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| Organising body | Thai League Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996; 29 years ago (1996) |
| First season | 1996–97 |
| Country | Thailand |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Thai League 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Thai FA Cup Thailand Champions Cup |
| League cup | Thai League Cup |
| International cups | |
| Current champions | Buriram United (11th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Buriram United (11 titles) |
| Most appearances | Rangsan Viwatchaichok (439) |
| Top scorer | Heberty (159) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Advanced Info Service |
| Website | thaileague |
| Current:2025–26 Thai League 1 | |
TheThai League (Thai:ไทยลีก, pronounced asไท-หลีก) orThai League 1 (Thai:ไทยลีก 1, pronounced asไท-หลีก-หนึ่ง), often referred to asT1, is the highest level of theThai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system ofpromotion and relegation withThai League 2.[1] Seasons typically run from August to May, with each team playing 30 games: two against each other team, one home and one away. It is sponsored byBYD Auto and therefore officially known as theBYD Sealion 6 League I. In the Thai League, most games are played on Saturday and Sunday evenings, occasionally being played on Wednesday and Friday evening fixtures.[2][3]
Thailand has had organized football competition since 1916, when theFootball Association of Thailand (then known as the Siam Football Association) established the first official tournament.[4] TheKor Royal Cup (Thai:ถ้วย ก., "Cup Kor") served as the premier football competition from 1916 to 1995, operating as a knockout tournament rather than a league system.[5] During this 79-year period, the tournament underwent several format changes, initially featuring only Bangkok-based clubs before expanding to include provincial teams in the 1960s.[6]
The transition from cup to league format was driven by the need to modernize Thai football and meetAsian Football Confederation (AFC) standards for professional competitions. The semi-professional nature of the Kor Royal Cup, with its limited schedule and lack of home-and-away fixtures, was seen as inadequate for developing Thai football to international standards.[7]
Thai League was introduced in 1996 by theFootball Association of Thailand (FA Thailand) under the nameThailand Soccer League. Eighteen clubs who earlier competed for the Kor Royal Cup were registered to play in the first edition of a double round-robin league system.[8]Bangkok Bank was crowned as the first champion of the1996–97 Thailand Soccer League.
The Thai League originally had 10 to 12 clubs each season until2007, when it was expanded to 16 clubs. At the end of each season, the three bottom placed clubs are relegated to theThai Division 1 League.
Most of Thai League clubs in that time were the organisation of government authorities club that based inGreater Bangkok and Metropolitan. Meanwhile, the other local clubs had competed in the semi-pro league called theProvincial League. Thai Premier League faced the issue of low attendance and lack of local loyalties while the Provincial league suffered the financial issue. In2007, Thai League was integrated withProvincial League completely.Chonburi from the Provincial League was the first champion of the new Thailand Premier League in the2007 season.
In2009 season, there were significant changes in the lead to the new era of theThai Premier League.Asian Football Confederation declared the regulations for the associations that have the intention to send the clubs to compete in theAFC Champions League starting from 2011.[9] Football Association of Thailand had to establish Thai Premier League Co., Ltd. and forced the clubs in the top league to complete AFC Club License Criteria[10] otherwise Thai clubs will not eligible to play in the Champions League. Clubs were forced to separate themselves from the parent organisations and registered as the independent football authorities.
The massive changes occurred in that season. Thailand Premier League renamed to Thai Premier League. Two times league championKrung Thai Bank failed to complete the new regulations. The organisation decided to sell the club. The club was acquired byBoon Rawd and rebranded to beBangkok Glass.Bangkok University had expelled their football club section. The club rebrand itself toBangkok United since then. The organisation-based clubs had to relocate to find the local supporters to backup the clubs.Osotspa changed their home stadium toSaraburi Province,TOT moved to play inKanchanaburi,Royal Navy played inRayong Province whileThailand Tobacco Monopoly integrated toSamut Sakhon Province and rebranded to TTM Samut Sakhon.
Muangthong United were promoted fromThai Division 1 League in that season and won Thai Premier League in their first year in the top league.
Thailand Clasico or The Classic Match of Thailand is the matchup betweenMuangthong United andChonburi. It is the matchup that presents Thai football in the modern era. The name was given to the encounter of two teams due to the hype and massive atmosphere around the match. The first encounter between them happened in the2009 Thai Premier League season. On 30 May 2009, Chonburi that was regarded as the best club in Thailand at that moment hosted the new powerhouse who were just promoted from Division 1 Muangthong United. The match was played atNong Prue Stadium,Pattaya. Before the match, Chonburi was the leader in the table after 10 matches of the season while Muangthong followed in second with one less point. Chonburi made the lead by 2–0 in the first thirty minutes but Muangthong bounced back to win by the 5–2 result at the end.
