The Turkmenistan Higher League, also called Türkmenistan Ýokary Liga (Turkmen: Ýokary liga futbol klublarynyň arasyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň çempionaty), is the top division of professional football in Turkmenistan, operated by the Turkmenistan Football Federation.
Eight clubs participate in the competition which runs between April and November. As of the 2026 season, the winners receive a spot in the AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage.
Since the introduction of the Turkmenistan Higher League in 1992, Altyn Asyr (8 times), Köpetdag (6 times), Nebitçi (4 times), Nisa (4 times), Ýedigen (4 times), Arkadag (3 times), Aşgabat (2 times), Ahal (1 time) and Şagadam (1 time) have won the title.
FC Arkadag are the current champions (2025) (for the third time).«Аркадаг» досрочно стал чемпионом Туркменистана по футболуÝokary Liga 2024
History After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, starting in 1992, each former Soviet republic organized an independent national championship.
FC Kopetdag won the first four titles. Nisa Aşgabat was the only team which managed to break Kopetdag's dominance, winning the top division title in 1996.
In 2022, FC Ahal won the title for the first time in their history in Turkmenistan professional football.
Competition The league traditionally runs from April to November.
As of the 2026 season, the champions qualify for the AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage. If the league champions also win the Turkmenistan Cup, then the second-place team qualifies to AFC Challenge League group stage.
Current clubs
A total of 8 teams will contest the league. The following teams are competing in the 2025 season:
Club Location Stadium Capacity Coach Kit sponsorÄnewAshgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) 500 Hojaahmet Arazow NikeAshgabatBüzmeýin Sport Complex10,000 Ýazguly HojageldiýewPumaArkadagNusaý Stadium 5,000 Guwançmuhammet Öwekow AshgabatAshgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field)500 Said SeýidowAdidasKöpetdag AşgabatAshgabatKöpetdag Stadium26,000 Tofik ŞükürowKappaMaryMary Sport Complex10,000 Magtymguly BegenjewNikeBalkanabatBalkanabat Sport Complex10,000 Amanmyrat MeredowJakoTürkmenbaşyŞagadam Stadium5,000 Aleksandr Klimenko Nike
Soviet era champions
1937: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad 1938: Dinamo Ashkhabad 1939–45: no championship 1946: Dinamo Ashkhabad 1947: Spartak Ashkhabad 1948: Dinamo Ashkhabad 1949: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad 1950: Spartak Ashkhabad 1951: DOSA Ashkhabad 1952: DOSA Ashkhabad 1953: Dinamo Ashkhabad 1954: Lokomotiv Mary 1955: Sbornaya Ashkhabada 1956: Krasny Metallist Ashkhabad 1957: Sbornaya Ashkhabadskoy Oblasti 1958: Sbornaya Ashkhabada 1959: Sbornaya Nebit-Daga 1960: Sbornaya Chardzhou 1961: Energetik Nebit-Dag 1962: Energetik Nebit-Dag 1963: Stroitel' Mary 1964: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1965: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1966: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1967: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1968: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1969: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1970: Karakum Mary 1971: Mayak Chardzhou 1972: Energostroitel' Mary 1973: Tsementnik Bezmein 1974: Avtomobilist Ashkhabad 1975: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk 1976: Energetik Mary 1977: Shatlyk Mary 1978: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk 1979: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk 1980: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk 1981: Stroitel' Nebit-Dag 1982: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad 1983: Sel'khoztekhnika Chardzhou 1984: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk 1985: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad 1986: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk 1987: SKIF Ashkhabad 1988: Akhal Ashkhabadsky Rayon 1989: Medik Nebit-Dag 1990: Avtomobilist Ashkhabad 1991: Sel'khoztekhnika Ashkhabad
