Azerbaijan First League
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Azerbaijan First League (Azerbaijani: I Liqa) is the second highest professional division in Azerbaijani professional football. The league is run by AFFA. The winner of the league is promoted to the top-tier Azerbaijan Premier League.
Azerbaijan| Organising body | Azerbaijan Professional Football League |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Country | Azerbaijan |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Premier League |
| Relegation to | Second League |
| Domestic cup | Azerbaijan Cup |
| Current champions | Qabala (2nd title) (2024–25) |
| Broadcaster(s) | CBC Sport |
| Website | https://liqa1.pfl.az/ |
| Current: 2025–26 Azerbaijan First League | |
History
Due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, all Azerbaijan clubs of the former Soviet Premier Division and Soviet First Division conformed a single Azerbaijan Premier League, which meant that the new second tier of Azerbaijan football would remain regionalized. For the first two seasons three regional groups conformed the second tier, until in 1994 the single table in use today began to be used.
Competition format
The First League currently consists of 10 teams. All teams play each other three times.[1]
Members of the Azerbaijan First League (2025-26 season)
Stadia and locations
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baku Sporting | Baku | Baku Sporting Arena | 600 |
| Cəbrayıl | Jabrayil | ASCO Arena | 3,200 |
| Difai Ağsu | Agsu | Agsu City Stadium | 3,000 |
| Mingəçevir | Mingachevir | Yashar Mammadzade Stadium | 5,200 |
| MOİK | Baku | Bine Stadium | 1,800 |
| Sabail | Baku | ASCO Arena | 3,200 |
| Shafa | Baku | ASK Arena | 5,800 |
| Shahdag Qusar | Shamakhi | Shamakhi OSC Stadium | 2,000 |
| Shimal | Siyazan | Siyazan City Stadium | 980 |
| Zaqatala | Zaqatala | Zaqatala City Stadium | 2,800 |
Media coverage
CBC Sport currently owna all the rights to broadcast the season's games on terrestrial TV.[2][3][4] In Azerbaijan, the First League games are also available on CBC Sport and on special YouTube channel.
Winners
Performance by club
| Club | Winners | Winning years | Runner-up | Runner-up years | Third place | Third place Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOIK | 2 |
2000–01, 2018–19 | 3 |
1994–95, 2007–08, 2009–10 | 2 |
1993–94, 2023–24 |
| Qaradağ Lökbatan | 2 |
2011–12, 2021–22 | 4 |
2012–13, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2023–24 | 1 |
2013–14 |
| Neftchala | 2 |
2014–15, 2015–16 | 1 |
2013–14 | 5 |
1992, 1993–94, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13 |
| Turan Tovuz | 2 |
2016–17, 2019–20 | 1 |
2020–21 | ||
| Araz Naxçıvan | 2 |
2013–14, 2022-23 | ||||
| Xəzər Sumqayıt | 1 |
1995–96 | 2 |
1993–94, 2001–02 | 1 |
1993 |
| Bakılı | 1 |
2007–08 | 1 |
1996–97 | 3 |
2001–02, 2009–10, 2010–11 |
| Ağsu | 1 |
2012–13 | 1 |
2014–15 | 2 |
2015–16, 2016–17 |
| Şahdağ Qusar | 1 |
1997–98 | 1 |
2008–09 | 1 |
2000–01 |
| Neftçi-2 | 1 |
2020–21 | 1 |
2018–19 | ||
| Shuvalan FK | 1 |
2004–05 | 1 |
2017–18 | ||
| Khazar Baku | 1 |
2017–18 | ||||
| Nicat Maştağa | 1 |
1992 | ||||
| Zabrat | 1 |
1993–94 | ||||
| Shamkir | 1 |
1994–95 | ||||
| Shahdagh Guba | 1 |
1999–00 | ||||
| Lokomotiv Imishli | 1 |
2001–02 | ||||
| Gənclərbirliyi | 1 |
2003–04 | ||||
| Gilan | 1 |
2005–06 | ||||
| ABN Bərdə | 1 |
2008–09 | ||||
| Kapaz | 1 |
2009–10 | ||||
| Masally | 1 |
2006–07 | ||||
| Absheron | 1 |
2010–11 | ||||
| Azneftyağ | 1 |
1993–94 | ||||
| Xəzri Buzovna | 1 |
1993 | ||||
| Çinar Göyçay | 1 |
1996–97 | ||||
| Shamakhi | 1 |
2023–24 | ||||
| Gabala | 1 |
2024–25 | ||||
| Göyəzən Qazax FK | 2 |
1993–94, 2003–04 | 1 |
2006–07 | ||
| Zagatala | 1 |
2020–21 | 1 |
2019–20 | ||
| Xəzər-Lənkəran-2 | 1 |
2005–06 | 1 |
2004–05 | ||
| Rəvan | 1 |
2010–11 | 1 |
2014–15 | ||
| Şamaxı-2 | 1 |
2021–22 | ||||
| Səbail | 1 |
2016–17 | ||||
| Səbail-2 | 1 |
2019–20 | ||||
| Avtomobilçi Yevlax | 1 |
1993 | ||||
| Çinar Polis Akademiyasi | 1 |
1995–96 | ||||
| Kür Samux | 1 |
1992 | ||||
| Şəfa-2 | 1 |
1999–00 | ||||
| Ümid Bakı | 1 |
2000–01 | ||||
| Energetik | 1 |
2004–05 | ||||
| Karvan | 1 |
2011–12 | ||||
| Standard Baku | 1 |
2006–07 | ||||
| Kürmük Qax | 2 |
1994–95, 1996–97 | ||||
| Simurq | 1 |
2005–06 | ||||
| Farid Baku | 1 |
1995–96 | ||||
| Karat Bakı | 1 |
2003–04 | ||||
| HHQ Şahin | 1 |
1999–00 | ||||
| NBC Salyan | 1 |
2007–08 |