The Ukrainian First League was founded in 1992. It is second in rank after the Premier League and plays an important role in the development of domestic football. Since its inception, the format of the First League, the number of teams and the level of competition have changed significantly.
The league matches are regulated by an agreement between the Ukrainian Football Association and the PFL, which authorises the Professional Football League of Ukraine to organise these all-Ukrainian competitions.
History of the tournament
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine decided to form its own football system, in which the 1st League took the place of the second division.
Fourteen teams participated in the first season, and 22 teams were represented in the following season.
The League’s tasks were to prepare the strongest teams for the Premier League, develop a youth academy and football infrastructure.
At the beginning of the 2000s, the format of the tournament stabilised. The number of clubs varied from 16 to 20. The rules remained unchanged — the two best teams advanced to the Premier League, and the clubs that finished in the last two places moved to the Second League.
The 2010s became the ‘golden age’ of the First League. It was then that significant changes took place: teams began to take care of the development of their own infrastructure and train young players. The tournament gained high popularity among football fans, and active broadcasting of matches began.
The 2016 reform helped to raise the level of competition and reduce the financial burden on clubs. At that time, the number of participants in the 1st league was reduced to 16 teams.
First League in the Ukrainian Football Championship 2025/26 The 35th season of the First League started on 2 August 2025 and will last until May 2026. Sixteen teams are participating in the competition. The clubs that take first and second place will advance directly to the Premier League.
