Ýokary Liga
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Turkmenistan Higher League, also called Türkmenistan Ýokary Liga (Turkmen: Ýokary liga futbol klublarynyň arasyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň çempionaty),[2] is the top division of professional football in Turkmenistan, operated by the Turkmenistan Football Federation.
| Organising body | Turkmenistan Football Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Country | Turkmenistan |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 8[1] |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Turkmenistan First League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Turkmenistan Cup Turkmenistan Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two AFC Challenge League |
| Current champions | FK Arkadag (3rd title) (2025) |
| Most championships | Altyn Asyr (8 titles) |
| Top scorer | Mämmedaly Garadanow (175 goals) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Turkmenistan Sport |
| Website | tff.com |
| Current: 2026 Ýokary Liga | |
It was founded in 1992. Nine clubs participate in the Higher League of the Turkmenistan National Championship. The season runs between April and November.
There are 9 teams in the competition. As of the 2024 season, the league had one AFC Champions League Two qualifying spot for the league winner league.[3]
Since the introduction of the Turkmenistan Higher League in 1992, Altyn Asyr (8 times), Köpetdag (6 times), Nebitçi (4 times), Nisa (4 times), Ýedigen (4 times), Arkadag (3 times), Aşgabat (2 times), Ahal[4] (1 time) and Şagadam (1 time) have won the title.
FC Arkadag are the current champions (2025) (for the third time).[5][6]
History
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, starting in 1992, each former Soviet republic organized an independent national championship.
FC Kopetdag won the first four titles. Nisa Aşgabat was the only team which managed to break Kopetdag's dominance, winning the top division title in 1996.
In 2022, FC Ahal won the title for the first time in their history in Turkmenistan professional football.[7]
Competition
The league traditionally used to run from April to November.[8]
As of the 2022 season, the champions qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage. The runner-up qualifies for the AFC Cup group stage. If the winner of Turkmenistan Cup ends in first or second in the championship in same season, then the third-place team qualifies to AFC Cup group stage.[9][10]
Current clubs
A total of 8 teams will contest the league.[1] The following teams are competing in the 2025 season:
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Coach | Kit sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahal | Änew | Ashgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) | 500 |  Hojaahmet Arazow |
Nike |
| Altyn Asyr | Ashgabat | Büzmeýin Sport Complex[11] | 10,000 | Ýazguly Hojageldiýew |
Puma |
| Arkadag[12][13] | Arkadag[12] | Nusaý Stadium [14] | 5,000 | Guwançmuhammet Öwekow [14] |
|
| Aşgabat | Ashgabat | Ashgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) | 500 | Said Seýidow |
Adidas |
| Köpetdag Aşgabat | Ashgabat | Köpetdag Stadium | 26,000 | Tofik Şükürow |
Kappa |
| Merw | Mary | Mary Sport Complex | 10,000 | Magtymguly Begenjew |
Nike |
| Nebitçi | Balkanabat | Balkanabat Sport Complex | 10,000 | Amanmyrat Meredow |
Jako[15] |
| Şagadam | Türkmenbaşy | Şagadam Stadium | 5,000 | Aleksandr Klimenko |
Nike |
Soviet era champions
- 1937: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
- 1938: Dinamo Ashkhabad
- 1939–45: no championship
- 1946: Dinamo Ashkhabad
- 1947: Spartak Ashkhabad
- 1948: Dinamo Ashkhabad
- 1949: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
- 1950: Spartak Ashkhabad
- 1951: DOSA Ashkhabad
- 1952: DOSA Ashkhabad
- 1953: Dinamo Ashkhabad
- 1954: Lokomotiv Mary
- 1955: Sbornaya Ashkhabada
- 1956: Krasny Metallist Ashkhabad
- 1957: Sbornaya Ashkhabadskoy Oblasti
- 1958: Sbornaya Ashkhabada
- 1959: Sbornaya Nebit-Daga
- 1960: Sbornaya Chardzhou
- 1961: Energetik Nebit-Dag
- 1962: Energetik Nebit-Dag
- 1963: Stroitel' Mary
- 1964: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
- 1965: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
- 1966: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
- 1967: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
- 1968: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
- 1969: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
- 1970: Karakum Mary
- 1971: Mayak Chardzhou
- 1972: Energostroitel' Mary
- 1973: Tsementnik Bezmein
- 1974: Avtomobilist Ashkhabad
