Czech Republic - Czech First League

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The Czech Football League, or Fortuna Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the top-tier division of football established by the Czech Football Federation. This league was founded in 1993 and has been renamed several times: it started out as Gambrinus Liga (1993 to 2014), then, it was known as Synot Liga (2014-2016). It was called ePojisteni.cz liga in the 2016-17 season, and then it took the name HET Liga for the following season. It was named as the Fortuna Liga in 2018.

Just like all leagues in Europe, this league works under a promotion-relegation system, where up to three clubs can be relegated to the Druha Liga. The tournament’s format had a major uplift in recent dates. All sixteen teams play 30 regular-season games before they are divided into three groups: the top six teams battle for the championship, while those who finish in seventh to tenth place will fight for a spot in a UEFA Europa League playoff.

The six lower-ranked teams after the regular season enter the relegation group, where the worst team will be immediately relegated. Two more teams will fight for their survival against Druha Liga teams in promotion playoffs.

The Czech First League has two spots up for grabs to play the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Champions League, which are allocated to the champion and to the runners-up. In addition to that, there are three more spots available to teams to play in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Europa League. This goes to the third and fourth-ranked teams in the championship group, while the last spot is played for between the winner of the UEFA Europa League group and the team that finishes fifth in the championship group.

Did you know?
Sparta Prague are the first club to win the Czech First League title eight times in a row. The Maroons won every one of the trophies available from the league’s inception in 1993 to 2001.