The 2025–26 Macedonian First League was the 34th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of North Macedonia. It began on 8 August 2025 and ended on 25 May 2026. Shkëndija were the defending champions, having won their fifth title in 2024–25.
Promotion and relegation At the end of the 2024–25 season Promoted from 2024–25 Second League Makedonija G.P. (winners, promoted after one season absence) Arsimi (runners-up, promoted for the first time in their history) Bashkimi (Third placed; won play-off, promoted for the first time in their history) Relegated to 2025–26 Second League Besa (10th; lost play-off, relegated after a single-season spell in top flight) Gostivar (11th, relegated after a two-season spell in top flight)1 Voska Sport (12th, relegated after a ewo-season spell in top flight)2 At the end of the 2025–26 season Promoted from 2025–26 Second League Bregalnica (winners, promoted after two-season absence) Skopje (second place; won play-off, promoted after three-season absence) Shkëndija 77 (Third place; won play-off, promoted for the first time in their history) Relegated to 2026–27 Second League
Brera (8th; lost play-off, relegated after a nine-season spell in the top flight) Pelister (9th; lost play-off, relegated after a two-season spell in the top flight) Makedonija G.P. (10th, relegated after a single-season spell in top flight) Rabotnički (11th, relegated after a 28-season spell in top flight) Shkupi (12th, relegated after an 11-season spell in top flight) 1Gostivar withdrew from the First League after a leaving of pitch at the 29th round match against Rabotnički.2Voska Sport withdrew from the First League after a leaving of pitch at the 28th round match against Vardar.
Participating teams Arsimi / Student AP Brera Shkendija/ Iskra Rabotnički Sileks City Stadium Gostivar Blagoj Istatov StadiumUEFA Tetovo Stadium National Arena Toše Proeski UEFA Sileks Stadium Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 9,200 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 33,011 Capacity: 4,800 Pelister Makedonija G.P. Petar Miloshevski Stadium Gjorče Petrov Stadium Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 3,000 Bashkimi/ Sloga Struga Tikvesh Vardar Shkupi/ Scupi Kumanovo Stadium Gradska Plaža Stadium Kavadarci City Stadium National Arena Toše Proeski UEFA Livadishta Stadium Capacity: 3,500 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 9,000 Capacity: 33,011 Capacity: 7,500
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Arsimi Vildan Saliu Vulnet Islami Sporttex Ardival AG Bashkimi Muarem Muarem Armend Alimi Jako Aristan holdings LTD Brera Martin Alagjozovski Filip Antovski Sportika SA Mozzart Makedonija G.P. Boban Grnčarov Jovan Popzlatanov Joma KX.BLR Pelister Dimitar Kapinkovski Mirko Ivanovski Joma Rabotnichki Alparslan Erdem Besir Demiri Joma Shkëndija Jeton Beqiri Besart Ibraimi Macron Ecolog Shkupi Ümit Sahin Suhejlj Muharem Reaction Sileks Aleksandar Vasoski Darko Angjeleski Macron Sileks Struga Bledi Shkëmbi Bunjamin Shabani Macron Trim & Lum Tikvesh Gjorgji Mojsov Aleksandar Varelovski Joma Sinalco Vardar Goce Sedloski Goran Zakarić Erima Novomatic Macedonia
League table
Results Every team will play three times against each other team for a total of 33 matches. The first 22 matchdays will consist of a regular double round-robin schedule. The league standings at this point will then be used to determine the games for the last 11 matchdays.
Macedonian First Football League play-off The eight-placed and ninth-placed club (Pelister and Brera) faced the second-placed and third-placed clubs from the 2025–26 Macedonian Second Football League (Skopje and Shkëndija 77) for the final two places in the following season's Macedonian First Football League.
Season statistics
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Bassirou CompaoréStruga172 Hristijan MaleskiStruga163 Azer OmeragićVardar144 Emmanuel AvornyoBashkimi 194712 Rogers MatoVardar Fahd NdzengueBrera Strumica & Shkëndija Fabrice TambaShkëndija8 Besart IbraimiShkëndija11 Miguel PiresSileks Shefit ShefitiArsimi Goran ZakarićVardar
See also 2025–26 Macedonian Football Cup 2025–26 Macedonian Second Football League
References
External links Football Federation of Macedonia MacedonianFootball.com