Liga de Ascenso (Promotion League) is the second division of Honduran football; it was founded on 17 December 1979 as Segunda División (Second Division) and renamed Liga de Ascenso (Promotion League) on 21 July 2002. The league is divided into 4 groups: Zona Norte y Atlántica (North and Atlantic Zone), Zona Norte y Occidente (North and West Zone), Zona Centro y Sur (Central and South Zone), Zona Sur y Oriente (South and East Zone). The top 2 teams of each group qualifies for the liguilla (play-offs). Each season is divided into two tournaments, Apertura (opening) and Clausura (closing). The champions of the opening and closing tournament compete for the promotion to Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras in a two-legged match.

Two teams are relegated to Liga Mayor de Futbol de Honduras. The last team of each group face off in a playoff (North vs North and South vs South).

History From 1965 to 1979 the system of promotion to the Liga Nacional was ruled by the Extra-scholastic Sporting Federation of Honduras(Federación Deportiva Extraescolar de Honduras).Cupo para uno It was played in amateur form and the champion of the Central, Southern, and Oriental zone would play against the champion of the North Western zone. The Winner was promoted to the Liga Nacional. In the first tournament of the Liga Nacional there wasn't any promoted or relegated since it was a draft tournament.

It was until 1980 when the second division was founded which nowadays it's called Liga Nacional de Ascenso de Honduras (National Promotion League of Honduras).

In that season, the league didn't have any relegated team since the players of the Honduras national football team needed to be in training at full-time. From the year on, the rules have been applied and there have been many promoted and relegated teams.

From 2004 on the league was split into two seasons, apertura (opening) and clausura (closing). Promotion is decided by a two-legged match between apertura and clausura champion. In the case of the same team being champion in both tournaments, promotion is automatic.

In 2006 Hispano was relegated from first division but they bought Valencia's category in the league; this situation has occurred with other teams. In 2002 Victoria were relegated but acquired Honduras Salzburg's spot.

In 2009 Atletico Gualala earned promotion but decided to merge with that year's relegated club, Real Juventud and kept their history. In 2003 Real Maya merged with Patepluma to form Real Patepluma.

2024-25 clubs

Clubs from Zona Litoral Atlántica Arsenal (Coxen Hole, Islas de la Bahia) Atlético Boca Junior (Tocoa, Colón) CARVA (Coyoles Central, Olanchito, Yoro) Discua Nicolás (El Progreso, Yoro) Tela F.C. (Tela, Atlántida) Trujillo FC (Trujillo, Colón) C.D.S. Vida (La Ceiba, Atlántida) Yoro FC (Yoro, Yoro)

Clubs from Zona Occidental Atlético Esperanzano (La Esperanza, Intibucá) Atlético Pinares (Nueva Ocotepeque, Ocotepeque) Deportes Savio (Santa Rosa de Copán, Copán) Lepaera FC (Lepaera, Lempira) Olimpia Occidental (La Entrada, Copán) Real Juventud (Santa Bárbara, Santa Bárbara) San Juan (Quimistán, Santa Bárbara) Trinidad FC (Trinidad, Santa Bárbara)

Teams from Zona Norte y Valle de Sula Atlético Choloma (Choloma, Cortés) Atlético Limeño (La Lima, Cortés) Atlético Independiente (Siguatepeque, Comayagua) Brasilia FC (Río Lindo, Cortés) Comayagua FC (Comayagua, Comayagua) Municipal Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Cortés) Parrillas One (San Pedro Sula, Cortés) Villanueva FC (Villanueva, Cortés)

Teams from Zona Centro, Sur y Oriente Estrella Roja (Danlí, El Paraiso) Gimnástico (Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán) Lobos UPN (Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán) Olancho FC (Juticalpa, Olancho) Valencia (Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazan) Valle FC (Nacaome, Valle) Atlético Olanchano from (Catacamas, Olancho) were excluded due to failing to register in time

Winners From 1966 to present.Diez.hn – ¡Conocé a todos los ascendidos a la Liga Nacional de Honduras! – 12 June 2017 Segunda División (1966–2002). Liga de Ascenso (2002–). Up until 2004, champions were awarded automatic promotion. Apertura and Clausura format established since 2004.

