The 2025–26 Czech First League, known as the Chance Liga for sponsorship reasons, runs from 18 July 2025 to 24 May 2026, followed by relegation play‑out matches from 28–31 May. Sixteen teams compete in a double round-robin format before splitting into three groups—Championship, Placement, and Relegation—for the final phase. Slavia Prague enters as defending champions, with Sparta Prague, Viktoria Plzeň, and Sigma Olomouc among the main title contenders. The team finishing 16th is relegated directly, while the 14th and 15th placed teams face play‑outs against second-tier opponents. Newly promoted teams like Dukla Prague and MFK Karviná join established clubs in the top division. The season’s format retains its competitive structure, with key fixtures kicking off on 18 July, as clubs vie for domestic glory and European spots.
Tournament Format Breakdown
The 2025–26 Czech First League (Chance Liga) tournament format follows a three-phase structure that blends a traditional league season with an exciting group stage finale. Here’s how it works:
1. Regular Season (Rounds 1–30)
• 16 teams compete in a double round-robin format.
• Each team plays 30 matches (home and away against every other team).
• Points: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss.
• After 30 rounds, the league splits into three groups based on standings.
2. Final Phase Group Stage
After the regular season, teams are divided into three groups for the final 5 rounds (Rounds 31–35):
a) Championship Group (1st–6th place)
• Top 6 teams compete for the Czech First League title and European competition spots.
• Teams retain points from the regular season.
• 1st place: League Champion, qualifies for UEFA competitions.
• 2nd–3rd: Compete for further European spots (based on UEFA coefficients).
b) Middle/Placement Group (7th–10th place)
• 7th to 10th placed teams play for final rankings.
• No title, European, or relegation implications.
• Designed to keep mid-table teams competitive.
c) Relegation Group (11th–16th place)
• Bottom 6 teams battle to avoid relegation.
• Teams retain regular season points.
• 16th place: Automatically relegated to the Czech National Football League (2nd tier).
• 14th & 15th places: Enter a two-legged promotion/relegation play‑out against the 2nd and 3rd teams from the second tier.
3. Relegation Play-offs (14th & 15th Place)
• The 14th and 15th placed teams after the group phase face the 2nd and 3rd placed teams from the second division.
• Two-legged (home & away) fixtures decide who stays in or joins the Czech First League for the next season.
• Scheduled for 28 and 31 May 2026.
August Match Fixtures
Here are the upcoming August 2025 fixtures for the 2025–26 Czech First League (Chance Liga), covering Rounds 4 and 5:
Round 4 — 9 & 10 August 2025
Saturday, 9 August
• Slovan Liberec vs Dukla Prague (15:00)
• Zlín vs Mladá Boleslav (15:00)
• Viktoria Plzeň vs Slovácko (15:00)
• Slavia Prague vs Teplice (18:00)
Sunday, 10 August
• Hradec Králové vs Pardubice (13:00)
• Bohemians 1905 vs Jablonec (13:00)
• Baník Ostrava vs Karviná (15:30)
• Sparta Prague vs Sigma Olomouc (18:00)
Round 5 — 16 August 2025
Saturday, 16 August
• Dukla Prague vs Viktoria Plzeň (15:00)
• Sigma Olomouc vs Zlín (15:00)
• Slovácko vs Teplice (15:00)
• Mladá Boleslav vs Hradec Králové (15:00)
• Jablonec vs Slavia Prague (11:00)
August 2025 Match Venues
The August 2025 Czech First League Venue Details in a simple structured list format:
1. Fortuna Arena (Eden Arena)
• Home Team: Slavia Prague
• City: Prague
• Capacity: ~19,370
• Matches in August:
- Slavia Prague vs Teplice (9 August)
- Slavia Prague vs Jablonec (16 August)
2. epet ARENA (Letná Stadium)
• Home Team: Sparta Prague
• City: Prague
• Capacity: ~18,349
• Matches in August:
- Sparta Prague vs Sigma Olomouc (10 August)
3. Doosan Arena (Štruncovy sady)
• Home Team: Viktoria Plzeň
• City: Plzeň
• Capacity: ~11,700
• Matches in August:
- Viktoria Plzeň vs Slovácko (9 August)
4. Stadion Juliska
• Home Team: Dukla Prague
• City: Prague
• Capacity: ~8,150
• Matches in August:
- Dukla Prague vs Viktoria Plzeň (16 August)
5. Na Stínadlech
• Home Team: FK Teplice
• City: Teplice
• Capacity: ~17,078
• Matches in August:
- No confirmed home match in August after Round 4.
