Primera División de El Salvador

Founded	1947
Country	El Salvador
Confederation	CONCACAF
Number of clubs	11
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Segunda División
League cup(s)	Copa Presidente (1939–2013, 2026-present) Copa Independencia (2014) Copa Claro (2016–2018)
International cup(s)	Regional CONCACAF Central American Cup Continental CONCACAF Champions Cup
Current champions	LA Firpo (11th title)
Most championships	FAS Alianza (19 titles)
Top scorer	Nicolás Muñoz (303 goals)
Broadcaster(s)	Canal 4 Tigo Sports
Sponsor(s)	Pepsi
Website	laprimera.com.sv
Current:2025–26 Primera División de El Salvador

ThePrimera División de Fútbol Profesional de El Salvador (First Division of Professional Football of El Salvador), more commonly known asLa Liga Mayor orLa Primera, also known asLiga Pepsi for sponsorship reasons, is the top professionalfootball league inEl Salvador.^[1]

It was established in 1947, and in 2011 had 10 clubs. Initially the league was run as a year-long tournament, but since 1998 there are two tournaments each year, much like in many other football leagues in the Americas.^[2][3]

TheApertura season runs from July to December, while theClausura season runs from January to May.^[4][5]

Of the 56 teams to have competed in the league,FAS has won the title 19 times, followed byAlianza (19),Aguila (17),Firpo (11) andIsidro Metapan (10)

La Liga Mayor follows the usual doubleround-robin format.^[6]

During the course of a given season (Apertura orClausura), each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 22 games.

Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, with the top eight clubs at the end of the season progressing through to the finals.

If points are equal between two or more clubs,goal difference usually determines their placement.

Although when it comes to qualifying for the finals, if the team in eighth and ninth spot are equal on points, then aRepechaje orPlayoff is needed to determine which team gains entry into finals.

A system ofrelegation exists between thePrimera División and theSegunda División.

In May each year, at the conclusion of both theapertura andclausura seasons, the team with the fewest points on aggregate over both seasons, is automatically relegated to theSegunda División.

La Liga Mayor has three guaranteed spots in theCONCACAF Central American Cup. The winner of eachapertura andclausura season gains automatic entry into this tournament. To determine the third spot, aggregate points over both seasons is used, the best no-champion team in the season qualified to the tournament. If the same team is to win both theapertura andclausura seasons, the last spot belongs to the second best no-champion team in the season.

In 1921, theSalvadoran Sports Commission (Comisión Nacional de Educación Física) held its first National Sports Week. Although initially this event did not include any participation from football clubs, it would go on to be the basis of what would grow to be the Liga Mayor of today. In 1924, due to high demand, the commission included a football tournament in the annual Sports Week. Due to the enormous success of this event, it was decided that starting in 1926 the Sports Week tournament would in turn become the country's official National Football Championship. The championship was to be contended by three teams who represent the three different zones of the country playing in a double round robin format. The first three teams to compete in the tournament were,Nequepio (Central Zone),Chinameca Sporting Club (Eastern Zone) andOlímpic (Western Zone). This format was used until 1930.

Controversy occurred after the 1929–30 championship when finalistsExcélsior F.C. (who represented the western zone) complained that the second leg of the final againstHércules should not be registered, as they felt that the referee in that game had helpedHércules win the title. The Sports Commission did not agree and the result was not changed. As a result,Excélsior F.C. withdrew from the tournament andHércules was crowned champion. This led to there being talk of corruption from event organisers against teams from the western part of the country, and as a result teams from that zone refused to take part in any of the following Championships. Because of this there was no national playoff held again until 1937.

The national championship returned to its original format in 1937, but was short lived, as once again, teams complained of there still being corruption within the tournament. Again as a result, there was no national championship during 1939 and 1941. Although no national championship was played, there was still regional championships which over time are now considered to be legitimate national championships.

In 1947 the Salvadoran Football Federation tried to organize a National Championship in league format, but this proved to be unsuccessful and the tournament was suspended after only a few rounds. It proved to be more successful the following season, but was postponed once again in 1949. Although this new format did not begin very well, because of a lack of organisation, it did prove to work very well during the 1950 championship, and throughout the 1950s.

