The Board of the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has approved the federation’s €16.5 million budget for 2026, reflecting several changes compared with the previous year.
In 2025, UEFA revised its solidarity payment principles and, on an exceptional basis, included funding from two cycles in one calendar year, resulting in higher revenues. From 2026 onward, funding will again be allocated for a single cycle only. Performance-based funding has also decreased, as Latvian clubs are not competing in the league phase of European competitions and have slipped slightly in the UEFA ranking. As a result, international funding available to leading domestic clubs and academies is lower, although 24 percent of the LFF budget is still earmarked for elite football projects and UEFA solidarity payments.
Infrastructure spending was higher last year due to the construction of three inflatable football halls in 2025: at Daugava Stadium in Riga, at the new FK Metta facility, and in Daugavpils. With those projects completed, infrastructure funding will be lower this year, with an emphasis on advancing the construction of the long-debated national football stadium. Cooperation with Cēsis Municipality will continue on building a football hall with a 64×43-metre pitch, with the LFF Board approving the relevant agreement.
Funding has also been allocated for the continued development of the VAR capability, with VAR to be used at all Virslīga matches starting 2026. Around 18% of the budget will support the activities of Latvia’s men’s, youth, women’s, girls’, and futsal national teams. Other priorities include hosting national team matches and tournaments, competition organisation, and the development of women’s and grassroots football.
LFF General Secretary Arturs Gaidels thanked the federation’s staff, Finance Committee, and Board for their work on the 2026 budget, stating that it enables progress across all strategic areas. He noted that the planned football hall in Cēsis will be the sixth inflatable hall delivered by the LFF, concluding the current phase of the programme. Despite rising construction costs, completing six of the originally planned seven halls was described as a significant achievement, with two facilities built in Riga, and one each in Liepāja, Rēzekne, Daugavpils, and soon Cēsis.
In addition, amendments to the LFF youth player compensation regulations have been approved, integrating girls’ football into a unified system. A working group will be established to further review compensation levels and their application.
Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/18755/lff-valde-apstiprina-federacijas-2026-gada-budzetu/
