Football is the number one sport based on participation, but the third sport in
Latvia after
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...
and
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
based on popularity. Many other sports are also more popular than football in Latvia, but in recent years it has gained more popularity. The
Latvian Football Federation
The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) ( lv, Latvijas Futbola federācija) is the governing body of football in Latvia with its headquarters located in the capital Rimi Sports Centre in Riga. Its activities include the organizing of the Latvian ...
() is the sport's national governing body. There is a league system, with the
Higher League and
First League serving as the top leagues in Latvia. There is the
Latvian Second League
The Latvian Second League ( lv, 2. līga) is the third tier of football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation
The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) ( lv, Latvijas Futbola federācija) is the governing body of football ...
also, where mostly amateur teams play. There are also national cup competitions, with the
Latvian Cup
The Latvian Football Cup () is the main knockout cup competition in Latvian football. Since 2021, its full name is Responsible Game Latvian Football Cup (''Atbildīgas spēles Latvijas kauss'') due to the sponsorship by sports betting company Wil ...
being the most notable.
History
The Latvian Football Federation was founded in 1921. In 1922 The Latvian Football Federation joined FIFA. In 1940-1991, Latvia was part of the USSR and as an independent state did not take part in the World Cup and European championships. After gaining independence in 1992, membership was restored.
Domestic Football
Skonto FC
Skonto FC was a Latvian football club, active from 1991 until 2016. The club played at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Skonto won the Virsliga in the first 14 seasons of the league's resumption (15 in total), and often provided the core of the Latv ...
were the most popular and successful football team in Latvia and have won the
Latvian Higher League
Latvian Higher League or Virslīga is a professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia. Organised by the Latvian Football Federation, the Higher League is contested by 10 clubs. The full name of the league is O ...
14 times since independence from Russia. Latvian football is rife with corruption and bribery.
FK Ventspils
FK Ventspils is a Latvian football club, based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils city and is one of the most popular football clubs in the country. The club played in the Latvian Virsliga since 1997. It was abolished in 2020, but has ...
is the only team from Latvia which has played in the group stage of the
UEFA Europe League
The UEFA Europa League (abbreviated as UEL, or sometimes, UEFA EL), formerly the UEFA Cup, is an annual football club competition organised since 1971 by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European football clubs. It ...
(2009–10 UEFA Europa League, 2009–10). No Latvian team has ever reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
League system
The table below illustrates the comprehensive structure of Latvian league football.
''Note: Exact numbers of clubs at every level of the league system, particularly those at lower levels, are subject to change and are current as of the 2022 Latvian Higher League, 2022 season.''
National team
The Latvia national football team in 2003 qualified to UEFA Euro 2004, Euro 2004.
This resulted in being the first and currently only Baltic states, Baltic national team to do so.
See also
National teams
* Latvia national football team
* Latvia national under-21 football team
* Latvia national under-19 football team
* Latvia national under-17 football team
Women's teams
* Latvia women's national football team
Competitions
Leagues
*
Latvian Higher League
Latvian Higher League or Virslīga is a professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia. Organised by the Latvian Football Federation, the Higher League is contested by 10 clubs. The full name of the league is O ...
* Latvian First League
*
Latvian Second League
The Latvian Second League ( lv, 2. līga) is the third tier of football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation
The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) ( lv, Latvijas Futbola federācija) is the governing body of football ...
Women's leagues
* Latvian Women's League
Cups
* Latvian Football Cup
* Latvian Supercup
Clubs
See also
*Alberts Tarulis
Notes
References
External links
League321.com- Latvian football league tables, records & statistics database
Football in Latvia,
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