Cup eligibility
Being members of a league at a particular level also affects the eligibility for Cup competitions.
*
Thai FA Cup: Levels 1 to 5
*
Thai League Cup: Levels 1 to 3
*
Thai League 3 Cup: Level 3
Current system
Former system
Before 1996 season
Before the top level of Thai football league,
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
was constituted in 1996, the ''Football Royal Cup'' was the football competitions of Thailand at that time.
The Thailand football competition system before 1996 is listed below:
1916–1961 seasons
In 1916,
Football Association of Thailand was found ''Yai Cup'' (ถ้วยใหญ่, i.e. "big cup") and ''Noi Cup'' (ถ้วยน้อย, i.e. "small cup") for the purpose of annual football competitions in Thailand.
1962–1995 seasons
In 1962, because of the abundant football clubs in Thailand then the
Football Association of Thailand changed the name of ''Yai Cup'' (ถ้วยใหญ่) to the ''
Kor Royal Cup'' (ถ้วย ก.) and changed the name of ''Noi Cup'' (ถ้วยน้อย) to the ''Khǒr Royal Cup'' (ถ้วย ข.) and added the ''Khor Royal Cup'' (ถ้วย ค.) and the ''Ngor Royal Cup'' (ถ้วย ง.) to the Football Royal Cup competitions.
1996–1998 seasons
In 1996 season, The
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
, The top level of football league was constituted by
Football Association of Thailand rather than
Kor Royal Cup. and FAT also found
Division 1 League in the next season (1997).
Kor Royal Cup The trophy contested in an annual Super Cup competition match between the champions of
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
and the runners-up of
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
or Thai FA Cup
The Thailand football league system in 1996–1998 season before
Division 2 League and
Provincial League was created is listed below:
1999–2002 seasons
In 1999 season,
Provincial League was found by the ''Football Association of Thailand'' for this reason, There are two separate football league competitions in Thailand in the meantime.
Although there are two separate leagues in Thailand, only the winner and runner-up from the
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play in
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League Elite (abbreviated as the ACL Elite) is an annual continental club association football, football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's List of top-division football clubs i ...
and
AFC Cup
The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC C ...
respectively.
2003 season
In 2003 season, the
Provincial League was organized by the
Sports Authority of Thailand; relegation was to the ''Pro League 2'' for the next season. There are two separate football league competitions in Thailand in the meantime.
Although there are two separate leagues in Thailand, only the winner and runner-up from the
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play in
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League Elite (abbreviated as the ACL Elite) is an annual continental club association football, football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's List of top-division football clubs i ...
and
AFC Cup
The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC C ...
respectively.
2004 season
In 2004 season,
Provincial League was found
Pro League 1 and
Pro League 2 by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for this reason
2005 season
In 2005 season, the winner and runner-up of the Provincial League 2005,
Chonburi FC
Chonburi Football Club () is a Thai professional association football, football club based in the city of Chonburi, Chonburi province, that competes in the first division in Football in Thailand, Thai football, Thai League 1, after promotion in t ...
and
Suphanburi FC began the practice of move to play in the
Thai Premier League 2006.
Although there are two separate leagues in Thailand, only the winner and runner-up from the
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play in
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League Elite (abbreviated as the ACL Elite) is an annual continental club association football, football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's List of top-division football clubs i ...
and
AFC Cup
The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC C ...
respectively.
2006 season
In 2006 season,
Provincial League renamed
Professional League by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the
Division 2 League was founded by the
Football Association of Thailand in this season,
1st and 3rd of the
Provincial League 2006,
TOT and
Nakhon Pathom began the practice of moving to play in the
Thai Premier League 2007.
The proposed merger of the Provincial League and Thai Premier League into one entity, though supported by the Football Association of Thailand, had been attempted several times without success. Finally, in January 2007, the FAT announced a merger that would make the Provincial League a part of the Thai Premier League.
The Thailand football league system in 2006 season before combined the
Thai Premier League
The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...
,
Division 1,
Division 2 and Provincial League together in 2007 is listed below:
*1st and 3rd 2006 Pro League 1 Promoted to
2007 Thailand Premier League
*5th,7th,9th,11th,13th 2006 Pro League 1 move to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group A
*4th,6th,8th,10th,12th,14th 2006 Pro League 1 move to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group B
*15th–16th 2006 Pro League 1 Relegation to
2007 Thailand League Division 2.
*Winner 2006 Pro League 2
Ratchaburi Promoted to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group A
*Runner-Up 2006 Pro League 2
Samut Songkhram Promoted to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group B
*Winner 2005–06 Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.)
Royal Thai Marine Promoted to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group B
*Runner-Up 2005–06 Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.)
Thai Airways
Thai Airways International plc () is the flag carrier airline of Thailand. Formed in 1961 as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines, SAS and Thai Airways Company, the airline has its corporate headquarters in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chat ...
Promoted to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group A
*Winner
2006 Thailand League Division 2 Chula-Sinthana Promoted to
2007 Thailand Division 1 League Group B
2007–2008 seasons
In the 2007 season, Division 1 was divided into two groups (22 clubs). In the 2008 season, Division 2 also was divided into two groups. Until the 2009 season, the number of teams from all leagues in the High division will consist of 16 clubs.
*
Lopburi FC 2007 Provincial League Winner was promoted to
Thailand Division 2 League 2008 (Group B).
*
Songkhla FC 2007 Provincial League Runner-Up was promoted to
Thailand Division 2 League 2008 (Group A).
*
Raj Pracha 2007–08 Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) Winner was promoted to
Thailand Division 2 League 2008 (Group A).
*
Kasem Bundit University 2007–08 Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) Runner-Up was promoted to
Thailand Division 2 League 2008 (Group B).
In 2008 season no team in Provincial League was promoted to Division 2 League.
However, in the 2009 season, FAT needed to develop the Thai football league system and specify the quality of the team in high-division for conforming to AFC regulation. Consequently, they determined to adjust the Division 2 competition form by combining it with Provincial League and dividing Division 2 league into 5 regions (Bangkok and perimeter, Central and Eastern, Northern, North-Eastern, and Southern).
The Thailand football league system in 2007–2008 season before combined Division 2 League and Provincial League together in 2009 is listed below:
2009–2012 seasons
2013–2015 seasons
2016 season
2017–2018 seasons
2019 season
2020–2021 seasons
See also
*
Worldwide football league system
*
Football in Thailand
*
Thai football records and statistics
*
List of football clubs in Thailand
This is a list of association football clubs in Thailand.
Thai League 1
* Ayutthaya United F.C., Ayutthaya United
* Bangkok United F.C., Bangkok United
* BG Pathum United F.C., BG Pathum United
* Buriram United F.C., Buriram United
* Chiangrai ...
External links
Football Association of ThailandSports Authority of Thailand
{{League systems
Football competitions in Thailand
Football leagues in Thailand
Football league systems in Asia