The 2022–23 First Football League (also known as Prva nogometna liga and 1. NL) was the 32nd season of the second-level football competition for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 13 August 2022 and concluded on 3 June 2023.

The league was contested by 12 teams, four less than the previous season, and played in a triple round robin format.

This was the first season that the second level of men's football in Croatia was named First football league (Prva nogometna liga).

Teams Changes Varaždin was promoted to the 2022–23 HNL, while Croatia Zmijavci, Osijek II, Sesvete and Opatija were relegated to 2022–23 Druga NL. Dinamo Zagreb II was disbanded.

New clubs were Hrvatski Dragovoljac (relegated after single season in the top flight), relegated from 2021–22 Prva HNL and Vukovar 1991, winner of playoff between winners of five third tier leagues.

Before the start of the season, Inter Zaprešić ended up in bankruptcy and was dissolved. Instead of them, Croatia Zmijavci, originally relegated, was returned to the league.

Stadia and locations

TeamCityStadiumCapacity BSK Bijelo Brdo Bijelo Brdo Stadion BSK 1,200 Cibalia Vinkovci Stadion Cibalia 9,958 Croatia Zmijavci Zmijavci Stadion Marijan Šuto Mrma 2,000 Dubrava Zagreb Stadion Kustošija 2,550 Dugopolje Dugopolje Stadion Hrvatski vitezovi 5,200 Hrvatski Dragovoljac Zagreb Stadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić 4,500 Jarun Zagreb Stadion Lučko 1,500 Kustošija Zagreb Stadion Kustošija 2,550 Orijent Rijeka Stadion Krimeja 3,500 Rudeš Zagreb Stadion SC Rudeš 2,500 Solin Solin Stadion Hrvatski vitezovi 5,200 Vukovar 1991 Vukovar Stadion u Borovu naselju 3,550

Rank Counties of Croatia Number of teams Club(s)1 City of Zagreb5Dubrava, Hrvatski Dragovoljac,<br/ >Jarun, Kustošija, Rudeš2 Split-Dalmatia3Croatia Zmijavci, Dugopolje, Solin3 Vukovar-Syrmia2Cibalia, Vukovar 19914 Osijek-Baranja1BSK Bijelo Brdo Primorje-Gorski KotarOrijent

League table

Results

Relegation play-offs

Attendances

# Club Average 1 Cibalia 541 2 Zmijavci 522 3 Orijent 473 4 Rudeš 447 5 Vukovar 415 6 Bijelo Brdo 359 7 Dugopolje 312 8 Hrvatski dragovoljac 309 9 Solin 250 10 Jarun 244 11 Dubrava 182 12 Kustošija 165

Source:https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/cro/avecro23.htm

Notes

References