The Executive Committee of the Lithuanian Football Federation approved the competition structure for the 2027 Lithuanian football season on Monday, confirming the league format and promotion/relegation system across the country’s divisions.
The changes come after the unprecedented removal of FK Riteriai’s first team from the 2026 TOPLYGA and the club’s reserve side from the II League A Division. The disciplinary decision created a situation that was not covered by the existing competition regulations, requiring the federation to establish a revised promotion and relegation model for the 2027 season.
Under the newly approved system:
- The 2026 Pirma lyga champions will earn automatic promotion to the 2027 TOPLYGA.
- The team finishing ninth in the 2026 TOPLYGA will face the Pirma lyga runners-up in a promotion/relegation play-off for a place in the 2027 top flight.
- Three teams, instead of the usual two, will be promoted directly from the II League A Division to the 2027 Pirma lyga.
- The team finishing 14th in the 2026 Pirma lyga will meet the fourth-placed II League A Division side in a promotion/relegation play-off.
- Four teams, rather than two, will be promoted from the II League B Division to the 2027 II League A Division.
As a result, the 2027 TOPLYGA will feature 10 clubs, while both the Pirma lyga and the II League A Division will each consist of 16 teams. The size of the II League B Division will continue to depend on the number of registered participating clubs.
LFF President Edgaras Stankevičius said the federation wanted to provide clarity to clubs as early as possible following the removal of FK Riteriai from the league system.
“The removal of FK Riteriai’s first team and reserve team created a situation that was not addressed in the competition regulations, making it necessary to review and clarify the movement of teams between the leagues. We want to inform all clubs about these changes as early as possible, so that everyone competing for the highest positions knows exactly what to expect ahead of the 2027 season,” Stankevičius said.
Source: https://www.lff.lt/lff-vykdomasis-komitetas-patvirtino-2027-m-lietuvos-futbolo-lygu-modeli-toplygoje-10-komandu-i-lygoje-ir-ii-lygos-a-divizione-po-16/
