Mexico participated in the Little League World Series as part of the Latin America Region from 1957 to 2000. In 2001, when the LLWS expanded to sixteen teams, the Mexico Region was created (as one of eight international regions), so that each year the Mexico Little League championship team has an automatic berth in the World Series. The country currently has about 450 active leagues, making it the third-largest country in Little League participation. Mexican teams have won three championships (1957, 1958 and 1997) and been runner-up three times (1964, 1985 and 2008).