[1][2] The winning sides of the annual Apertura and Clausura contest each other, the winner directly promotes to Primera División.
The top sides of each group then contested in order that the winner directly promotes to Primera División.
[clarification needed] The founding 12 teams in Segunda División were ANTEL, Atlético Marte, Marte Soyapango, Caterpillar de San Salvador, Picapiedra del Plan de la Laguna, Antiguo Cuscatlán, Dragón, Once Municipal, Molino F. C, Ahuachapán and Puertas de Santa Ana y San Rafael.
The inaugural President of the Segunda División was Dr Mauro Alfredo Bernal Silva.
In 1986 the Legislative Assembly[clarification needed] emitted a decree in the Reforms to the Law of Football and the Category of Ascent that Segunda División would be limited to only 24 teams split into two groups.