccer.
By the Numbers: Liga MX‘s History in FIFA
Liga MX has a long history with the FIFA video game franchise:
- Appeared in 10+ consecutive FIFA games until FIFA 22
- Spans 18 total clubs in Mexico‘s first division
- Home to global superstars like Gignac, Guardado & Jiménez
- Helped FIFA gain traction in Mexico‘s 128+ million gaming market
So to lose this league is no small deal. It leaves a massive vacancy – one that konami rushed to fill with their renamed "eFootball Liga MX" alternative.
Konami‘s eFootball Coup – A Rival Emerges
The reason for Liga MX‘s sudden FIFA departure? An exclusive licensing deal with Konami signed in 2021.
Under this deal, all Liga MX clubs will be playable only in eFootball for at least a few years.
For Konami, this was a huge coup – a chance to topple FIFA‘s soccer gaming stronghold by securing one of the most popular leagues. For FIFA, it meant waving goodbye to loyal Liga MX fans.
What About Previous FIFA Titles?
As mentioned, this licensed league was a mainstay in FIFA for over a decade. To illustrate:
- FIFA 21 showcased Liga MX as one of few fully licensed leagues
- FIFA 20, FIFA 19 also had all Liga MX clubs
- Even older editions like FIFA 17 maintained club access
So while FIFA 23 immediately loses Liga MX, many previous games retained the complete Mexican league. That now ceases thanks to Konami‘s blockbuster contract.
More Missing Leagues – A Worrying Trend?
Liga MX is not the only notable omission in FIFA 23:
| Brazilian League | Generic players and clubs due to licensing |
| Japanese J-League | Lost license to Konami recently |
| Major League Soccer (MLS) | Renewal negotiations failed for FIFA 23 |
| Serie A Clubs (Lazio/Roma) | Also signed deals with Konami exclusively |
The list goes on. And it seems other soccer leagues are following Liga MX‘s lead in pivoting from EA Sports to Konami. This could inspire even more FIFA fallout.
As a hardcore fan, I worry deeply about this trend. Each lost license severely damages FIFA‘s authenticity and scope as the premier soccer video game.
A Glimmer of Hope for Liga MX‘s Return
Even with the multi-year Konami deal, FIFA still has a chance to eventually regain Liga MX:
- The contract could expire in 3-5 years time
- Renewal is not guaranteed given Konami‘s turmoil
- EA Sports may aggressively outbid for rights again
- Liga MX clubs could opt out if paid more by FIFA
For now, the deal seems rigid. But as veterans of FIFA gaming know – everything has its price. With the 2026 Mexico World Cup on the horizon, I suspect EA will fiercely pursue bringing back Liga MX soon.
The Bottom Line
Konami secured an exclusive, historic license that snatched Liga MX away from EA Sports‘ FIFA empire. This shocked Mexican soccer fans eagerly awaiting a new FIFA edition with updated rosters for their favorite club teams.
Unfortunately, the official series‘ loss is Konami‘s gain. Liga MX will drive eFootball‘s attempt to rival FIFA‘s soccer gaming stronghold. But with the contract eventually expiring, hope remains for restoring Liga MX to its rightful place – as a centerpiece league bringing Mexican soccer to virtual life in FIFA.
