Puerto Rican football league system
Professional and amateur soccer leagues based in Puerto Rico
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The Puerto Rico soccer league system is a series of soccer leagues based in Puerto Rico. Sometimes erroneously called the Puerto Rican soccer pyramid, teams and leagues in the United States are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) officially defines leagues in levels, called divisions. Only the top division is officially sanctioned by the FPF with second division leagues sanctioned by local regional organizations.
Organization
The Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) is the national governing body of Puerto Rican football. Below the national level, the island is divided into six regional organizations.[1] These regional associations often only organize youth leagues, however, Organización Regional del Norte organizes a senior league, Liga del Norte de Futbol de Puerto Rico. These regional leagues effectively act as the second tier of Puerto Rican football.
Regional Organizations
- Organización Regional Central
- Organización Regional del Norte
- Organización Regional del Sur
- Organización Regional del Este
- Organización Regional del Oeste
- Organización Región Metro
Men
| Pro Soccer Teams (includes teams outside PR) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Teams | PRSL (D1) | ||
| 2008 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Year | Teams | PRSL (D1) | LNF (D2) | |
| 2009 | 25 | 9 | 16 | |
| 2010 | 29 | 81 | 21 | |
| 2011 | 23 | 6 | 17 | |
| Year | Teams | LNF (D1) | ||
| 2012 | - | -2 | ||
| Year | Teams | PRSL (D1) | LNF (D1) | |
| 2013 | - | - | 9 | |
| 2014 | - | - | 12 | |
| 2015 | 17 | 113 | 6 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 | -4 | |
| 2017 | - | - | - | |
| Year | Teams | LPR Pro (D1) | ||
| 2018-19 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 2019-20 | 13 | 13 | ||
| 2020-21 | COVID | |||
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | ||
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 2022–23 | 5/5 | 5/5 | ||
| 2023–24 | 8/8 | 8/8 | ||
| 2024–25 | 10/10 | 10/10 | ||
| 2025–26 | 10/11 | 10/11 | ||
| 2026–27 | 9 | 9 | ||
In Puerto Rico, men's outdoor soccer leagues are sanctioned by the Puerto Rican Football Federation. FPF doesn't currently recognise any league as fully professional, but Liga Puerto Rico is recognised as division 1 status. Liga Puerto Rico teams range widely in financial status with some able to pay semi-pro wages and others made up entirely of amateurs. There are no leagues under Liga Puerto Rico that are recognised by the FPF however some regional associations recognise senior leagues.
Professional
There are currently no fully professional leagues recognized.
Notes
1The PRSL recessed on 2010, and established a new tournament called "Supercopa DirecTV 2010" which served as the qualifier for the 2011 CFU Club Championship.
2The PRSL folded in the 2012 season, leaving Liga Nacional to be the sole D1 league at the time.
3 The 2015 Puerto Rico Soccer League season did not take place, but teams then participated in the Excellence Cup
4 The 2016 Liga Nacional season did not take place, but teams then participated in the Copa Luis Villarejo
Pro-am
Founded in 2018, Liga Puerto Rico is the FPF sanctioned first division football league in Puerto Rico. Clubs range from semi-professional to Amateur. The winner of the league earns a berth in the following CFU Club Championship. The league has 9 clubs as of the 2026 Apertura.
|
Division |
Effective Football League System of Puerto Rico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
I |
Liga Puerto Rico | ||
|
II |
No league at this level | ||
|
III |
Regional Leagues | ||
Amateur
| League | Level | Teams | Founded | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liga del Central de Futbol de Puerto Rico | 2 (Effective) | 8 | 2023 | Organización Regional del Central |
| Liga del Norte de Futbol de Puerto Rico | 2 (Effective) | 7 | 2023 | Organización Regional del Norte |
| Liga del Sur de Futbol de Puerto Rico | 2 (Effective) | 14 | 2023 | Organización Regional del Sur |
| Liga del Este de Futbol de Puerto Rico | 2 (Effective) | 7 | 2023 | Organización Regional del Este |
| Liga del Oeste de Futbol de Puerto Rico | 2 (Effective) | 9 | 2023 | Organización Regional del Oeste |
| Liga del Metro de Futbol de Puerto Rico | 2 (Effective) | 21 | 2023 | Organización Regional del Metro |
Liga del Norte de Futbol de Puerto Rico is regional league run by Organización Regional del Norte, A regional affiliate of the FPF.[2] The league has 10 teams as of the 2023 season.[3] The league is fully amateur. As of 2025, the league has grown to 3 divisions.
Youth
Puerto Rico has historically struggled to organize a national youth football competition. FPF formally recognises Liga Junior Puerto Rico as its national youth competition however Liga Elite de Puerto Rico arguably serves the nation as effectively as LJPR.
Men's national soccer cups
- Copa Luis Villarejo — open to all FPF-sanctioned amateur and professional leagues
- Copa Quintana - An invitational tournament hosted by San Juan based club Academia Quintana. The tournament includes brackets for multiple age groups as well as senior sides for both men and women.[9]
Defunct Leagues
- Puerto Rico Soccer League (2008-2017)
- Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Puerto Rico (2009-2016)