The 1950s saw interest in the league begin to grow nationwide and although the league did have some problems, with teams dropping out at the end of any given season, it would not affect the league as a whole, as there were various new teams that were anxious to take part in the league and take the place of those that had left. In 1955, league organisers announced that the championship would now be played out in a double round robin format, with a maximum of 10 teams taking part in the league. This year also saw the introduction ofpromotion and relegation into the league.

In 1998, league officials decided to change the league format from a yearlong tournament to an Apertura/Clausura schedule, with the hope that it would garner more interest in the league and give a chance for its player to rest between seasons.

These are the three league format that existed in Salvadoran national football league until now

• Short Tournament (1926–1946)

Three regional champions, faced each other in the national championship. Each team represented a different section of the country (West zone, Central zone, East zone).

• League System (1947–1997)

This format consisted of all against all and twelve national teams participated.

• Apertura/Clausura format (1999–present)

The current league format, consisting of two short football tournaments annually mind between opening and closing ceremonies are held.

For the 2015–16 season, the league will have 12 teams leaving behind 10 team years. With the approval of this new format, major league soccer Cadre El Salvador, seeks to be more competitive and bring football to more people throughout the country.

The following 12 teams are competing in the2025–26 Primera División season.

Alianza

Águila

Limeño

Inter FA

FAS

FSF

Isidro Metapán

Luis Ángel Firpo

Platense

Zacatecoluca

Hercules

Cacahuatique

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Location of teams in2024–2025 Primera División de El Salvador

ON January 2023, league president Pedro David Hernández announced Instituto Nacional de los Deportes de El SalvadorINDES as the official sponsor, with the goal of modernizing the league's image. The contract was signed for seven years worth estimated 9 million dollars

Since 2021, Pioneer Deportes has been the official match ball manufacturer. In 2021, the contract was extended for three years concluding until 2024. In 2024, Molten was announced to be the new ball sponsor.

Companies that currently has sponsorship deals with for 2025-2026 include:

• Molten Corporation – Official Ball Suppliers
• Betpro – Official sponsors
• INDES – Official sponsors
• Pepsi – Official sponsors

As of December 2025

• FAS vsÁguila"Clásico Nacional"
• Alianza vsFirpo "Clásico Joven"
• FAS vsIsidro Metapán"Derbi Santaneco"
• Águila vsFirpo"Derbi de Oriente"
• Alianza vsAtlético Marte"Derbi Capitalino"
• FAS vsFirpo"Clasico de los 90s"
• Dragón vsÁguila " Derbi Migueleño"
• Jocoro vsFuerte San Francisco " Derbi Morazeño"

Teams inbold are currently participating in La Liga Mayor.

• (#) – Current Primera Division Champion
• (†) – Defunct national team

Statistics below are for all-time leaders who are still playing. Statistics are for regular season only.

Three regional champions, faced each other in the national championship. Each team represented a different section of the country (West zone, Central zone, East zone).

^* –There was no national championship held during this year, only regional championships. These championships are now often considered national titles.

^** -No national championship was held during these years

This section is empty. You can help byadding to it.(July 2015)

As of September 17, 2025

Position	Staff
President	Samuel Gálvez
Vice-President	René Ayala
Secretary	TBD
Pro-Secretary	TBD
Administrative Manager	TBD
One senior staff	TBD
Two managers	TBD
Third managers	TBD
Management Representative	TBD

• Football in El Salvador – overview of football sport
• Copa Presidente - nation wide cup competition

• La Prensa Grafica coverage(in Spanish)
• El Grafico League coverage(in Spanish)
• Salvadoran clubs kit info
• Largest wins in Salvadoran football History article(in Spanish)
• El Salvador – List of Champions, RSSSF.com

• Salvadoran Primera División
• Football leagues in El Salvador
• Top level football leagues in Central America
• Sports leagues established in 1969
• 1969 establishments in El Salvador

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• Articles to be expanded from July 2015
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