A new season, new stories: Virslīga 2026 kicks off

Tonight the 35th season of the Latvian Virslīga begins at LNK Sporta Parks, where last season’s runners-up FC RFS host league newcomers Ogre United. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00, and before the first whistle of the new campaign it is worth taking a closer look at what could await us during the 2026 Virslīga season.

One of the biggest changes this year is that, for the first time in 14 consecutive seasons, FK Metta will not be part of the league. The long-time top-flight club finished bottom last season and failed to escape relegation in the final round. Their fate was sealed partly thanks to FK Grobiņa’s draw against Auda, when Ukrainian striker Mykola Agapov scored a late goal that earned Grobiņa a crucial point – a point that ultimately left Metta in last place. Grobiņa later confirmed their spot in the league by defeating JDFS Alberts in the relegation playoff and will now play their third consecutive season in the Virslīga.

With Metta gone, the title of the longest-serving current club in the league now belongs to FK Liepāja, last season’s bronze medalists. Under head coach Andreas Alm, Liepāja will attempt to break into the title race that has been dominated in recent years by the two capital clubs – Riga FC and FC RFS.

It was Riga FC who finally returned to the top of Latvian football last season, winning their fourth Virslīga title after a five-year wait. The club had been chasing that championship for several seasons, often finishing just short, but in the end they managed to climb the summit once again. The ambitions this season remain extremely high. Riga want to compete for every domestic trophy while also finally overcoming the European disappointment that has followed them since summer 2021. The club’s big goal remains reaching the league phase of a UEFA competition. Champions League qualification would be a dream scenario, but examples such as Pafos or Kairat Almaty show that surprises can happen with the right draw. Even reaching the UEFA Conference League league phase would be considered a major step forward.

Riga’s squad has changed slightly during the offseason, but the club has achieved something historic – for the first time in its history a head coach will begin a second consecutive season with the team. Slovak specialist Adrian Guľa was under serious pressure early last season after a difficult spring, but the story ended very differently. By autumn he was celebrating the Virslīga title with champagne. Despite the disappointment of losing the Latvian Cup final to FK Auda, the club maintained full confidence in him. Guľa will now attempt to lead Riga FC into the European league phase for the first time in the club’s history.

Several key players have left the champions. Long-time defensive leader El Bachir Ngom was sold to Swiss Super League side Grasshoppers, while Latvian international striker Marko Regža, the club’s all-time top scorer, also moved abroad. Another important departure is Peruvian winger Joao Grimaldo, whose purchase option Riga chose not to activate after the title-winning season. He has since joined Czech giants Sparta Prague. Among the new arrivals, Colombian full-back Andrés Salazar has already impressed during preseason and looks likely to become a regular starter.

Meanwhile FC RFS, last season’s runners-up, will be determined to reclaim the title. The club had a relatively quiet transfer window compared to previous years but still strengthened their squad with several players familiar with the Latvian league, including Matheus Clemente (Auda), Niks Dusalijevs (Tukums), Shina Kumater (Daugavpils), Kingsley Emenike (Jelgava) and Gauthier Mankenda (Riga FC). However, the biggest reinforcements may actually be players returning from injuries that plagued the team last season. Herdi Prenga, Lasha Odisharia, Ismael Diomande, Cedric Kouadio, Niks Sliede and Haruna Njie all missed significant parts of the campaign but have previously played key roles in RFS’s success.

Head coach Viktors Morozs, now entering his seventh season in charge, once again has a deep and experienced squad. Much attention will also be on Jānis Ikaunieks, who in recent seasons has tended to start slowly before becoming one of the team’s most productive players later in the campaign. RFS still rely heavily on experienced leaders such as Žiga Lipušček, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, Stefan Panić, and attacking players Mor Talla Gaye and Darko Lemajić, last season’s top scorer, although Lemajić might miss the opening match due to a minor injury.

