{
  "id": 17427147,
  "title": "AFA revamps Argentina's top flight with new football format for 2027 season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/afa-revamps-argentinas-top-flight-with-new-football-format-for-2027",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-31T15:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Buenos Aires Times",
    "slug": "buenos-aires-times",
    "url": "https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/sports/argentinas-top-flight-new-football-format-for-next-season.phtml"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has announced changes to the format for next season’s First Division championship, with no reduction in the number of teams. The Apertura and Clausura tournaments will remain but will be played all against all, with 29 fixtures and an additional match-day for derby matches. Play-offs for the decisive rounds will also be maintained, with the Apertura tournament concluding on the 15th fixture and the top 16 teams in the table competing for the title. The Clausura tournament will begin on the 16th fixture, but points from Apertura will not carry over. The league title will be awarded to the team topping the Annual Table after 30 fixtures. Three champions will be crowned: the winners of Apertura and Clausura, plus the top team in the annual classification. The relegation system is yet to be confirmed, but one team will be determined by the average points over the last three seasons, with a push for another team to face a play-off against the team finishing in third in the second flight. River Plate was the only club to advocate for a 20-team top flight, while Cristian Malaspina, president of Argentinos Juniors, noted that no club agreed with the mass relegation of 10 teams. The 2027 season will have two fewer fixtures than the current season, but Malaspina stated that it will be more competitive. International cup classification remains unchanged, with the three champions and the winner of the Copa Argentina entering Copa Libertadores, while finishes between fourth and ninth go to the Copa Sudamericana.",
  "summary": "AFA announces format for 2027 season, though relegation rules have yet to be confirmed; Only River Plate spoke out, seeking 20-team top flight. Leer más",
  "key_points": [
    "Argentine Football Association revamps First Division format for 2027 season",
    "Apertura and Clausura tournaments will be all against all with 29 fixtures each",
    "League title awarded to top team after 30 fixtures, with three champions crowned"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}