The 2025–26 Primera División de El Salvador, also known as the Liga Pepsi, was the 27th season and 52nd and 53rc Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Hercules (Formerly Once Deportivo) and Alianza are the defending champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournament respectively. The league will consist of 12 teams. There will be two seasons conducted under identical rules, with each team playing a home and away game against the other clubs for a total of 22 games per tournament. At the end of each half-season tournament, the top six teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs.
The champions of Apertura and Clausura will qualify for the CONCACAF Central American Cup, the third team to qualify is the team with better aggregate record. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF Central American Cup. Should the final of both tournaments features the same two teams, the semi-finalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF Central American Cup.
Teams
Promotion and relegation
A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2024–25 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2024–25 Segunda División.
Zacatecoluca F.C. was promoted to the Primera División on May 17, 2025, after defeating Fuerte Aguilares for both the Apertura 2024 and Clausura 2025 titles.
It was announced that due to league only having 11 teams, no teams would be relegated to the Segunda División .
Due to a mix of banning multi-club ownership and poor attendance Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan announced they would be handing their spot in the primera division to a new club.
On May 9, 2025 It was announced that the historic club Hercules was would be taking over Once Deportivo spot in the Primera division in the Apertura 2025.
On May 31, It was announced that Inter Formando un Atleta had purchased Dragon in the Primera Division in the Apertura 2025.
Personnel and sponsoring
TeamChairmanHead CoachCaptainKitmakerShirt Sponsors Aguila Rigoberto Ortiz Ostorga Juan Carlos Chávez Darwin Cerén Umbro Pollo Campestre, Claro, Pepsi, Abank, Alianza Gonzalo Sibrian Ernesto Corti Henry Romero Umbro Mister Donut, Claro, Pepsi, Indupalma, Gatorade, Cementos Progreso, ABANK, Ganaplay, Taqueritos Cacahuatique Juan Amaya Pablo Quiñones Reinaldo Aparicio Tony Sports Pollo Campestre, Acacob, Flynet, AGM sport inc, GanaPlay, Ciudad Barrios, Electrolit Fuerte San Francisco Ismael Guzmán Daniel Corti Wilson Rugamas Tony Sports Torque Digital, Padilla, betpro, FAS José Sincuir Cristian Flores Rudy Clavel Umbro Cementos Fortaleza, Volaris, VLRM Markets Firpo Ronny Hernández Marvin Solano Abarca Lizandro Claros Salguero Cablesat, Arte Cerveza, Diagri, Roxy, Empresa Agricola Jesus Grande, Gana777, La Pirraya, Canal 4 Hércules Giancarlo Angelucci Gabriel Alvarez Cesar Flores Macron Pepsi, Mister Donut, Canal 4, Gatorade, Alcasa, Dale.sv Inter FA Martin Herrera William Renderos Rubén Marroquín Maca Betpro, Make, Electrolit, Isidro Metapán Alberto Rivera Erick Prado Milton Molina Elite Sports Holcim, Geniusbet, Bemisal, El Indio, Taller Polas Limeño Eduardo Chávez Jose Romero Fredy Espinoza Tony Sports Universidad Dr ANdres Bello, Genius Bet, CAMSEB, MonteCalvaro, Agua El Limon, san Rafael, Platense Carlos Burgos Agustin Castillo Xavier Garcia Tony Sports Pollo Campestre, GanaPlay, Renosa, Tecnuveg, Ticketon, Sudagrip, Electrolit, Caja Credito Zacatecoluca Zacatecoluca Alfredo Deras Nelson Ancheta Gerson Mayen Galaxia Comercial Deras, El Sabor Casero, Electrolit, Ury store, Analiza fisoterapa, Blue Bistro, Comercial Tobar, Betpro, Commercial Bliss, Creadisena, Transporte Palacios
Notable events Aguila announced to play in a different stadium It was announced on July 15, 2025 that Aguila will be playing its game for Apertura 2025 season in the Estadio Cuscatlan, this is due for major renovation needed to be done to allow any sports to play.
Zacatecoluca FC moves home games to San Salvador On the 6th of December, 2025 the new owners of Zacatecoluca FC, Colombian Élite Field Holdings ownership, announced that the team will be moving to San Salvador, the club will play in the Estadio Cuscatlan.