- 1975: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
- 1976: Energetik Mary
- 1977: Shatlyk Mary
- 1978: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
- 1979: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
- 1980: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
- 1981: Stroitel' Nebit-Dag
- 1982: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
- 1983: Sel'khoztekhnika Chardzhou
- 1984: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
- 1985: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
- 1986: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
- 1987: SKIF Ashkhabad
- 1988: Akhal Ashkhabadsky Rayon
- 1989: Medik Nebit-Dag
- 1990: Avtomobilist Ashkhabad
- 1991: Sel'khoztekhnika Ashkhabad
| Club | Trophies | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| Pogranichnik Ashkhabad | 6 |
1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 |
| Şagadam | 6 |
1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986 |
| Dinamo Ashkhabad | 4 |
1938, 1946, 1948, 1953 |
| Lokomotiv Ashkhabad | 3 |
1937, 1982, 1985 |
| Köpetdag Aşgabat | 2 |
1949, 1950 |
| DOSA Ashkhabad | 2 |
1951, 1952 |
| Sbornaya Ashkhabada | 2 |
1955, 1958 |
| Energetik Nebit-Dag | 2 |
1961, 1962 |
| Merw | 2 |
1954, 1970 |
| Avtomobilist Ashkhabad | 2 |
1974, 1990 |
| Spartak Ashkhabad | 1 |
1947 |
| Krasny Metallist Ashkhabad | 1 |
1956 |
| Sbornaya Ashkhabadskoy Oblasti | 1 |
1957 |
| Sbornaya Nebit-Daga | 1 |
1959 |
| Sbornaya Chardzhou | 1 |
1960 |
| Stroitel' Mary | 1 |
1963 |
| Mayak Chardzhou | 1 |
1971 |
| Energostroitel' Mary | 1 |
1972 |
| Tsementnik Bezmein | 1 |
1973 |
| Energetik Mary | 1 |
1976 |
| Shatlyk Mary | 1 |
1977 |
| Stroitel' Nebit-Dag | 1 |
1981 |
| Sel'khoztekhnika Chardzhou | 1 |
1983 |
| SKIF Ashkhabad | 1 |
1987 |
| Akhal Ashkhabadsky Rayon | 1 |
1988 |
| Medik Nebit-Dag | 1 |
1989 |
| Sel'khoztekhnika Ashkhabad | 1 |
1991 |
Seasons summary
Performance by club
| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altyn Asyr | 8 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) | 3 (2010, 2022, 2023) | 3 (2013, 2024, 2025) |
| Köpetdag Aşgabat | 6 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997–98, 2000) | 3 (1996, 1998–99, 2001) | – |
| Nebitçi | 4 (2004, 2010, 2011, 2012) | 8 (1992, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016) | 7 (1993, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2023) |
| Nisa Aşgabat | 4 (1996, 1998–99, 2001, 2003) | 4 (1994, 1995, 2002, 2004) | 2 (1997–98, 2000) |
| Ýedigen | 4 (2005, 2006, 2009, 2013) | 3 (2007, 2008, 2011) | 1 (2012) |
| Arkadag | 3 (2023, 2024, 2025) | – | – |
| Aşgabat | 2 (2007, 2008) | – | 3 (2006, 2011, 2015) |
| Ahal | 1 (2022) | 8 (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025) | 1 (1992) |
| Şagadam | 1 (2002) | – | 6 (2003, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Merw | – | 1 (2012) | 4 (1994, 2004, 2009, 2022) |
| Dagdan Aşgabat | – | 1 (1997–98) | 1 (1998–99) |
| Büzmeýin | – | 1 (1993) | – |
| Gazçy Gazojak | – | 1 (2005) | – |
| Bagtyyarlyk-Lebap | – | – | 3 (1996, 2002, 2010) |
| Energetik Mary | – | – | 2 (2016, 2018) |
League participation
Note: The tallies below include up to the 2025 season. Teams denoted in bold are current participants.
- 33 seasons: Merw, Nebitçi
- 31 seasons: Şagadam
- 25 seasons: Ahal, Köpetdag Aşgabat
- 23 seasons: Turan
- 20 seasons: Aşgabat
- 18 seasons: Altyn Asyr
- 17 seasons: Bagtyyarlyk-Lebap
- 13 seasons: Ýedigen
- 12 seasons: Nisa Aşgabat
- 10 seasons: Energetik Mary
- 7 seasons: Talyp Sporty
- 6 seasons: Büzmeýin
- 3 seasons: Arkadag, Dagdan Aşgabat, Galkan Aşgabat, Gazçy Gazojak
- 2 seasons: Asudalyk Aşgabat, Balkan Nebitdag, Gara Altyn, Kolhozçy Türkmengala, TSHT Aşgabat
- 1 season: Arkaç Gyzylarbat, Babadayhan Babadayhansky Etrap, Bereket Tejen, Hazyna, Hlopkovik Çärjew, Jeýhun Seýdi, Pakhtachi Çärjew, SMM+ Karatamak, Umyt Baýramaly
Youth championship
The Youth League (Turkmen: Ýaşlar liga), also known as Youth teams championship (Turkmen: Ýaşlar arasyndaky birinjilik) full name Youth football championship of Turkmenisatn among teams of clubs of the Higher League (Turkmen: Ýokary liganyň futbol klublarynyň ýaşlar düzümleriniň gatnaşmagyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň birinjiligi), is a league that runs in parallel to the Ýokary Liga and includes the youth or reserve teams of the Turkmenistan Higher League teams. The number of players a team can have on the pitch at a time that are over 21 years of age or without a Turkmenistan citizenship is limited. 8 teams participate in the league.[21] Matches are commonly played a day before the match of the senior teams of the respective teams.