Fortuna 1 Liga

Fortuna 1 Liga: Czech Republic's Top-Tier Football League

Overview

The Fortuna 1 Liga is the top division of professional football in the Czech Republic, having been established in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The league is contested by 16 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech National Football League, the second tier of Czech football. The winner of the Fortuna 1 Liga qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, while the second and third-placed teams qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

History

The Fortuna 1 Liga was formed in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, with Sparta Prague winning the inaugural title. The league has been dominated by Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague, who have won a combined 37 titles between them. Other notable teams in the league include Viktoria Plzen, Baník Ostrava, and Slovan Liberec.

Recent Seasons

In recent seasons, the Fortuna 1 Liga has been highly competitive, with several teams challenging for the title. Sparta Prague won the league in 2021 and 2022, while Slavia Prague won the title in 2020. Viktoria Plzen is the current champion, having won the 2023 title.

Format

The Fortuna 1 Liga consists of 16 teams, who play each other twice, home and away, for a total of 30 matches each. The team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion, while the bottom two teams are relegated to the Czech National Football League. The third-place team enters a playoff with the winner of the Czech Cup for a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Teams and Stadiums

The 16 teams in the Fortuna 1 Liga for the 2023/24 season are:

• Baník Ostrava - Městský stadion v Ostravě-Vítkovicích
• Bohemians 1905 - Ďolíček
• FK Jablonec - Stadion Střelnice
• FK Mladá Boleslav - Lokotrans Aréna
• FC Hradec Králové - Všesportovní stadion
• FC Slovan Liberec - Stadion u Nisy
• FK Teplice - Na Stínadlech
• FK Pardubice - Ďolíček
• Sigma Olomouc - Andrův stadion
• SK Dynamo České Budějovice - Stadion Střelecký ostrov
• SK Slavia Prague - Eden Arena
• Sparta Prague - Generali Arena
• FC Zbrojovka Brno - Městský fotbalový stadion Srbská
• FC Trinity Zlín - Letná Stadion
• 1. FC Slovácko - Městský stadion Miroslava Valenty
• FC Viktoria Plzen - Doosan Arena

Fortuna 1 Liga Champions

The following teams have won the Fortuna 1 Liga title since its inception in 1993:

• Sparta Prague (12 titles)
• Slavia Prague (6 titles)
• Viktoria Plzen (6 titles)
• Baník Ostrava (3 titles)
• FC Slovan Liberec (3 titles)
• 1. FC Brno (1 title)
• FK Teplice (1 title)