Notable death from Apertura 2025 season and 2026 Clausura season The following people associated with the Primera Division have died between the middle of 2024 and middle of 2025.
Juan Ramón Verón (ex Argentinian Alianza player) Horacio Díaz Luco (ex Chilean Aguila player) Francisco Israel Acevedo Orantes (ex Platense player) Erick Corrales (ex Costa Rican Nejapa player) René Andrés Ubau (ex Chalatenango player) Julio Cesar Cortes (ex Uruguayan Alianza player and Aguila coach) Carlos Che Sanchez (ex Argentinian TBD player) Carlos Prieto (ex Alianza, Sonsonate and Atletico Marte player) Jaime Rodríguez (ex Alianza, FAS, and NEIN player and ex Alianza and San Salvador FC coach) Tony Maravilla (ex Platense and Cacahuatique player) Efraín Santander (ex Chilean Excelsior player) TBD (ex TBD player)
Managerial changes
Before the start of the season
{| class="wikitable" |- !Team !Outgoing manager !Manner of departure !Date of vacancy !Replaced by !Date of appointment !Position in table |- | Firpo | Gabriel Álvarez | Resigned | May 13, 2025 | Marvin Solano Abarca | June 6, 2024 | 2nd and Quarter-Finalist (2025 Clausura) |- | FAS | David Caneda | Resigned, Returned to role as Sporting Manager | 18 May 2025 | Cristian Flores | 6 June 2025 | 8th and Semi-Finalist (2025 Clausura) |- | Hercules | None| New Club | None''' | Gabriel Alvarez | May 26, 2025 | None (2025 Clausura) |- | Zacatecoluca | Edgar Henriquez | Mutual Consent | May 30, 2025 | Nelson Ancheta | June 1, 2025 | None (Promoted) (2025 Clausura) |- | Fuerte San Francisco | Rolando Torres | Interimship finished | May 26, 2025 | Daniel Corti | May 28, 2025 | 7th and Semi-finalist (2025 Clausura) |- | Cacahuatique | Victor Coreas | Mutual Consent | May 31, 2025 | Pablo Quiñones | June 1, 2025 | None (2025 Clausura) |- | Platense | David Hernandez | Moved to become assistant coach | June 10, 2025 | Agustin Castillo | June 10, 2025 | 9th and did not qualify (2025 Clausura) |- | Inter FA | None | New Club| None| William Renderos | June 13, 2025 | None (2025 Clausura)
During the Apertura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Isidro Metapan Erick Prado Sacked August, 2025 Edwin Portillo (Interim) August, 2025 7th (2025 Apertura) Municipal Limeño Jose Romero [] Mutual Consent August 2025 Saul Prucedino (Interim) September 2025 7th (2025 Apertura) Inter FA William Renderos Mutual Consent September 2025 Horacio Lugo (Interim) September 2025 9th (2025 Apertura) Isidro Metapan Edwin Portillo (Interim) Moved to be Assistant coach September, 2025 Efrain Burgos September, 2025 7th (2025 Apertura) Inter FA Horacio Lugo Returned back to Sporting Director role September 12, 2025 Luis Marin September 12, 2025 11th (2025 Apertura) Fuerte San Francisco Daniel Corti Mutual Consent September 18, 2025 Rolando Torres September 18, 2025 9th (2025 Apertura) Municipal Limeño Saul Prucedino Interimship finished, moved back as Under 17 coach September 18, 2025 Jorge Rodriguez September 18, 2025 th (2025 Apertura) Aguila Daniel Messina Resigned September 26, 2025 Sergio Iván Muñoz (Interim) September 2025 8th (2025 Apertura) Aguila Sergio Iván Muñoz Returned back as goalkeeping coach September 29, 2025 Juan Carlos Chávez September 29, 2025 8th (2025 Apertura) Zacatecoluca Nelson Ancheta Resigned due to illness October 2025 Ivan Ruiz (Interimship) October, 2025 10th (2025 Apertura) Hercules Gabriel Alvarez Sacked October 21, 2025 Francisco Hernandez (Interim) October 21, 2025 11 th (2025 Apertura) Hercules Francisco Hernandez Interimship finished, moved back as Assistant coach October 24, 2025 Nicolás Dos Santos October 24, 2025 11 th (2025 Apertura)