Season Champion Runner-up Semifinalists 1966–67 Atlético Indio Victoria 1967–68 Victoria Federal 1968–69 Lempira Broncos 1969–70 Verdún San Pedro 1970–71 Troya Lenca 1971–72 Universidad Victoria 1972–73 Cancelled 1973 Federal San Pedro 1974 Atlántida Salamar 1975 Campamento Lenca 1976 Victoria Curacao 1977 Tiburones Alianza 1978–79 Portuario Federal 1979 Atlético Fusep Juventud Ribereña 1980 Independiente Curacao 1981 Dandy Súper Estrella 1982 Platense Curacao 1983 Sula Independiente 1984 Tela Timsa Atlético Independiente 1985 Curacao Tela Timsa 1986 Universidad Lempira Hermacasa 1987–88 Súper Estrella Tela Timsa 1988 Broncos Modernic 1989–90 Tela Timsa Universidad 1990–91 E.A.C.I. Palestino 1991–92 Real Maya Sitra Acensa 1992–93 Deportes Progreseño Palestino 1993–94 Atlético Indio Universidad 1994–95 Independiente Nacional 1995–96 Universidad Atlético Independiente Atlético Nacional Halcón Terrazos 1996–97 Atlético Indio Halcón Terrazos 1997–98 Alianza Real Sociedad 1998–99 Federal Atlético Melgar 1999–2000 Deportes Savio Palestino 2000–01 Real Maya Real Comayagua Atlético Independiente Real Sociedad 2001–02 Honduras Salzburg Parrillas One Atlético Olanchano Real Sociedad 2002–03 Atlético Olanchano Deportes Savio Social Sol Municipal Valencia 2003–04 Municipal Valencia Hispano Atlético Independiente Atlético Esperanzano 2004–05 A Deportes Savio Social Sol Arsenal Deportes Concepción 2004–05 C Hispano Deportes Savio 2005–06 A Atlético Olanchano Juticalpa Tulín 2005–06 C Lenca Real Juventud Olimpia B Atlético Olanchano 2006–07 A Deportes Savio Arsenal Real Juventud Lenca 2006–07 C Arsenal Cruz Azul Atlético Esperanzano Deportes Savio 2007–08 A Real Juventud Arsenal Unión Ájax Olimpia Occidental 2007–08 C Real Juventud Social Sol Motagua B Olimpia B 2008–09 A Atlético Gualala Municipal Silca Unión Ájax Necaxa 2008–09 C Necaxa Social Sol Olimpia Occidental Atlético Olanchano 2009–10 A Necaxa Atlético Choloma Social Sol Olimpia Occidental 2009–10 C Necaxa Atlético Independiente Atlético Choloma Real Juventud 2010–11 A Parrillas One Yoro Atlético Municipal Atlético Esperanzano 2010–11 C Atlético Choloma Real Sociedad Yoro Atlético Municipal 2011–12 A Real Sociedad Atlético Municipal Hispano Parrillas One 2011–12 C Parrillas One Real Sociedad Juticalpa Jaguares UPNFM 2012–13 A Juticalpa Atlético Municipal Yoro Honduras Progreso 2012–13 C Parrillas One Yoro Jaguares UPNFM Juticalpa 2013–14 A Honduras Progreso Atlético Choloma 2013–14 C Honduras Progreso Juticalpa 2014–15 A Juticalpa Jaguares UPNFM Atlético Municipal Villanueva or Social Sol 2014–15 C Juticalpa Atlético Independiente Atlético Limeño 2015–16 A Social Sol Deportes Savio 2015–16 C Alianza Becerra Parrillas One Social Sol Lepaera 2016–17 A Lepaera Yoro Gimnástico Tela 2016–17 C UPNFM Villanueva Lepaera Olancho 2017–18 A Infop RNP Villanueva Social Sol Parrillas One 2017–18 C Infop RNP Villanueva Yoro Parrillas One 2018–19 A Real Sociedad San Juan Pinares Gimnástico 2018–19 C Olancho Santos Pinares Boca Juniors 2019–20 A Pinares Santos San Juan Atlético Independiente 2019–20 C Delicias Santos Paris F.C. Olancho