ClubTrophiesYears won Pogranichnik Ashkhabad 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 Şagadam 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986 Dinamo Ashkhabad 1938, 1946, 1948, 1953 Lokomotiv Ashkhabad 1937, 1982, 1985 Köpetdag Aşgabat 1949, 1950 DOSA Ashkhabad 1951, 1952 Sbornaya Ashkhabada 1955, 1958 Energetik Nebit-Dag 1961, 1962 Merw 1954, 1970 Avtomobilist Ashkhabad 1974, 1990 Spartak Ashkhabad 1947 Krasny Metallist Ashkhabad 1956 Sbornaya Ashkhabadskoy Oblasti 1957 Sbornaya Nebit-Daga 1959 Sbornaya Chardzhou 1960 Stroitel' Mary 1963 Mayak Chardzhou 1971 Energostroitel' Mary 1972 Tsementnik Bezmein 1973 Energetik Mary 1976 Shatlyk Mary 1977 Stroitel' Nebit-Dag 1981 Sel'khoztekhnika Chardzhou 1983 SKIF Ashkhabad 1987 Akhal Ashkhabadsky Rayon 1988 Medik Nebit-Dag 1989 Sel'khoztekhnika Ashkhabad 1991
Seasons summary
SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird place Top scorer (Team) – Goals1992 Köpetdag Aşgabat Nebitçi NebitdagAhal Akdaşaýak Sergei Kazankow (TSHT Aşgabat) – 411993 Köpetdag Aşgabat (2)BüzmeýinNebitçi Balkanabat Berdimyrat Nurmyradow (Köpetdag Aşgabat) – 251994 Köpetdag Aşgabat (3)Nisa AşgabatMerw Mary Berdimyrat Nurmyradow (Köpetdag Aşgabat) – 131995 Köpetdag Aşgabat (4)Nisa AşgabatNebitçi Nebit-Dag Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 41 1996 Nisa AşgabatKöpetdag AşgabatEkskawatorçy Çärjew Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 281997–98 Köpetdag Aşgabat (5)Dagdan AşgabatNisa Aşgabat Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 171998–99 Nisa Aşgabat (2)Köpetdag AşgabatDagdan Aşgabat Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 16 Şarafutdin Jumanyýazow (Turan Daşoguz) – 16 Didargylyç Urazow (Nisa Aşgabat) – 162000 Köpetdag Aşgabat (6)Nebitçi BalkanabatNisa Aşgabat Amandurdy Annadurdyýew (Köpetdag Aşgabat) – 132001 Nisa Aşgabat (3)Köpetdag AşgabatNebitçi Balkanabat Didargylyç Urazow (Nisa Aşgabat) – 322002 Şagadam TürkmenbaşyNisa AşgabatGaragum Turkmenabat Rustam Sadykow (Şagadam Türkmenbaşy) – 202003 Nisa Aşgabat (4)Nebitçi BalkanabatŞagadam Türkmenbaşy Daýançgylyç Urazow (Nisa Aşgabat) – 212004Nebitçi BalkanabatNisa AşgabatMerw Mary Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 192005HTTU AşgabatGazçy GazojakNebitçi Balkanabat Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 302006HTTU Aşgabat (2)Nebitçi BalkanabatFC Aşgabat Hamza Allamow (Turan Daşoguz) – 222007FC AşgabatHTTU AşgabatNebitçi Balkanabat Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 162008FC Aşgabat (2)HTTU AşgabatNebitçi Balkanabat Mämmedaly Garadanow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 12 Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 122009HTTU Aşgabat (3)Nebitçi BalkanabatMerw Mary Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 182010FC BalkanAltyn AsyrFC Lebap Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 112011FC Balkan (2)HTTU AşgabatFC Aşgabat Mämmedaly Garadanow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 242012FC Balkan (3)MerwHTTU Aşgabat Aleksandr Boliyan (Şagadam) – 23 2013HTTU Aşgabat (4)FC BalkanAltyn Asyr Mämmedaly