In the2012 season,Muangthong United underSerbian head coachSlaviša Jokanović, had become the first club in the league history that completed the season with an unbeaten record. Muangthong finished at the top of the final standing with 25 wins and 9 draws.[11]
The Buriram Dominance refers to the 2013 to 2015 season, whenBuriram United won Thai Premier League in three consecutive seasons as the first club in the league history. The three titles in that period included two invincible titles which Buriram United completed Thai Premier League campaign unbeaten in2013 and2015 season.[12][13]
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In 2017,Football Association of Thailand decided to rebrand Thai Premier League into Thai League 1.[14] Since its inception in 1996 the Thai Premier League has relied upon local sponsorship. Re-branding initiatives seek to foster an international identity for the Thai and elevate the league globally through commitment to world-class level management and marketing which incorporates multifaceted promotion through various media to draw attention to league competition and cups.[15][16] This rebranding earned the Good Design Award in the Brand Identity branch from theJapan Institute of Design Promotion.[17]
The rebranding of the Thai League from 2017 to 2023 has been well received in terms of viewership with a large number of visitors to the stadium[18] and watching through live broadcasts[19] but in terms of benefits, the Thai League receives royalties for broadcasting live matches at an ever-lower value after the end of season 2022-23 Thai League is only worth 50 million baht, an amount that risks collapsing the league.[20]
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Kornwee Phrissanantakul, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Thai League Company Limited and Patis Supapong, Secretary General of theFootball Association of Thailand in the Royal Patronage has called a meeting of representatives of 16 Thai League member clubs to find a solution and offer suggestions after the auction to buy Thai League licenses is not as expected. The recommendation from the majority of 16 teams is for all 16 teams to manage and find benefits among themselves (Premier League Model), which will bring information and details to the Association Executive Council meeting on Monday 3 July.[21]
On July 18, 2023, the Thai League club meeting launched the #SAVETHAILEAGUE initiative to raise funds for Thai League clubs directly from football fans by purchasing a package to watch live broadcasts directly from your favorite team to address the issue of low Thai League values.[22][23] While the #SAVETHAILEAGUE campaign has yet to increase the value of the Thai League, the overall valuation of the league remains uncertain.[24]
The Thai League has been sponsored since 1996 until 2003 and has been sponsored again since 2010. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:
| Period | Sponsor | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–1997 | Johnnie Walker | Johnnie Walker Thailand Soccer League |
| 1998–2000 | Caltex | Caltex Premier League |
| 2001–2003 | Advanced Info Service | GSM Thai League |
| 2003–2005 | No sponsor | Thai League |
| 2006–2008 | Thailand Premier League | |
| 2009 | Thai Premier League | |
| 2010–2012 | Sponsor Energy Drink | Sponsor Thai Premier League |
| 2013–2015 | Toyota | Toyota Thai Premier League |
| 2016–2021 | Toyota Thai League | |
| 2022–2025 | Hilux Revo Thai League | |
| 2025–present | BYD Auto | BYD Sealion 6 League 1 |
The 2021–2028 season uses theMolten match balls.[25]
There are 16 clubs in the league, with three promoted teams fromThai League 2 replacing the three teams that were relegated from the2024–25 season.
Khonkaen United,Nakhon Pathom United andNongbua Pitchaya were relegated at the end of the 2024–25 season after finishing in the bottom three places of the table. They were replaced by2024–25 Thai League 2 championsChonburi. They were joined by runners-upAyutthaya United, who also got promoted back after relegated two season before, andKanchanaburi Power, promotion plays-off winner.
| Ayutthaya United | Bangkok United | BG Pathum United | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya Provincial Stadium | True BG Stadium | True BG Stadium | Chang Arena |
| Capacity:6,000 | Capacity:15,114 | Capacity:15,114 | Capacity:32,600 |
 |  | | .jpg) |
| Chiangrai United | Chonburi | Kanchanaburi Power | Lamphun Warriors |
| Leo Chiangrai Stadium | Chonburi Stadium | Kanchanaburi Province Stadium | Lamphun Warriors Stadium |
| Capacity:13,000 | Capacity:8,680 | Capacity:15,000 | Capacity:5,000 |
 |  |  | |
| Muangthong United | Nakhon Ratchasima | Port | PT Prachuap |
| Thunderdome Stadium | 80th Birthday Stadium | PAT Stadium | Sam Ao Stadium |
| Capacity:15,000 | Capacity:25,000 | Capacity:8,000 | Capacity:5,000 |
 |  |  |  |
| Ratchaburi | Rayong | Sukhothai | Uthai Thani |
| Dragon Solar Park | Rayong Province Stadium | Thung Thalay Luang Stadium | Uthai Thani Provincial Stadium |
| Capacity:10,000 | Capacity:7,500 | Capacity:9,500 | Capacity:5,477 |
 |  |  |  |
Unbeatable champions:
| Rank | Player | Years | Goals | Apps | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Heberty Fernandes | 2014–2023 | 159 | 249 | 0.64 |
| 2 |  Teerasil Dangda | 2009–2017, 2019, 2021– | 146 | 351 | 0.43 |
| 3 | Cleiton Silva | 2010–2019 | 144 | 193 | 0.73 |
| 4 | Diogo Luis Santo | 2015–2022 | 118 | 132 | 0.89 |
| 5 |  Dragan Boškovic | 2013–2021 | 118 | 209 | 0.56 |
| 6 | Leandro Assumpcao[26] | 2011–2021 | 116 | 227 | 0.51 |
| 7 | Pipob On-Mo | 2006–2019 | 108 | 404 | 0.27 |
| 8 | Sarayuth Chaikamdee | 2001–2004, 2007–2013–2014 | 101 | 233 | 0.43 |
| 9 | Teeratep Winothai | 2006–2014, 2016–2022 | 96 | 206 | 0.47 |
| 10 |  Mario Gjurovski | 2012–2019 | 93 | 197 | 0.47 |
Figures for active players (in bold).