Behind the two Riga giants, FK Liepāja appears to be the strongest challenger. Andreas Alm has assembled a squad that features a large Latvian core – Ingars Pūlis, Ivans Patrikejevs, Vladislavs Sorokins, Danila Patijčuks, Bruno Melnis, Vjačeslavs Isajevs, Dāvis Ošs, Kirils Iļjins, and Jānis Grīnbergs, who has returned after missing last season due to injury. Liepāja will have no trouble meeting the league requirement of fielding at least three Latvian players at all times, and the team looks balanced. According to bookmakers, Liepāja are the third-most likely title contenders, although matching the consistency of Riga FC and RFS over a 36-match season will be extremely difficult.

After these three clubs there appears to be a noticeable gap, with several teams likely battling for European qualification spots. FK Auda finished fifth last season and won the Latvian Cup, but their squad has undergone major changes. While players such as Eduards Dašķevičs and Deniss Meļņiks remain, several young foreign players from French academies have joined the team. Many of them have little experience in professional football, which makes Auda’s squad somewhat unpredictable this season.

Two other teams that could challenge for European positions are FS Jelgava and BFC Daugavpils. Jelgava, coached by Aleksandrs Basovs, continue their project of building connections with Czech football through sporting director Brožek. The club often recruits young Latvian players who struggle to find playing time at bigger teams. Players such as Roberts Meļķis, Alans Kangars, Jegors Novikovs, Maksims Semeško and Gļebs Žaleiko have joined the club looking to prove themselves. However, several important players have also left Jelgava, including Andrey Yuzvak, Kristers Penkevics, Ondrej Ullman, Kristers Alekseičiks and Kingsley Emenike, meaning the team will need new leaders to emerge.

BFC Daugavpils remain one of the league’s most unpredictable teams. In recent seasons the club has developed a reputation for assembling their squad late in the transfer window, often relying on loan players from bigger clubs and last-minute foreign signings. Despite this approach, the team has achieved its best results in club history – finishing fifth two seasons ago and fourth last year. However, this offseason has been less convincing, and club executive Nauris Mackevičs admitted that the recruitment of foreign players has not gone exactly according to plan.

At the lower end of the table, several teams are expected to fight for survival. FK Tukums 2000, who finished seventh last season, lost several key players including Ingars Pūlis, Niks Dusalijevs, and defensive duo Oskars Vientiess and Marione Mihoubi. However, the club has started a new cooperation with Japanese club FC Ryukyu, which could bring several Japanese players to the squad – a profile that has historically worked well for Tukums.

SK Super Nova have also made significant changes. After finishing eighth last season, the club parted ways with head coach Ervīns Pērkons and appointed Maksims Rafaļskis, formerly an assistant at FK Metta. The club has renewed its cooperation with RFS, meaning several players are expected to join on loan, including Valerijs Lizunovs, Sergejs Vilkovs, and Facundo Garcia. Super Nova also added several young Latvian players from JDFS Alberts, while experienced players such as Mārcis Ošs and Eduards Emsis remain important leaders.

FK Grobiņa, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, have not made drastic changes to their squad despite the difficult campaign. The club’s Ukrainian sporting director has adjusted parts of the roster, particularly among foreign players, while the Latvian core of the team remains largely intact. Replacing goalkeeper Frenks Orols, who was outstanding last season, will be one of the team’s biggest challenges.

Finally, Ogre United, the league’s newcomers, may be the most intriguing team in this season’s Virslīga. Their squad includes many talented Latvian players, but experience could be a major issue. Only a handful of players have previously completed full seasons in the league. The same applies to head coach Aleksandrs Rekhviashvili, a former Skonto Riga star, for whom this will be his first job as a head coach at the senior level. The club has placed full trust in him, but bookmakers currently view Ogre as the main favorite for relegation.

One thing is certain – the 2026 Virslīga season promises plenty of stories. New clubs, new heroes and perhaps new villains will emerge over the next eight months. If the league delivers a title race as dramatic as 2023, a European qualification battle like 2024, and a relegation fight as intense as 2025, Latvian football fans are in for another unforgettable season.