Garadanow (FC Balkan) – 262014Altyn AsyrAhalŞagadam Mämmedaly Garadanow (Şagadam – 28)2015Altyn Asyr (2)FC BalkanFC Aşgabat Myrat Ýagşyýew (FC Balkan) – 312016Altyn Asyr (3)FC BalkanEnergetik Türkmenbaşy Süleýman Muhadow (Altyn Asyr) – 302017Altyn Asyr (4)AhalŞagadam Myrat Ýagşyýew (Altyn Asyr) – 282018Altyn Asyr (5)AhalEnergetik Türkmenbaşy Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (Altyn Asyr) – 192019Altyn Asyr (6)AhalŞagadam Didar Durdyýew (Ahal) – 142020Altyn Asyr (7)AhalŞagadam Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (Altyn Asyr) – 352021Altyn Asyr (8)AhalŞagadam Elman Tagaýew (Ahal) – 102022AhalAltyn AsyrMerw Didar Durdyýew (Ahal) – 272023Arkadag Altyn Asyr Nebitçi Didar Durdyýew (Arkadag) – 262024Arkadag (2) Ahal Altyn Asyr Didar Durdyýew (Arkadag) – 312025 Arkadag (3) Ahal Altyn Asyr Begenç Akmämmedow (Arkadag) – 17
Performance by club Team Champions Runners-up Third place Altyn Asyr 8 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) 3 (2010, 2022, 2023) 3 (2013, 2024, 2025) Köpetdag Aşgabat 6 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997–98, 2000) 3 (1996, 1998–99, 2001) – Nebitçi 4 (2004, 2010, 2011, 2012) 8 (1992, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016) 7 (1993, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2023) Nisa Aşgabat 4 (1996, 1998–99, 2001, 2003) 4 (1994, 1995, 2002, 2004) 2 (1997–98, 2000) Ýedigen 4 (2005, 2006, 2009, 2013) 3 (2007, 2008, 2011) 1 (2012) Arkadag 3 (2023, 2024, 2025) – – Aşgabat 2 (2007, 2008) – 3 (2006, 2011, 2015) Ahal 1 (2022) 8 (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025) 1 (1992) Şagadam 1 (2002) – 6 (2003, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021) Merw – 1 (2012) 4 (1994, 2004, 2009, 2022) Dagdan Aşgabat – 1 (1997–98) 1 (1998–99) Büzmeýin – 1 (1993) – Gazçy Gazojak – 1 (2005) – Bagtyyarlyk-Lebap – – 3 (1996, 2002, 2010) Energetik Mary – – 2 (2016, 2018)
League participation Note: The tallies below include up to the 2025 season. Teams denoted in bold are current participants.
33 seasons: Merw, Nebitçi 31 seasons: Şagadam 25 seasons: Ahal, Köpetdag Aşgabat 23 seasons: Turan 20 seasons: Aşgabat 18 seasons: Altyn Asyr 17 seasons: Bagtyyarlyk-Lebap 13 seasons: Ýedigen 12 seasons: Nisa Aşgabat 10 seasons: Energetik Mary 7 seasons: Talyp Sporty 6 seasons: Büzmeýin 3 seasons: Arkadag, Dagdan Aşgabat, Galkan Aşgabat, Gazçy Gazojak 2 seasons: Asudalyk Aşgabat, Balkan Nebitdag, Gara Altyn, Kolhozçy Türkmengala, TSHT Aşgabat 1 season: Arkaç Gyzylarbat, Babadayhan Babadayhansky Etrap, Bereket Tejen, Hazyna, Hlopkovik Çärjew, Jeýhun Seýdi, Pakhtachi Çärjew, SMM+ Karatamak, Umyt Baýramaly
Youth championship The Youth League (), also known as Youth teams championship () full name Youth football championship of Turkmenisatn among teams of clubs of the Higher League (), is a league that runs in parallel to the Ýokary Liga and includes the youth or reserve teams of the Turkmenistan Higher League teams. The number of players a team can have on the pitch at a time that are over 21 years of age or without a Turkmenistan citizenship is limited. 8 teams participate in the league. Matches are commonly played a day before the match of the senior teams of the respective teams.
Youth championship winners (since 2019) 2019: FC Altyn Asyr-2 2020: FC Altyn Asyr-2 2021: FC Altyn Asyr-2 2022: FC Altyn Asyr-2 2023: FC Altyn Asyr-2 2024: FC Arkadag-2 Молодёжное первенство Туркменистана по футболу: итоги 32-го тура
References
External links Current Yokary Liga table and results at Soccerway Yokary Liga at fifa.com Ýokary Liga at globalsportsarchive.com