''Ykkösliiga'' (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

:''"League One"''; sv, "Liga Ettan") is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the Veikkausliiga), managed by the

Football Association of Finland The Football Association of Finland ( fi, Suomen Palloliitto, abbr. SPL; sv, Finlands Bollförbund) is the governing body of football in Finland. It was founded in Helsinki on 19 May 1907. The SPL organises the men's and women's national footb ...

. The teams in Ykkösliiga also play a pre-season league cup, the Ykkösliigacup. The nation-wide second-tier league was first established in 1973 as I divisioona. It was later renamed Ykkönen, starting in 1994. The new and current Ykkösliiga will start running in 2024, and the former second-tier Ykkönen continues as the new third-tier level.

History

The first league format competition in the second level of Finnish football was called , which was founded in 1936. Before the inauguration of the , from 1930 to 1935, there had been special qualification matches for the right to play in the '' Mestaruussarja''. In the autumn of 1969, the Finnish football underwent a league system reform, and the was renamed ''II divisioona'', or 2nd Division, with regional sections. In 1973, this level of football in Finland became nationwide, and the new name was (First Division). The name was used since 1995.

Creation of Ykkösliiga

In the late August 2022, Finnish FA announced the creation of a new nation-wide league, contested with 10 teams, planned to be located between current Ykkönen and Kakkonen. Later in October it was confirmed that the new second-tier league will be named ''Ykkösliiga'', and the FA simultaneously announced the specific rules on how the new level is formed and which clubs will gain the position in it. The nine best teams of 2023 Ykkönen will automatically qualify for

2024 Ykkösliiga The 2024 Ykkösliiga is the inaugural season of Ykkösliiga, the new second highest football league in Finland. The season began on 13 April 2024. It is contested with 10 clubs, unlike former second-tier Ykkönen which included 12 clubs.

. Each group winner of the three groups in

2023 Kakkonen The 2023 Kakkonen was the 51st season of Kakkonen, the third-highest football league in Finland. The season began on 21 April 2023 and ended on 8 October 2023. It was the final season of the Kakkonen serving as the third-tier football league in Fi ...

, and the best 2023 Kakkonen Group runner-up, will play the 2024 Ykkösliiga qualifiers. The winner of these qualifiers wins the last spot, and the three other clubs earn a position to the new third-tier 2024 Ykkönen. The new league was scheduled to start running in 2024. Ykkösliiga replaces Ykkönen as the second-highest Finnish football league, and the current second-tier Ykkönen will drop down one level in a league pyramid to establish a new and the first nation-wide third-tier ''Ykkönen'' with 12 teams, starting to run in 2024. All the previous third-tier levels in Finland had been divided to geographical groups based on locations of the clubs. As a conclusion, all the lower levels in Finland will drop down one level in the league pyramid (

Kakkonen Kakkonen or II divisioona is the third level in the league system of Finnish football and comprises 36 Finnish football teams. The II divisioona was introduced in 1973 and in the mid-1990s became known as the Kakkonen (Finnish for 'Number Two' ...

forms a new fourth-tier,

Kolmonen Kolmonen or III divisioona is the fourth level in the league system of Finnish football and comprises 104 Finnish football teams. The III divisioona was introduced in 1973 and in the mid-1990s became known as the Kolmonen (''Number Three'' in En ...

a new fifth-tier etc.). The inaugural season

will start on 13 April 2024.

Structure

Like the first-tier Veikkausliiga, Ykkösliiga is a summer league, played usually from the start of April to October. All the competing teams play 27 matches, facing each other three times in total. After the matchday 18 follows the final phase where every team face each other once. The top-5 teams earn five home matches for the last nine matches, and the bottom-5 have four home matches. The winner of ''Ykkösliiga'' wins automatically a promotion to Veikkausliiga, and the second-placed team will play a two-legged promotion play-offs against 11th placed team in Veikkausliiga. The last placed team will be relegated to new third-tier Ykkönen, while the 9th placed team will play the relegation play-offs against Ykkönen runners-up.Näin Ykkösliiga, Miesten Ykkönen ja Miesten Kakkonen pelataan kaudella 2024

Finnish News Agency Finnish News Agency ( fi, Suomen Tietotoimisto, STT; sv, Finska Notisbyrån, FNB) is a Finnish news agency, established in 1887 and based in Helsinki. STT's majority owner is Sanoma Media Finland of the Sanoma Group. The Finnish public service br ...

/STT, stt.fi

Clubs in 2024 season

The clubs in the ''Ykkösliiga'' for the inaugural 2024 season are:

Champions and top scorers 2024–

'' Champions and top scorers of former second-tier Ykkönen 1973–2023''

Referees

For the 2024 season, the referee committee of Finnish FA has listed 14 referees primarily available for Ykkösliiga matches (Category 2). Additionally, there are also 23 named assistant referees available.Erotuomarit nimetty pääsarjoihin - Luokittelutapaan muutos
Finnish FA, 12 December 2023 The referees named in the Category 1 (primarily for top-tiers Veikkausliiga and Kansallinen Liiga) are also available for Ykkösliiga.

References

External links

Ykkösliiga
at the

List of League Second Level tables since 1930
- Finnish football league tables, records & statistics database. {{UEFA second leagues 2

Fin A fin is a thin component or appendage attached to a larger body or structure. Fins typically function as foils that produce lift or thrust, or provide the ability to steer or stabilize motion while traveling in water, air, or other fluids. Fin ...

2022 establishments in Finland Recurring sporting events established in 2024 Professional sports leagues in Finland