This Friday there was a meeting of the Executive Committee to discuss the calendar for next year. I know the details.
The argentinian soccer could be changed again 2023. This Friday morning there was a AFA Executive Committee meeting. There, they discussed the calendar for next year y were analyzed different tournament formats. Would three viable options for the organization of Professional League and here we tell you.
Consensus among leaders to find a new format
Beyond the differences, there is a consensus among the leaders to look for a new tournament format that seduces. A consultant was even hired to work on projects to restructure the competition of the highest category of Argentine soccer.
In any case, in the event that a convincing proposal does not come up, there is also the possibility that the current format will be maintained. Weeks of intense debates are coming between the leaders for the future of Argentine football…
Cancel relegation in 2022, Professional League Cup 2023 and Top 20 LPF Tournament plus 1st LPF Qualifying Tournament
This is the first option to organize the 2023 calendar. The changes would already be reflected in the Professional League 2022. How? Well, despite being halfway through the championship, both declines could be canceled that were stipulated. The two promotions from the First National would remain. The goal would be to start 2023 again with 30 teams in First Division.
For the first half of 2023, they want to play a Professional League Cup the same as the one played this year. The difference is that there would be two more teams. would consist of two zones of 15 clubs, diagrammed by classic and interzonal. For the second semester, the radical change would be thought. The top ten from each zone of the 2023 LPF Cup would play the “Top 20 LPF Tournament”. There would be 20 teams with 19 dates to play, all against all. And the champion would qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores. The rest? Okay, the last five of each zone will join the best ten of the First National to play the “1st LPF Qualifying Tournament”. Also 20 teams with 19 dates, all against all. The champion? Qualifies for the 2024 South American Cup. And attention: the best ten remain in Primera for the 2024 LPF Cup, while the remaining ten will descend to play in the Primera Nacional in 2024. In other words, if Boca, River or any other great finish 11th or worse in the 2023 LPF Cup, they would fight for relegation. Of course, the averages would lose all their place.
Same format as in 2022: with relegation, 2023 LPF Cup plus 2023 Professional League
Another possibility is that of continue with the format of this 2022. The two descents would take place and another two would ascend from the First National, so the Professional League Cup 2023 would again have 28 teams. Regarding the format, the tournament will have two groups of 14 clubs each, but before that the teams will be divided by classics or pairings so that they integrate different zones. After that, the top 4 from each group will qualify for the knockout round starting from the quarterfinals. The first two of each zone will play against the fourth and the third, respectively, of the other. And so they will be eliminated until they obtain a champion, who qualifies directly for the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
For the second semester, the Professional League 2023. It would be the last time that it would be played with 28 teams, since the idea is to go, little by little, lowering the number of participants until reaching a number of 20 or 22. For this reason, in 2023 the decreases would be four so more teams will be involved in the fight to maintain the category.
The Professional League Cup would go away and two long leagues would be played in a row
In this third possibility that will be considered, the idea would be to abolish the Professional League Cup and play two Long Leagues during 2023 with the 28 teams, of 27 dates each. The details remain to be defined, but the declines would continue.
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