Last Updated: 16 march 2026
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.
The 2026 Latvian Championship (Optibet Higher League) season began on March 6 and will run until November 8. Matches are held at stadiums across the country, including Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils, Jelgava, and other football hubs. The tournament runs throughout the football season—from early spring to late autumn, a traditional format for the national championship.
Ten clubs are participating in the 2026 championship. These include Auda, Grobina, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Liepaja, Ogre United, Riga, RFS, Super Nova, and Tukums 2000. New to the tournament is Ogre United, which earned the right to compete in the top division after a successful performance in the previous season.
The competition format is a regular championship, in which teams play each other several times during the season. The results of all rounds determine the national champion and the clubs that qualify for European competitions.
The strongest clubs in Latvian football are traditionally considered the main contenders for the title. Among them are Riga and RFU—teams that have regularly competed for the championship in recent years and represented the country in European competitions. Liepaja, Auda, and Jelgava, which have competitive squads and are capable of challenging the league leaders, could also enter the fray.
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:
| The year | Venue | Results/ Winning team |
| 2025 | Latvia | FC Riga (4th time) |
| 2024 | Latvia | FC RFSh (3rd time) |
| 2023 | Latvia | FC RFSh (2nd time) |
The dates and venues of the next Latvian Higher League season are still being finalized.
Official website of Optibet Virslīga
Keep an eye on the dates of football tournaments and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
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