Virslīga - Baltic Football News

Year founded: 1927
Confederation: UEFA
Number of teams: 10
Current champions: FC RFS (3)
Most titles: Skonto FC (15)
Played: March to November

Ten-man Tukums minutes short from a win against Daugavpils

12 June 2026 20:36

The Tonybet Virslīga resumed after the international break on Friday evening with a dramatic Matchday 17 encounter in Tukums, where FK Tukums 2000 came within minutes of securing victory despite playing the entire second half with ten men, only for BFC Daugavpils to rescue a 1-1 draw late on.

RFS complete the signing of Latvia NT goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics

12 June 2026 13:16

The current Virsliga leaders FC RFS have acquired former Riga FC and Valmiera FC goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics.

Liepāja record holder in appearances and goals Dodo leaves the club

9 June 2026 13:28

FK Liepāja have announced the departure of Brazilian forward Dodo, bringing an end to a seven-and-a-half-year spell that saw him become the club's all-time leader in both appearances and goals.

LFF ethics committee opens case over Super Nova-RFS match

LFF ethics committee opens official inquiry over Super Nova-RFS match

8 June 2026 22:26

Latvia’s Football Federation ethics committee has opened proceedings over the Tonybet Virslīga match between Super Nova and RFS played on 29 May. The LFF said the case follows information it holds and interviews conducted at a committee meeting. It concerns possible conflicts of interest and alleged breaches of fair play linked to loan transfer regulations.

Vladimirs Vasiļjevs sees early signs of progress at Liepāja after Grobiņa friendly

Vassiljev notes early signs of progress at Liepāja after Grobiņa friendly

7 June 2026 22:26

New Liepāja head coach Vladimir Vassiljev says early progress is already visible after his first match in charge, a friendly derby against Grobiņa. He highlighted discipline and tactical understanding as priorities, and admitted his side lacked sharpness in the final third. Liepāja now prepare for a key Virsliga home game against Super Nova on 12th of June.

Baltic football’s attendance divide – why Lithuanian football is booming

2 June 2026 08:00

For years Baltic football carried the same stereotype - small crowds, modest stadiums and limited public attention outside international matches. The latest attendance numbers tell a very different story. While Estonia's Premium Liiga has largely found stability and Latvia's Virslīga continues searching for solutions, Lithuanian football is experiencing something far more significant. The fans are coming back. Not just for one club or one derby, but across the league. And the numbers increasingly suggest this is no longer a temporary trend.

About Tonybet Virslīga

Virslīga is contested by 10 teams over 182 matches (180 in regular season plus 2 in relegation playoffs) comprising 38 matchdays.

Virslīga uses a quadruple round-robin format, meaning each team plays 36 matches per season (facing every other team four times—two at home and two away). Teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. The team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion. If two or more teams finish with the same points, the following tie-breakers are used:

Head-to-head results between the tied teams
Goal difference in head-to-head matches
Overall goal difference
Goals scored

Winner enters UEFA Champions League at Qualification Round 1 and places 2-3 enter UEFA Conference League (UECL) at Qualification Round 1. Latvian Cup winner enters Conference League at Qualification Round 2.

If one of the Top 3 teams is also a cup winner, then team finishing fourth will go to UECL Qualification Round 1.

VAR is being gradually implemented as of 2023 season and is expected to achieve full coverage by 2026.

Competition rules

No more than 30 players per team, of whom 15 must be home-grown. Home-grown criteria is 3 years in a Latvian academy/club between the ages of 12-21.
At least 3 home-grown players must be on the pitch at any time.
Loan limit: 8 in 8 out (no limit for club-grown players). This will gradually decrease to 6 in 6 out by 2025.
No more than 3 loans in one club.
Minimum age is 16, although exceptions can be made starting from 15.
Five substitutions are allowed during matches up to a maximum of three times per match (excluding half-time break).
Players who accumulate four yellow cards receive an automatic one-match suspension. This is reduced to once every three after the first automatic suspension. Upon accumulating 13 yellow cards, automatic one-match suspension is given for every two yellow cards.