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

Glaudāns haunts former club as Super Nova beat Jelgava for the first time

5 September 2026 19:44

Super Nova claimed their first-ever victory over Jelgava on Saturday, with former Jelgava player Agris Glaudāns scoring the only goal in an important 1-0 away win in Virslīga Matchday 29.

Late Deružinskis winner seals crucial Tukums comeback against Ogre United

5 September 2026 17:30

Tukums came from behind to beat fellow bottom-half side Ogre United 2-1 in the opening match of Virslīga Matchday 29, scoring twice in the final eight minutes to claim three hugely important points in the relegation battle. Ogre United were the more dangerous side for much of the first half and gradually took control of the game. Ingars Pūlis, who scored 18 league goals for Tukums last season but is still searching for his first of the current campaign, twice threatened against his former club. His 29th-minute header was saved by Sergejs Vilkovs, before the goalkeeper denied him again shortly

Gļebs Žaleiko named Virslīga’s best young player of third round

3 September 2026 22:33

FS Jelgava midfielder Gļebs Žaleiko has been named the Virslīga’s best young player for the third round of fixtures after contributing two goals and two assists across nine matches during his most productive top-flight season to date.

Oloko with a brace, Curro Torres in his Liepāja debut stun champions

31 August 2026 19:39

The Virslīga top-scorer battle lived up to expectations in Liepāja on Monday as Joseph Ede Oloko scored twice and Mohamed Badamosi added one of his own, but it was FK Liepāja who provided the surprise of Matchday 28, defeating title-chasing Riga FC 3-2 in new head coach Curro Torres’ first game in charge.

Filipovic converts two penalties as RFS beat Ogre United

30 August 2026 20:26

RFS maintained their position at the top of the Virsliga with a 3-0 win away to Ogre United. Aleksandar Filipovič scored twice from the penalty spot after VAR interventions, while Ogre played most of the second half with 10 men following Kristers Čudars’ dismissal. Rostand Ndjiki completed the scoring late on.

Vassiljev opens up on Liepāja exit: Pressure, missed time and belief in unfinished project

30 August 2026 12:53

Former FK Liepāja head coach Vladimir Vassiljev has admitted he was surprised by the timing of his dismissal, saying he still believed the team was moving in the right direction and would have finished fourth in the Virslīga if he had been given time to complete the season. Speaking to Baltic Football News two days after leaving the club, Vassiljev said he understood from the beginning that Liepāja was not an easy environment for coaches, but arrived with the belief that a longer-term project could still be built.

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.