Liga Pro (Ecuador) 2026/27

The Ecuadorian second division operates under the governance of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol del Ecuador, sitting directly below the top-flight Serie A and above the third-tier Segunda Categoría. The league was established in 1971 by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. While the first division carries commercial sponsorship names such as Liga Pro Betsson, the second division typically does not. The 2025 season involves twelve teams competing in a single round-robin group of 22 matches. Following the regular season, the format splits the participants. The top six teams enter the 'Ascenso Hexagonal' and the bottom six enter the 'Descenso Hexagonal'. Each group plays ten additional matches. The top two teams in the Ascenso Hexagonal are promoted to Serie A, while the bottom two from the Descenso Hexagonal are relegated to the Segunda Categoría. This structure provides a clear path between professional and regional amateur football. Relegation from Serie A is determined by a cumulative table, known as the 'Tabla del Descenso', which aggregates points from the current and previous season. This mechanism differs from the promotion and relegation system within the second division itself. Historically, Macará is the most successful club in the modern era with four titles won in 1975, 1979, 1985, and 1996. The 2024 champion was Cuniburo FC, which secured promotion to Serie A for the 2025 campaign. The league distinguishes itself from the top flight by its smaller scale and lack of major commercial naming rights. It serves as a crucial bridge for clubs aiming to reach the premier division or those seeking to maintain their status in the lower tiers of Ecuadorian football. The competition maintains a direct link to regional amateur football through its relegation pathways, ensuring that teams not performing well in the professional sphere return to the grassroots level.

Liga Pro Serie B is the premier second-tier football competition in Ecuador. It serves as the primary stepping stone between the top-flight Serie A and the amateur Segunda Categoría. The season runs on a split format, dividing teams into ascending and descending groups after the initial round-robin phase. Promotion to the first division is reserved for the leaders of the Ascenso Hexagonal, while relegation to the third tier affects the lowest-placed sides in the Descenso Hexagonal. The league is characterised by its modest commercial presence compared to the sponsored top flight.