A total of 36 teams contested the league divided into three groups, Lohko A (Group A), Lohko B (Group B) and Lohko C (Group C). 25 returning from the 2016 season, two relegated from Ykkönen and nine promoted from Kolmonen. The champion of each group and the best runner-up will qualify to promotion matches to decide which two teams get promoted to the Ykkönen. The bottom three teams in each group will qualify directly for relegation to Kolmonen. Each team will play a total of 22 matches, playing twice against each team of its group.
KTP and FC Jazz were relegated from the 2016 Ykkönen, while FC Honka and IF Gnistan were promoted to the 2017 Ykkönen.
Groups
Lohko A (Group A) No. Abbreviated Name Town or Settlement Official Club and Team Name Movements from 2016 1. Kiffen Helsinki Kronohagens Idrottsförening 2. FC Lahti Akatemia Lahti FC Kuusysi 3. FC Legirus Inter Vantaa FC Legirus Inter 4. JäPS Järvenpää Järvenpään Palloseura 5. Klubi 04 Helsinki Klubi 04 6. KTP Kotka Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat Relegated from 2016 Ykkönen 7. Kultsu FC Lappeenranta Kultsu FC 8. MiPK Mikkeli Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat 9. MP Mikkeli Mikkelin Palloilijat 10. PEPO Lappeenranta PEPO Lappeenranta 11. PKKU Järvenpää, Kerava and Tuusula Pallokerho Keski-Uusimaa 12. Sudet Kouvola Sudet
Lohko B (Group B)
No. Abbreviated Name Town or Settlement Official Club and Team Name Movements from 2016 1. BK-46 Karis Bollklubben-46 2. EsPa Espoo Etelä-Espoon Pallo 3. FC Espoo Espoo FC Espoo 4. FC Jazz Pori FC Jazz Relegated from 2016 Ykkönen 5. KäPa Helsinki Käpylän Pallo 6. MuSa Pori Musan Salama 7. NuPS Vihti Nummelan Palloseura 8. Peimari United Paimio Paimion KHT Soikka 9. SalPa Salo Salon Palloilijat 10. Tampere United Tampere Tampere United 11. TPV Tampere Tampereen Pallo-Veikot 12. FC Viikingit Vuosaari FC Viikingit
Lohko C (Group C)
No. Abbreviated Name Town or Settlement Official Club and Team Name Movements from 2016 1. GBK Kokkola Gamlakarleby Bollklubb 2. JBK Jakobstad Jakobstads BK 3. Hercules Oulu Jalkapalloseura Hercules 4. Kajaani Kajaani AC Kajaani 5. KajHa Kajaani Kajaanin Haka 6. Kraft Närpes Närpes Kraft Fotbollsförening 7. KuFu-98 Kuopio SC Kuopio Futis-98 8. OTP Oulu Oulun Työväen Palloilijat 9. PK-37 Iisalmi Pallo-Kerho 37 10. TP-47 Tornio Tornion Pallo -47 11. VIFK Vaasa Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Vasa 12. FC Villiketut Jyväskylä FC Villiketut Promoted from 2016 Kolmonen League tables
Lohko A (Group A)
Lohko B (Group B)
Lohko C (Group C)
Runner-up teams At the end of the season, a comparison is made between the runners-up. The best runner-up will qualify to promotion matches.
Promotion play-offs Group winners and the best runner-up will play two-legged ties. Team pairs will be drawn and the two winning teams will be promoted to the Ykkönen for season 2017.
Group winners
The best runner-up Klubi 04
First leg
Second leg
AC Kajaani won 6–3 on aggregate.
Klubi 04 won 9–1 on aggregate.
References