Wins by club Club Winners Runners-up Winning years Deportes Savio 3 3 1999–2000, 2004–05 A, 2006–07 A Universidad 3 2 1971–72, 1986, 1995–96 Juticalpa Tulín / Juticalpa 3 2 2012–13 A, 2014–15 A, 2014–15 C Parrillas One 3 2 2010–11 A, 2011–12 C, 2012–13 C Atlético Indio 3 0 1966–67, 1990–91, 1996–97 Necaxa 3 0 2008–09 C, 2009–10 A, 2009–10 C Campamento / Atlético Olanchano 3 0 1975, 2002–03, 2005–06 A Real Sociedad 2 3 2011–12 A, 2018–19 A Victoria 2 2 1967–68, 1976 Federal 2 2 1973, 1998–99 Independiente 2 1 1980, 1994–95 Tela Timsa 2 1 1984, 1989–90 Real Juventud 2 1 2007–08 A, 2007–08 C Real Maya 2 0 1991–92, 2000–01 Honduras Progreso 2 0 2013–14 A, 2013–14 C Infop RNP 2 0 2017–18 A, 2017–18 C Alianza Becerra / Olancho 2 0 2015–16 C, 2018–19 C Curacao 1 4 1987–88 Social Sol 1 3 2015–16 A Lenca 1 2 2005–06 C Arsenal 1 2 2006–07 C Atlético Choloma 1 2 2010–11 C Súper Estrella 1 1 1988 Broncos 1 1 1993–94 Alianza 1 1 1997–98 Hispano 1 1 2004–05 C UPNFM 1 1 2016–17 C Lempira 1 0 1968–69 Verdún 1 0 1969–70 Troya 1 0 1970–71 Atlántida 1 0 1974 Tiburones 1 0 1977 Portuario 1 0 1978–79 Atlético Fusep 1 0 1979 Dandy 1 0 1981 Platense 1 0 1982 Sula 1 0 1983 E.A.C.I. 1 0 1985 Deportes Progreseño 1 0 1992–93 Honduras Salzburg 1 0 2001–02 Municipal Valencia 1 0 2003–04 Atlético Gualala 1 0 2008–09 A Lepaera 1 0 2016–17 A Pinares 1 0 2019–20 A Atlético Independiente 0 4 — Yoro 0 3 — Villanueva 0 3 — Palestino 0 2 — San Pedro 0 2 — Atlético Municipal 0 2 — Santos 0 2 — Salamar 0 1 — Juventud Ribereña 0 1 — Lempira Hermacasa 0 1 — Modernic 0 1 — Sitra Acensa 0 1 — Nacional 0 1 — Halcón Terrazos 0 1 — Atlético Melgar 0 1 — Real Comayagua 0 1 — Cruz Azul 0 1 — Municipal Silca 0 1 — San Juan 0 1 — Atlético INTUR 0 0 —

Promotion In 2004 the league format was changed into short tournaments splitting the season into two separate tournaments, apertura (opening) and clausura (closing). Promotion was decided by a two-legged final until 2012, and is now contested in a single match between apertura champion and clausura champion. In the case that a same team is crowned champion both apertura and clausura, promotion is awarded automatically to said team.

Season Promoted team Opponent Observations 2004–05 Hispano 0–0 Deportes Savio Hispano won 3–2 on penalty shootouts. 2005–06 Atlético Olanchano 3–2 Lenca 2006–07 Deportes Savio 1–0 Arsenal 2007–08 Real Juventud – none Real Juventud automatically promoted as winners of both Apertura and Clausura. 2008–09 Atlético Gualala 2–1 Necaxa Real Juventud purchased Atlético Gualala's franchise. 2009–10 Necaxa – none Necaxa automatically promoted as winners of both Apertura and Clausura. 2010–11 Atlético Choloma 2–1 Parrillas One 2011–12 Real Sociedad 2–0 Parrillas One 2012–13 Parrillas One 1–1 Juticalpa Parrillas One won 5–4 on penalty shootouts. 2013–14 Honduras Progreso – none Honduras Progreso automatically promoted as winners of both Apertura and Clausura. 2014–15 Juticalpa – none Juticalpa automatically promoted as winners of both Apertura and Clausura. 2015–16 Social Sol 1–1 Alianza Becerra Social Sol won 7–6 on penalty shootouts. 2016–17 UPNFM 1–0 Lepaera 2017–18 Infop RNP – none Infop RNP automatically promoted as winners of both Apertura and Clausura. 2018–19 Real Sociedad 1–1 Olancho Real Sociedad won 4–3 on penalty shootouts.

Relegation In the current system, the last team of each group of the region play on a playoff.

References

External links Latribunadeportiva.hn – Liga de Ascenso La Prensa.hn