Latvian Higher League

Publication date: 31 Aug 2022

About Virslīga

Latvian Higher League (Optibet Virslīga) is a professional football league for football players in Latvia. The league is managed by the Latvian Football Federation together with the Latvian Football Virslīga society. The main sponsor of the championship is the Optibet company. 10 teams take part in the championship. 

Official website of Optibet Virslīga

Latvian Football Championship 2025

The Latvian Football Championship, also known as “Virslīga”, continues to delight its fans with exciting matches and bright moments. It will be held from March 5 to November 9, 2025. This season, the tournament promises to be especially interesting, as teams prepare to fight for the title of national champion. Every year, the level of football in Latvia is growing, and this attracts the attention of not only local but also international spectators.

Favorite teams

In 2025, several teams stand out as the main contenders for the championship title.

• FC “Riga” is the current champion, which continues to strengthen its position in the Latvian football arena. A strong roster and an experienced coaching staff make them the main favorites.
• FC “Liepaja” is a team that has shown stable results in recent years and has talented players in its roster who can decide the outcome of a match at any moment.
• FC “Ventspils” is a club with a rich history, which has always been among the leaders. Their experience and tactical literacy can become decisive factors in the fight for the title.
• FC Jurmala is a team that has shown confident growth in recent seasons and can surprise its opponents.

History of Latvian Higher League

The first Latvian Higher League took place in 1921, however it failed to finish because of a sudden change in weather conditions. The next year’s tournament champion was the Kaiserwald team from Riga.

In 1927, the Virslīga was established. Club Olimpia is the first champion of the Virslīga.

Championships in 1942 and 1943 were held during the German occupation.

In August 1991, Latvia confirmed its independence from the USSR. Since 1992, the Latvian Higher League Championships have been won by teams:

• Skonto (13 times);
• Ventspils (6 times);
• Riga (3 times);
• Liepājas Metalurgs and Spartak (2 times each);
• RFS, Liepāja and Daugava (1 time).

Winners of the previous Latvian Higher League seasons

Latvian Football Championship 2026

The dates and venues of the next Latvian Higher League season are still being finalized. 

Keep an eye on the dates of football tournaments and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.