6. Městský stadion Miroslava Valenty
• Home Team: SK Slovácko
• City: Uherské Hradiště
• Capacity: ~8,000
• Matches in August:
- Slovácko vs Teplice (16 August)
7. Malšovická aréna
• Home Team: FC Hradec Králové
• City: Hradec Králové
• Capacity: ~9,300
• Matches in August:
- Hradec Králové vs Pardubice (10 August)
8. Stadion Ďolíček
• Home Team: Bohemians 1905
• City: Prague
• Capacity: ~6,300
• Matches in August:
- Bohemians 1905 vs Jablonec (10 August)
Czech First League 2025–26 — Key Points
The Key Points about the 2025–26 Czech First League (Chance Liga) Tournament Format:
Season Timeline
• Start Date: 18 July 2025
• End Date: 24 May 2026
• Relegation Play-offs: 28–31 May 2026
Competition Structure
1. 16 Teams Participate
• Includes top clubs like Slavia Prague, Sparta Prague, Viktoria Plzeň, and promoted sides like Dukla Prague and Karviná.
2. Phase 1: Regular Season
• 30 Matches per Team (Home & Away against each other).
• Points System: 3 points for win, 1 for draw, 0 for loss.
3. Phase 2: League Split After Round 30
• Teams are divided into 3 groups based on standings:
- Championship Group (1st–6th)
- Placement Group (7th–10th)
- Relegation Group (11th–16th)
• Teams carry over points from the regular season into this phase.
Final Phase Stakes
• Championship Group: Compete for the league title & European spots.
• Placement Group: No European or relegation impact—positions 7–10.
• Relegation Group:
- 16th place: Direct relegation.
- 14th & 15th places: Play two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs against 2nd and 3rd from the second division.
European Qualification
• 1st place: Czech First League Champion.
• Top positions: Qualify for UEFA Champions League or Conference League based on Czech coefficient slots.
Relegation Details
• 1 team is directly relegated (16th place).
• 2 teams (14th & 15th) play relegation play-offs.
• Promotion/relegation ties are scheduled after the group stage ends in May 2026.
Unique Format Features
• Points are not reset after the regular season.
• The league split keeps competition alive across all tiers—title, European spots, mid-table pride, and relegation battles.
• A balance of big club derbies and small-town intense fixtures.
Importance of the Czech First League 2025–26
The Importance of the 2025–26 Czech First League (Chance Liga) Tournament in key points:
1. Czech Republic’s Premier Football Competition
• The Czech First League is the top-tier professional football league in the Czech Republic.
• It determines the National Champion, the country’s most prestigious domestic football title.
2. Gateway to European Competitions
• The league standings directly impact which teams qualify for UEFA competitions:
• 1st Place: Qualifies for UEFA Champions League (qualifying rounds).
• Other top teams qualify for UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League depending on the country’s UEFA coefficient ranking.
3. Relegation/Promotion Determines Club Futures
• Bottom teams face relegation to the Czech National Football League (2nd tier).
• For smaller clubs, staying in the First League is crucial for financial stability, media exposure, and player development.
4. Crucial for Czech Football’s International Reputation
• Club performances (especially in Europe) affect the Czech Republic’s UEFA coefficient, which determines future Champions League and Europa League slots.
• Strong league competition boosts the quality of Czech clubs internationally.
5. Platform for Player Development & Transfers
• The league is a breeding ground for Czech talent and young players aiming for moves to top European leagues.
• It also attracts scouting attention from larger leagues in Germany, Italy, England, etc.
6. Economic & Cultural Impact
• Matches, especially derbies like Slavia vs Sparta Prague, are significant cultural events.
• Clubs’ success impacts local economies through ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandising, and tourism.
7. Tactical Innovation & Coaching Growth
• Czech clubs often experiment tactically in the league.
• Successful coaching strategies here can lead to managerial promotions to European clubs.
8. Balanced Format Keeps Every Match Competitive
• The league split after 30 rounds ensures continued excitement, with mid-table clubs competing for placement pride and bottom teams fighting to avoid relegation until the very last fixtures.
Conclusion
The 2025–26 Czech First League stands as the pinnacle of Czech football, serving not only to crown the national champion but also to determine the country’s representatives in prestigious European competitions. Its structured format, blending a competitive regular season with a high-stakes final phase, ensures that every club—whether fighting for the title, European qualification, or league survival—remains engaged until the season’s end. Beyond the sporting achievements, the league plays a crucial role in player development, economic impact, and elevating the Czech Republic’s footballing reputation on the international stage. This season, with its dynamic mix of traditional powerhouses and ambitious newcomers, promises to deliver intense competition, strategic innovations, and moments that will shape the future of Czech football.
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