Ykkösliiga (English: "League One"; ) is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the Veikkausliiga), managed by the Football Association of Finland. The teams in Ykkösliiga also play a pre-season league cup, the Ykkösliigacup.Ykkösliigacupin lohkojako julkaistu – kilpailu alkaa tammikuussa, Football Association of Finland, 22 November 2023Tulospalvelu Palloliitto, Ykkösliigacup, Football Association of Finland
The nationwide second-tier league was first established in 1973 as I divisioona. It was later renamed Ykkönen, starting in 1994. The new and current Ykkösliiga started running in 2024, and the former second-tier Ykkönen continues as the new third-tier level.
History
The first league format competition in the second level of Finnish football was called , which was founded in 1936. Before the inauguration of the , from 1930 to 1935, there had been special qualification matches for the right to play in the Mestaruussarja.
In the autumn of 1969, the Finnish football underwent a league system reform, and the was renamed II divisioona, or 2nd Division, with regional sections.
In 1973, this level of football in Finland became nationwide, and the new name was (First Division). The name was used since 1995.
Creation of Ykkösliiga In July 2022, Finnish sports media Elmo reported that the Finnish FA is planning to create a new second-tier football league. It was also reported that it is expected be a five-year long period, after which the top-tier Veikkausliiga could be expanded to consist 16 teams, but this claim has not been confirmed.
In the late August 2022, Finnish FA announced the creation of a new nationwide league, contested with 10 teams, planned to be located between current Ykkönen and Kakkonen.Sarjajärjestelmäuudistus kaudeksi 2024 - Miesten Ykkönen laajenee kahdeksi sarjatasoksi, Finnish FA, 30 August 2022Jalkapalloon tulee uusi sarjataso Suomessa, Helsingin Sanomat, 31 August 2022 Later in October it was confirmed that the new second-tier league would be named Ykkösliiga, and the FA simultaneously announced the specific rules on how the new level is formed and which clubs would gain the position in it. The nine best teams of 2023 Ykkönen would automatically qualify for the 2024 Ykkösliiga. Each group winner of the three groups in 2023 Kakkonen and the best runner-up, would play the 2024 Ykkösliiga play-offs. The winner of these qualifiers wins the last spot, and the three other clubs earn a position to the new third-tier 2024 Ykkönen.Tulevan sarjajärjestelmäuudistuksen vaikutukset jalkapallosarjoihin kaudella 2023, Finnish FA, 12 October 2022
The new league was scheduled to start running in 2024. Ykkösliiga would replace Ykkönen as the second-highest Finnish football league, and the current second-tier Ykkönen would drop down one level in a league pyramid to establish a new and the first nationwide third-tier Ykkönen with 12 teams, starting to run in 2024. All the previous third-tier levels in Finland had been divided to geographical groups based on locations of the clubs.Jalkapallon uudesta sarjatasosta tulee Ykkösliiga, Yle, 12 October 2022Ykkönen ei ole uusi Kakkonen, Helsingin Sanomat, 5 February 2023
As a conclusion, all the lower levels in Finland would drop down one level in the league pyramid (Kakkonen forms a new fourth-tier, Kolmonen a new fifth-tier etc.).
The inaugural season 2024 Ykkösliiga started on 13 April 2024.Ykkösliigan otteluohjelma kaudelle 2024 julkaistu - kausi käyntiin lauantaina 13.4., Veikkausliiga, 25 January 2024Ykkösliiga kausi 2024, suomifutis.com
Structure Like the first-tier Veikkausliiga, Ykkösliiga is a summer league, played usually from the start of April to October. All the competing teams play 27 matches, facing each other three times in total. After the matchday 18 follows the final phase where every team face each other once. The top-5 teams earn five home matches for the last nine matches, and the bottom-5 have four home matches. The winner of Ykkösliiga wins automatically a promotion to Veikkausliiga, and the second-placed team plays a two-legged promotion play-offs against 11th placed team in Veikkausliiga. The last placed team is relegated to new third-tier Ykkönen, while the 9th placed team plays the relegation play-offs against Ykkönen runners-up.Näin Ykkösliiga, Miesten Ykkönen ja Miesten Kakkonen pelataan kaudella 2024, Finnish News Agency/STT, stt.fi
Reserve teams The reserve teams of Veikkausliiga clubs are permitted to compete in Ykkösliiga. However, they are prohibited to promote from Ykkösliiga to Veikkausliiga.
Clubs in 2025 season
The clubs in the 2025 Ykkösliiga season, the second campaign of Ykkösliiga, are: ClubLocationStadium CapacityManagerEkenäs IFEkenäsEkenäs Centrumplan1,400 JippoJoensuuMehtimäki1,000 JäPS Järvenpää Järvenpään keskuskenttä 2,000 Klubi 04HelsinkiBolt Arena10,770 KäPaHelsinkiBrahenkenttä1,200 FC Lahti Lahti Lahti Stadium 7,465 Gonçalo Pereira PK-35 Helsinki Mustapekka Areena 2,200 Tiago Santos SalPa Salo Salon Urheilupuisto 2,500 SJK Akatemia Seinäjoki OmaSP Stadion 5,817 TPS Turku Veritas Stadion 9,372
Champions and top scorers 2024– Champions and top scorers of former second-tier Ykkönen 1973–2023 Season Champion League promotions Top scorer Club Goals 2024 KTP KTP, Jaro Aleksi Tarvonen KTP 15 2025 FC Lahti FC Lahti, TPS Salomo Ojala Ekenäs IF 19
Referees For the 2024 season, the referee committee of Finnish FA has listed 14 referees primarily available for Ykkösliiga matches (Category 2). Additionally, there are also 23 named assistant referees available.Erotuomarit nimetty pääsarjoihin - Luokittelutapaan muutos, Finnish FA, 12 December 2023 The referees named in the Category 1 (primarily for top-tiers Veikkausliiga and Kansallinen Liiga) are also available for Ykkösliiga.
References
External links Ykkösliiga; at the Football Association of Finland List of League Second Level tables since 1930 League321.com - Finnish football league tables, records & statistics database.