| Rank | Player | Position | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangsan Viwatchaichok | MF | 439 | 49 |
| 2 | Siwarak Tedsungnoen | GK | 433 | 0 |
| 3 | Pipob On-Mo | FW | 402 | 108 |
| 4 | Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool | GK | 397 | 1 |
| 5 | Teerasil Dangda | FW | 351 | 146 |
| 6 | Pichitphong Choeichiu | MF | 340 | 62 |
| 7 | Nattaporn Phanrit | DF | 335 | 19 |
| 8 | Narit Taweekul | GK | 315 | 1 |
| 9 | Apichet Puttan | DF | 262 | 7 |
| 10 | Heberty | FW | 249 | 159 |
Figures for active players (in bold).
Also known as the 'Player of the Year' award.
The Golden Boot award is awarded to the top goalscorer of Thai League 1 in that particular season.
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There are 16 clubs in the Thai League. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 30 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head, thengoal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to-head, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The three lowest placed teams are relegated into theThai League 2 and the top three teams from the Thai League 2 are promoted in their place.
In the past the champions played inAFC Champions League playoffs andAFC Cup for the champions ofThai FA Cup. Due to reforms from theAFC for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup format, there is no more a direct qualification spot for theAFC Champions League for that Thai Champion, for the time being.[31] From 2012 Thai clubs has 1 automatic spot to the group stage and 1 playoff spot for theThai FA Cup Winners and 1 playoff spot for the thai league runner-up. However, since2021, Thai clubs have two group stage spots forLeague Champion andFA Cup winner, and two teams in play-off spots for runner-up and third in the league.
To be used for allocating slots in the2024–25 season.
Updated on 5 December 2024[32]
| Ranking | Member association (L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup) | Club points | Total | 2026–27 Competition | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 2023–24 | Mvmt | Region | 2016 (×0.3) | 2017 (×0.4) | 2018 (×0.5) | 2019 (×0.6) | 2021 (×0.7) | 2022 (×0.8) | 2023–24 (×0.9) | 2024–25 (×1.0) | ACL Elite | ACL Two | Challenge | ||
| 1 | 1 |  — | W 1 |  Saudi Arabia(L,C) | 9.500 | 18.600 | 10.000 | 26.350 | 20.950 | 19.075 | 27.100 | 17.000 | 102.415 | 3+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2 | — | E 1 |  Japan(L,C,LC) | 10.500 | 21.850 | 13.850 | 21.800 | 17.875 | 20.088 | 21.350 | 15.417 | 95.110 | 3+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | — | E 2 |  South Korea(L,C) | 20.750 | 9.950 | 18.350 | 13.600 | 22.750 | 15.800 | 22.350 | 11.500 | 87.720 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 4 | 4 | — | W 2 |  United Arab Emirates(L,C) | 18.000 | 11.350 | 8.100 | 7.633 | 14.400 | 8.083 | 24.000 | 11.233 | 69.299 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 5 | 6 |  +1 | W 3 |  Iran(L,C) | 13.000 | 16.200 | 18.850 | 11.500 | 14.225 | 13.250 | 9.300 | 9.601 | 65.234 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 6 | 5 |  –1 | W 4 |  Qatar(L,C) | 22.000 | 13.400 | 19.850 | 15.900 | 7.300 | 13.500 | 8.100 | 9.697 | 64.322 | 1+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 7 | 7 | — | E 3 |  China(L,C) | 14.750 | 24.567 | 16.200 | 17.350 | 0.800 | 0.500 | 11.900 | 9.900 | 54.332 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 8 | 8 | — | E 4 | Thailand(L,C,LC) | 1.000 | 15.050 | 16.200 | 5.050 | 8.500 | 11.110 | 8.567 | 11.567 | 51.565 | 1+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 9 | 9 | — | W 5 |  Uzbekistan(L,C) | 9.750 | 5.050 | 9.400 | 9.000 | 8.960 | 10.057 | 11.250 | 5.833 | 45.321 | 1+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 10 | 10 | — | W 6 |  Iraq(L,C) | 9.833 | 8.933 | 8.633 | 8.300 | 3.250 | 7.450 | 7.473 | 6.500 | 37.280 | 1+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
Like the reserve league, the youth league is open to all the youth teams of all professional clubs in Thailand.
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| National teams |
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| League system |
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| Domestic cups |
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| Reserve and Academy |
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| Continental cups | |||||||||
| Exhibition game |
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| Lists | |||||||||