The Latvian Football Federation announced the list of clubs which have been granted the LFF B license to participate in the second tier of Latvian association football – Optibet Nākotnes līga. Valmiera FC and their reserve team were not granted license on account of their ongoing financial issues.
A list of clubs which were granted the license to participate in the 2025 Nākotnes līga (Latvian second tier) championship has been announced. A notable absence are 2022 Virslīga champions Valmiera FC, who were previously denied license to participate in the top tier due to ongoing financial issues around non-payment of salaries and unsettled tax debt.
Latvian second tier consists of 14 teams – 10 regular teams and 4 reserve teams of top division clubs. As Valmiera were ejected from the top tier, their reserve team was automatically denied participation in the upcoming season in Nākotnes līga. With Valmiera FC failing to secure the LFF B license, not one but two spots opened up for the 2025 season.
Regular clubs that received LFF B licenses are:
- JDFS Alberts (Rīga)
- JFK Ventspils (Ventspils)
- Skanstes SK (Rīga)
- Mārupes SC (Mārupe)
- Leevon PPK (Rīga)
- AFA Olaine (Olaine)
- Ogre United (Ogre)
- Augšdaugavas NSS (Ilūkste)
- Riga Mariners (Rīga)
In addition to the above, the two spots opened up by Valmiera FC will be taken up by FK Smiltene (Smiltene) and FK Rēzekne (Rēzekne), who finished 13th and 14th in the previous season and got relegated. Riga FC, FC RFS and FK Tukums 2000/TELMS will maintain their reserve teams in the second tier as well.
Nākotnes līga season 2025 is expected to kick off on 28th-30th March and can be followed on futbols.tv platform free of charge.
Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/18081/izsniegtas-1-ligas-jaunas-sezonas-klubu-licences/