2025–26 Czech First League

Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Czech First League, known as the Chance Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the 33rd season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football for professional clubs since its establishment, in 1993. Slavia Prague are the reigning champions. The season is scheduled to start in July 2025. The first half of the season will have 19 rounds, finishing in December, and the other half will commence on 31 January 2026. The season is expected to end on 25 May 2026 with two extra play-out fixtures on 28 and 31 May 2026.[1][2]

Season2025–26
Dates18 July 2025 – 24 May 2026
Matches240
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Czech First League
Season2025–26
Dates18 July 2025 – 24 May 2026
Champions LeagueSlavia Prague
Matches240
Goals620 (2.58 per match)
Top goalscorerTomáš Chorý (17 goals)
Biggest home winLiberec 6–0 Karviná
9 November 2025
Biggest away winMladá Boleslav 0–5 Plzeň
19 August 2025
Highest scoringPlzeň 3–5 Slavia
9 November 2025
2026–27
All statistics correct as of 25 April 2026.
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Format

The general season format is unchanged from last season. The 16 clubs will play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship, play-off and relegation groups. The lowest-ranked team will be relegated directly to the second league, and the two teams positioned 14th and 15th will play a play-out with two teams from the second league positioned 2nd and 3rd in a home and away format.

This will be the eighth season to use VAR, featuring it in all matches played. There are no changes in the rules. The schedule also has not changed compared to last season.[2]

Teams

Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

A total of sixteen teams contest the league, including thirteen sides from the 2024–25 season, the winner of last season's second league, and two winners of the play-out, determined on 1 June 2025.

Team promoted to Czech First League

After being relegated in the 2023–24 season, FC Zlín returns to Czech First League as the champion of the 2024–25 Czech National Football League.[3]

Teams relegated from Czech First League

The lowest positioned team from the last season, SK Dynamo České Budějovice, was relegated to the Czech National Football League.

Locations and stadiums

Managerial changes

Pre-season:

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Contract valid until
Mladá BoleslavFootball Association of the Czech Republic Josef JinochEnd of caretaker spell25 May 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Aleš Majer[19]2 June 2024Undisclosed
SlováckoFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš PalinekEnd of caretaker spell25 May 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Jan Kameník[20]5 June 2025Undisclosed
Sparta PragueFootball Association of the Czech Republic Luboš LoučkaEnd of caretaker spell24 May 2025Danish Football Association Brian Priske[21]8 June 2025Undisclosed
Dukla PragueFootball Association of the Czech Republic Petr RadaEnd of contract2 June 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic David Holoubek[22]16 June 2025Undisclosed
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During the season:

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Match-week Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment Contract valid until
Viktoria PlzeňFootball Association of the Czech Republic Miroslav Koubek[23]Mutual consent29 September 2025105thSlovak Football Association Marek Bakoš[23] (caretaker) 29 September 2025Undisclosed
PardubiceFootball Association of the Czech Republic David Střihavka[24]Sacked29 September 20251016thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jiří Krejčí[24] (caretaker) 29 September 2025Undisclosed
Baník OstravaFootball Association of the Czech Republic Pavel Hapal[25]Mutual consent11 October 20251211thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Galásek[26]12 October 2025Undisclosed
PardubiceFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jiří Krejčí[27]End of caretaker spell14 October 20251216thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jan Trousil[27]14 October 2025Undisclosed
KarvináFootball Association of the Czech Republic Martin Hyský[28]Signed by Viktoria Plzeň15 October 2025128thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Marek Jarolím[28] 15 October 2025Undisclosed
Viktoria PlzeňSlovak Football Association Marek Bakoš[29]End of caretaker spell15 October 2025126thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Martin Hyský[29]15 October 20252028
SlováckoFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jan Kameník[30]Sacked3 November 20251416thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Roman Skuhravý[31]18 November 2025Undisclosed
Dukla PragueFootball Association of the Czech Republic David Holoubek[32]Sacked10 February 20262116thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Pavel Šustr[33]12 February 2026Undisclosed
Baník OstravaFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Galásek[34]Sacked16 February 20262214thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Ondřej Smetana[34]16 February 2026Undisclosed
Sigma OlomoucFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Janotka[35]Sacked12 April 2026297thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Pavel Hapal[35] (caretaker)12 April 2026Undisclosed
Baník OstravaFootball Association of the Czech Republic Ondřej Smetana[36]Sacked26 April 20263016thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Josef Dvorník[36]26 April 2026Undisclosed
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Regular season

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Slavia Prague 30 21 8 1 63 23 +40 71 Qualification for the championship group
2 Sparta Prague 30 19 6 5 60 33 +27 63
3 Viktoria Plzeň 30 15 8 7 50 34 +16 53
4 Jablonec 30 15 6 9 41 33 +8 51
5 Hradec Králové 30 14 7 9 43 34 +9 49
6 Slovan Liberec 30 12 10 8 43 30 +13 46
7 Sigma Olomouc 30 12 7 11 34 34 0 43 Qualification for the play-off
8 Pardubice 30 11 8 11 39 46 7 41
9 Karviná 30 12 3 15 43 51 8 39
10 Bohemians 1905 30 10 6 14 26 35 9 36
11 Mladá Boleslav 30 8 11 11 44 52 8 35 Qualification for the relegation group
12 Zlín 30 9 7 14 37 48 11 34
13 Teplice 30 6 11 13 29 38 9 29
14 Dukla Prague 30 4 11 15 20 42 22 23[a]
15 Slovácko 30 5 8 17 26 45 19 23[a]
16 Baník Ostrava 30 5 7 18 25 45 20 22
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Source: Chance Liga
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw.[37]
Notes:
  1. Head to head points: Dukla Prague 6, Slovácko 0.

