The 2025–26 Czech First League, known as the Chance Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the 33rd season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football for professional clubs since its establishment, in 1993. Slavia Prague are the reigning champions. The season is scheduled to start in July 2025. The first half of the season will have 19 rounds, finishing in December, and the other half will commence on 31 January 2026. The season is expected to end on 24 May 2026 with two extra play-out fixtures on 26–27 and 30–31 May 2026.
Format The general season format is unchanged from last season. The 16 clubs will play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship, play-off and relegation groups. The lowest-ranked team will be relegated directly to the second league, and the two teams positioned 14th and 15th will play a play-out with two teams from the second league positioned 2nd and 3rd in a home and away format.
This will be the eighth season to use VAR, featuring it in all matches played. There are no changes in the rules. The schedule also has not changed compared to last season.
Teams
Promotion and relegation (pre-season) A total of sixteen teams contest the league, including thirteen sides from the 2024–25 season, the winner of last season's second league, and two winners of the play-out, determined on 1 June 2025.
Team promoted to Czech First League After being relegated in the 2023–24 season, FC Zlín returns to Czech First League as the champion of the 2024–25 Czech National Football League.
Teams relegated from Czech First League The lowest positioned team from the last season, SK Dynamo České Budějovice, was relegated to the Czech National Football League.
Locations and stadiums
Team Location Stadium Capacity Bohemians 1905 Prague (Vršovice) Ďolíček 6,300 FK Dukla Prague Prague (Dejvice) Stadion Juliska 8,150 FC Hradec Králové Hradec Králové Malšovická aréna 9,300 FK Jablonec Jablonec nad Nisou Stadion Střelnice 5,690 MFK Karviná Karviná Městský stadion (Karviná) 4,833 FC Slovan Liberec Liberec Stadion u Nisy 9,900 FK Mladá Boleslav Mladá Boleslav Lokotrans Aréna 5,000 SK Sigma Olomouc Olomouc Andrův stadion 12,474 FC Baník Ostrava Ostrava Městský stadion (Ostrava) 15,081 FK Pardubice Pardubice CFIG Arena 4,620 FC Viktoria Plzeň Plzeň Doosan Arena 11,597 SK Slavia Prague Prague (Vršovice) Fortuna Arena 19,370 1. FC Slovácko Uherské Hradiště Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty 8,000 AC Sparta Prague Prague (Letná) epet ARENA 18,349 FK Teplice Teplice Na Stínadlech 17,078 FC Zlín Zlín Letná Stadion 5,898
Rank Region Number of teams Club(s)1 4 Bohemians 1905, Dukla Prague,Sparta Prague, Slavia Prague2 2 Jablonec, Slovan Liberec Baník Ostrava, Karviná Slovácko, Zlín5 1 Mladá Boleslav Hradec Králové Sigma Olomouc Pardubice Viktoria Plzeň Teplice
Managerial changes Pre-season: Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Contract valid until Mladá Boleslav End of caretaker spell Undisclosed Slovácko End of caretaker spell Undisclosed Sparta Prague End of caretaker spell Undisclosed Dukla Prague End of contract Undisclosed
During the season: Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Match-week Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment Contract valid until Viktoria Plzeň Mutual consent 10 5th (caretaker) Undisclosed Pardubice Sacked 10 16th (caretaker) Undisclosed Baník Ostrava Mutual consent 12 11th Undisclosed Pardubice End of caretaker spell 12 16th Undisclosed Karviná Signed by Viktoria Plzeň 12 8th Undisclosed Viktoria Plzeň End of caretaker spell 12 6th 2028 Slovácko Sacked 14 16th Undisclosed Dukla Prague Sacked 21 16th Undisclosed Baník Ostrava Sacked 22 14th Undisclosed Sigma Olomouc Sacked 29 7th (caretaker) Undisclosed Baník Ostrava Sacked 30 16th Undisclosed
Regular season League table
Results
Championship group Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.
Middle group Teams will play a group for placement. The group winner will receive a financial bonus (3 mil. CZK) and will be rewarded with a favorable starting position in the 2026–27 Czech Cup.
Relegation group Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.
Relegation play-offs Teams placed 14th and 15th in the relegation group faced the teams placed 2nd and 3rd in the Czech National Football League for two spots in the next season.
Season statistics
Top scorers Final standings Rank Player Club Goals1 Tomáš ChorýSlavia172 Vojtěch PatrákPardubice13 Lukáš HaraslínSparta Mojmír ChytilSlavia5 Jan KuchtaSparta12 Dávid KrčíkKarviná / Plzeň7 Vladimír DaridaHradec Králové11 Albion RrahmaniSparta9 Jan ChramostaJablonec10 Ondřej MihálikHradec Králové
Hat-tricks Matchweek Date Player For Against Result 5 Mladá Boleslav Hradec Králové 3–2 (H) 3 Plzeň Mladá Boleslav 5–0 (A) 16 Karviná Hradec Králové 4–3 (H) 19 Zlín Olomouc 5–0 (H) 25 Ostrava Zlín 6–2 (H)
Clean sheets Final standings RankPlayerClubClean sheets1 Adam Zadražil Hradec Králové122 Tomáš Koubek Liberec11 Matouš Trmal Teplice4 Jan Hanuš Jablonec10 Florian Wiegele Plzeň6 Jan Koutný Olomouc9 Jiří Floder Mladá Boleslav Stanislav Dostál Zlín Michal Jedlička Plzeň / Ostrava10 Peter Vindahl Sparta7 Jakub Markovič Slavia
See also 2025–26 Czech National Football League 2025–26 Czech Cup
Notes
References