The Azerbaijan First League (Azerbaijani:I Liqa) is the second highest professional division in Azerbaijani professional football. The league is run by Professional Football League of Azerbaijan, member of AFFA. The winner of the league is promoted to the top-tier Azerbaijan Premier League.

History

Due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, all Azerbaijan clubs of the former Soviet Premier Division and Soviet First Division conformed to a single Azerbaijan Premier League, which meant that the new second tier of Azerbaijan football would remain regionalized. For the first two seasons three regional groups conformed to the second tier until, in 1994, the single table in use today began to be used.

Competition format

The First League currently consists of 10 teams. All teams play each other three times.

Members of the Azerbaijan First League (2026-27 season)

Azerbaijan First League is located in Azerbaijan
Locations of the 2026–27 Azerbaijan First League teams.

Stadia and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

TeamLocationVenueCapacity
Baku SportingBakuBaku Sporting Arena600
GəncəbasarGanjaGanja Stadium15,343
KarvanYevlakhYevlakh Stadium6,000
MingəçevirMingachevirYashar Mammadzade Stadium5,200
MOİKBakuKhankendi Stadium9,200
SəbailBakuASCO Arena3,200
Şahdağ QusarQusarShamakhi OSC Stadium2,000
ŞimalKhachmazSiyazan City Stadium980
XankəndiKhankendiKhankendi Stadium9,200
ZaqatalaZaqatalaZaqatala City Stadium2,800

Media coverage

CBC Sport currently owns all the rights to broadcast the season's games on terrestrial TV. In Azerbaijan, the First League games are also available on CBC Sport and on a special YouTube channel.

Winners

YearWinnerRunner-upThird place
1992ANS Pivani Bakı FKKür SamuxPambıqçı (Neftçala)
1993Xəzri BuzovnaAvtomobilçi YevlaxPolad Sumqayıt
1993–94Zabrat, Azneftyağ FKMetallurq Sumgayit, OİK-Göyəzən (Qazax)OIK, Pambıqçı (Neftçala)
1994–95ŞəmkirOIKKürmük (Qax)
1995–96Xəzər SumqayıtÇinar Polis AkademiyasıFərid
1996–97Çinar (Göyçay)Araz FKKürmük (Qax)
1997–98Şahdağ Quba
1998–99[Inter Baku]
1999–2000Şahdağ QubaŞəfa-2HHQ-Şahin (Bakı)
2000–01OIKÜmid BakıŞahdağ Qusar
2001–02Lokomotiv İmişliXəzər SumqayıtBakılı
2002–03Due to conflict between almost all clubs and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, no league championship was held.
2003–04GənclərbirliyiGöyəzən QazaxKarat Bakı
2004–05AMMKEnergetikFKXəzər-Lənkəran-2
2005–06GilanFKXəzər-Lənkəran-2Simurq
2006–07MasallyStandard BakuGöyəzən Qazax
2007–08BakılıMOIKNBC Salyan
2008–09ABN BərdəŞahdağ QusarAnşad-Petrol
2009–10GəncəMOIKBakılı
2010–11AbşeronRəvanBakılı
2011–12QaradağKarvanNeftchala
2012–13AğsuQaradağNeftchala
2013–14Araz NaxçıvanNeftchalaQaradağ
2014–15NeftchalaAğsuRəvan
2015–16NeftchalaQaradağAğsu
2016–17Turan TovuzSəbailAğsu
2017–18Khazar BakuQaradağ LökbatanShuvalan
2018–19MOIK BakuSumgayit-2Neftçi-2
2019–20Turan TovuzSabail-2Zagatala
2020–21Neftçi-2ZagatalaTuran Tovuz
2021–22Qaradağ Lökbatan FKShamakhi FK-2Qarabağ FK-2
2022–23Araz-NaxçıvanNeftçi-2Turan-2
2023–24ShamakhiQaradağ LökbatanMOIK Baku
2024–25GabalaİmişliKarvan
2025–26ShafaMingaçevirSabail

Performance by club

ClubWinnersWinning yearsRunner-upRunner-up yearsThird placeThird place Years
MOIK22000–01, 2018–1931994–95, 2007–08, 2009–1021993–94, 2023–24
Qaradağ Lökbatan22011–12, 2021–2242012–13, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2023–2412013–14
Neftchala22014–15, 2015–1612013–1451992, 1993–94, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13
Turan Tovuz22016–17, 2019–2012020–21
Araz Naxçıvan22013–14, 2022-23
Xəzər Sumqayıt11995–9621993–94, 2001–0211993
Bakılı12007–0811996–9732001–02, 2009–10, 2010–11
Ağsu12012–1312014–1522015–16, 2016–17
Şahdağ Qusar11997–9812008–0912000–01
Neftçi-212020–2112018–19
Shuvalan FK12004–0512017–18
Khazar Baku12017–18
Nicat Maştağa11992
Zabrat11993–94
Shamkir11994–95
Shahdagh Guba11999–00
Lokomotiv Imishli12001–02
Gənclərbirliyi12003–04
Gilan12005–06
ABN Bərdə12008–09
Kapaz12009–10
Masally12006–07
Absheron12010–11
Azneftyağ11993–94
Xəzri Buzovna11993
Çinar Göyçay11996–97
Shamakhi12023–24
Gabala12024–25
Shafa12025–26
Göyəzən Qazax FK21993–94, 2003–0412006–07
Energetik22004–05, 2025–26
Zagatala12020–2112019–20
Xəzər-Lənkəran-212005–0612004–05
Rəvan12010–1112014–15
Səbail12016–1712025–26
Şamaxı-212021–22
Səbail-212019–20
Avtomobilçi Yevlax11993
Çinar Polis Akademiyasi11995–96
Kür Samux11992
Şəfa-211999–00
Ümid Bakı12000–01
Karvan12011–12
Standard Baku12006–07
Kürmük Qax21994–95, 1996–97
Simurq12005–06
Farid Baku11995–96
Karat Bakı12003–04
HHQ Şahin11999–00
NBC Salyan12007–08

Records

Club records

As of 14 November 2013

  • Most consecutive wins: Absheron, 23, 2010-11
  • Most points in a season: Absheron, 72 points, 2010-11
  • Most unbeaten run: Absheron, 26 games, 2010-11

See also

External links

  • (in Azerbaijani)
  • (in Azerbaijani)
  • (Footballfacts.ru)
  • , standings, results & fixtures at Donnael.com