Results

More information Home \ Away, BOH ...
Home \ Away BOH DUK HKR JAB KAR LIB MLA OLO OST PCE PLZ SLA SLO SPA TEP ZLN
Bohemians 1905 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 0–1 2–1
Dukla Prague 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–0 0–3 1–3 0–0
Hradec Králové 2–0 3–0 2–0 1–2 2–3 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–3 2–1 4–0 2–1 0–0 0–0
Jablonec 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–2 4–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–3
Karviná 1–2 2–0 4–3 1–2 3–1 0–3 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–1 4–1 0–1
Slovan Liberec 0–0 2–0 0–1 0–2 6–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–0
Mladá Boleslav 2–2 1–1 3–2 3–0 2–4 3–3 1–4 1–1 2–0 0–5 1–3 0–0 1–2 0–0 3–1
Sigma Olomouc 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 2–4 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–0
Baník Ostrava 0–2 3–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–2 0–0 2–0 1–4 0–1 0–2 2–0 0–3 1–1 6–2
Pardubice 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 0–4 2–1 2–1 0–1 1–5 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 3–1
Viktoria Plzeň 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 3–5 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–1
Slavia Prague 3–1 2–0 2–2 4–3 3–1 1–0 4–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–0 3–0 3–1 3–0 0–0
Slovácko 1–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 1–2 0–3 2–2 0–1 2–2 2–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 2–1 2–0
Sparta Prague 2–1 3–2 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–0 5–2 2–4 2–1 1–1 5–2 2–2 3–1
Teplice 3–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 1–3 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–3
Zlín 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 1–3 1–0 3–2 5–0 1–1 2–2 3–0 1–3 1–1 0–3 3–2
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Source: Chance Liga
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Championship group

Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation SLA SPA PLZ JAB HKR LIB
1 Slavia Prague (T) 30 21 8 1 63 23 +40 71 Qualification for the Champions League league phase 9 May 24 May 13 May
2 Sparta Prague 30 19 6 5 60 33 +27 63 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round 12 May 3 May 24 May
3 Viktoria Plzeň 30 15 8 7 50 34 +16 53 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round 17 May 3 May 9 May
4 Jablonec 30 15 6 9 41 33 +8 51 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round 10 May 24 May
5 Hradec Králové 30 14 7 9 43 34 +9 49 17 May 13 May
6 Slovan Liberec 30 12 10 8 43 30 +13 46 2 May 17 May
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Updated to match(es) played on 25 April 2026. Source: Chance Liga
Rules for classification: 1) Total points; 2) Points earned in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points (regular season); 4) Head-to-head goal difference (regular season); 5) Head-to-head goals scored (regular season); 5) Goal difference (all matches); 6) Goals scored (all matches); 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw.
(T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

Middle group

Teams will play a group for placement. The group winner will receive a financial bonus (3 mil. CZK) and will be rewarded with a favorable starting position in the 2026–27 Czech Cup.[38]

First roundSecond round
          
 
Bohemians 1905
 
Sigma Olomouc
 
 
 
Karviná
Pardubice

Relegation group

Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation MLA ZLN TEP DUK SLO OST
11 Mladá Boleslav 30 8 11 11 44 52 8 35 9 May 23 May 12 May
12 Zlín 30 9 7 14 37 48 11 34 12 May 2 May 23 May
13 Teplice 30 6 11 13 29 38 9 29 16 May 3 May 9 May
14 Dukla Prague 30 4 11 15 20 42 22 23 Qualification for the relegation play-offs 9 May 23 May
15 Slovácko 30 5 8 17 26 45 19 23 16 May 12 May
16 Baník Ostrava 30 5 7 18 25 45 20 22 Relegation to FNL 2 May 16 May
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Updated to match(es) played on 25 April 2026. Source: Chance Liga
Rules for classification: 1) Total points; 2) Points earned in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points (regular season); 4) Head-to-head goal difference (regular season); 5) Head-to-head goals scored (regular season); 5) Goal difference (all matches); 6) Goals scored (all matches); 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw.

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 25 April 2026[39]

Hat-tricks

More information Matchweek, Date ...
MatchweekDatePlayerForAgainstResult
517 August 2025Nigeria Football Federation Solomon JohnMladá BoleslavHradec Králové3–2 (H)[40]
319 August 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Denis VišinskýPlzeňMladá Boleslav5–0 (A)[41]
1623 November 2025Nigeria Football Federation Emmanuel AyaosiKarvináHradec Králové4–3 (H)[42]
1914 December 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Stanislav PetrutaZlínOlomouc5–0 (H)[43]
258 March 2026Football Association of the Czech Republic Václav JurečkaOstravaZlín6–2 (H)[44]
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Clean sheets

As of 25 April 2026[45]

See also

References

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