Between the Apertura and Clausura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Zacatecoluca Ivan Ruiz [] Interimship finished December 2025 Chepe Martínez December 28, 2025 10th (2025 Apertura) FAS Cristian Flores Resigned December 8, 2025 Adrián Sánchez December 12, 2025 2nd and Quarterfinalist (2025 Apertura) Hércules Nicolas dos Santos Resigned Personal issues December 9, 2025 Daniel Corti December 10, 2025 11th (2025 Apertura) Cacahuatique Pablo Quiñones Mutual Consent December 2025 Ángel “Nino” Piazzi January 6, 2025 7th and Semifinalist (2025 Apertura)
During the Apertura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Zacatecoluca Chepe Martínez Mutual Consent January __, 2026 Lazaro Gutierrez (Interim) January __, 2026 11th (2026 Clausura) Zacatecoluca Lazaro Gutierrez Interimship ended February __, 2026 Juan Pablo Buch February __, 2026 11th (2026 Clausura) Fuerte San Francisco Rolando Torres Sacked March 2, 2026 Omar Sevilla March 2, 2026 10th (2026 Clausura) Aguila Juan Carlos Chávez Sacked March 24, 2026 Isaac Zelaya (Interim) March 24, 2026 th (2026 Clausura) Zacatecoluca Juan Pablo Buch Sacked April __, 2026 Lazaro Gutirrez April __, 2026 11th (2026 Clausura) Isidro Metapan Efraín Burgos Sacked April 8, 2026 Héctor Omar Mejía (Interim) April 8, 2026 7th (2026 Clausura) Aguila Isaac Zelaya Interimship Finished April 11, 2026 Santiago Davio April 11, 2026 th (2026 Clausura) Alianza Ernesto Corti Resigned May 8, 2026 Marcos Portillo (Interim) May 8, 2026 th (2026 Clausura)
Apertura League table
Apertura 2025 Records Records Best home records: FAS (28 points out of 33 points) Worst home records: Fuerte San Francisco and Inter FA (7 points out of 33 points) Best away records : Alianza (26 points out of 33 points) Worst away records : Zacatecoluca and Inter FA (7 points out of 33 points) Most goals scored: FAS and Luis Ángel Firpo (49 goals) Fewest goals scored: Zacatecoluca (18 goals) Fewest goals conceded : Alianza (20 goals) Most goals conceded : Hércules (49 goals)
Scoring First goal of the season: Styen Vasquez for LA Firpo against Municipal Limeno, 6 minutes (19 July 2025) First goal by a foreign player: Yan Maciel for FAS against Isidro Metapan, 43rd minutes (19 July 2025) Fastest goal in a match: 5 Minutes TBD for TBD against TBD (Month Day, 2025) Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 98 minutes Luis Peralta goal for Playense against Municipal Limeno (23 July 2025) First penalty Kick of the season: Styen Vasquez for LA Firpo against Municipal Limeno, 6 minutes (19 July 2025) Widest winning margin: 8 goals FAS 8-0 Fuerte San Francisco (July 27, 2025) First hat-trick of the season: N/A First own goal of the season: TBD (TBD) for TBD (Month Day, 2025) Most goals in a match: 8 goals FAS 8-0 Fuerte San Francisco (July 27, 2025) Most goals by one team in a match: 8 goals FAS 8-0 Fuerte San Francisco (July 27, 2025) Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals FAS 4-0 (8-0) Fuerte San Francisco (1st half, July 27, 2025) Most goals scored by losing team: 2 goals Hercules 2-5 Municipal Limeno (August 2, 2025) ** Hercules 2-5 Alianza (August 16, 2025) ** FAS 2-3 LA Firpo (September 8, 2025) Most goals by one player in a single match: 2 goals Rafael Tejeda for FAS against Fuerte San Francisco (July 27, 2025) Isaac Esquivel for Hercules against Municipal Limeno (August 2, 2025) Luis Tobar for Alianza against Hercules (August 16, 2025) Styven Vasquez for LA Firpo against Fuerte San Francisco (August 16, 2025) Andres Bello for Platense against Hercules (November 10, 2025) Cristian Gil for LA Firpo against Aguila (November 16, 2025) Javier Ferman for Municipal Limeno against Cacahuatique (November 16, 2025) Melvin Alfaro for Zacatecoluca against Inter FA (November 16, 2025)