Being members of a league at a particular level also affects the eligibility for Cup competitions.
Level | League(s)/Division(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional leagues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Thai League (T1) 16 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↓↑ 3 teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Thai League 2 (T2) 18 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↓↑ 3 teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Thai League 3 (T3) 72 clubs divided by 6 regions
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↓↑ 6 teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Semi-professional leagues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Thailand Semi-pro League (TS) (Semi-pro)Unlimited clubs but must meet the club licensing standards, 38 clubs divided by 6 regions in 2024 season
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-league competition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-league | Thailand Amateur League (TA) (Amateur)Unlimited clubs, competing to maintain membership of amateur clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Before the top level of Thai football league,Thai Premier League was constituted in 1996, theFootball Royal Cup was the football competitions of Thailand at that time.
The Thailand football competition system before 1996 is listed below:
In 1916,Football Association of Thailand was foundYai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่, i.e. "big cup") andNoi Cup (ถ้วยน้อย, i.e. "small cup") for the purpose of annual football competitions in Thailand.
| Level | Football Royal Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่) | |||||
| 2 | Noi Cup (ถ้วยน้อย) | |||||
In 1962, because of the abundant football clubs in Thailand then theFootball Association of Thailand changed the name ofYai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่) to theKor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ก.) and changed the name ofNoi Cup (ถ้วยน้อย) to theKhǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) and added theKhor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) and theNgor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) to the Football Royal Cup competitions.
| Level | Football Royal Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ก.) | |||||
| 2 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||
| 3 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||
| 4 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||
In 1996 season, TheThai Premier League, The top level of football league was constituted byFootball Association of Thailand rather thanKor Royal Cup. and FAT also foundDivision 1 League in the next season (1997).
Kor Royal Cup The trophy contested in an annual Super Cup competition match between the champions ofThai Premier League and the runners-up ofThai Premier League or Thai FA Cup
The Thailand football league system in 1996–1998 season beforeDivision 2 League andProvincial League was created is listed below:
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |||||
| 2 | Division 1 | |||||
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||
In 1999 season,Provincial League was found by theFootball 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 theThai Premier League, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play inAFC Champions League andAFC Cup respectively.
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | Provincial League byFootball Association of Thailand andSports Authority of Thailand (Select from each region.)
| ||||||
| 2 | Division 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||||
In 2003 season, theProvincial League was organized by theSports Authority of Thailand; relegation was to thePro 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 theThai Premier League, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play inAFC Champions League andAFC Cup respectively.
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | Provincial League by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)
| ||||||
| 2 | Division 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||||
In 2004 season,Provincial League was foundPro League 1 andPro League 2 by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for this reason
Level | Football Leagues | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | Provincial League by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Pro League 1 |
| 2 | Division 1 | Pro League 2 |
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |
In 2005 season, the winner and runner-up of the Provincial League 2005,Chonburi FC andSuphanburi FC began the practice of move to play in theThai Premier League 2006.
Although there are two separate leagues in Thailand, only the winner and runner-up from theThai Premier League, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play inAFC Champions League andAFC Cup respectively.
Level | Football Leagues | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |
| 2 | Division 1 | Provincial League by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Pro League 1 |
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | Pro League 2 |
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |
In 2006 season,Provincial League renamedProfessional League by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and theDivision 2 League was founded by theFootball Association of Thailand in this season,
1st and 3rd of theProvincial League 2006,TOT andNakhon Pathom began the practice of moving to play in theThai 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 theThai Premier League,Division 1,Division 2 and Provincial League together in 2007 is listed below:
Level | Football Leagues | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |||
| 2 | Division 1 | Professional League by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Pro League 1 | ||
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | Division 2 | Pro League 2 | |
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||
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.
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:
| Level | High-Division | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Division 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Division 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Low-Division | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | SAT Championship Playoff (The winners and runners-up from each region.)
| |||||||||||||||
| 5 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | ||||||||||||||||
| Level | High-Division | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |||||||||||
| 2 | Division 1 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Regional League Division 2 (Semi-pro)
| |||||||||||
| Low-Division | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr Royal Cup(ถ้วย ข.) | |||||||||||
| 5 | Khor Royal Cup(ถ้วย ค.) | |||||||||||
| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup(ถ้วย ง.) | |||||||||||
| Level | High-Division | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Division 1 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Regional League Division 2 (Semi-pro)
| |||||||||||||
| Low-Division | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr Royal Cup(ถ้วย ข.) | |||||||||||||
| 5 | Khor Royal Cup(ถ้วย ค.) | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup(ถ้วย ง.) | |||||||||||||
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai League 18 clubs | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Division 1 16 clubs | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Regional League Division 2 (Semi-pro)94 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Football Division 3 (Amateur)104 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai League (T1) 18 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Thai League 2 (T2) 18 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Thai League 3 (T3) (Semi-pro)32 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Thai League 4 (T4) (Semi-pro)64 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Thailand Amateur League (Amateur)Unlimited clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai League (T1) 16 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Thai League 2 (T2) 18 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Thai League 3 (T3) (Semi-pro)28 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Thai League 4 (T4) (Semi-pro)60 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Thailand Amateur League (Amateur)Unlimited clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai League (T1) 16 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Thai League 2 (T2) 18 clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Thai League 3 (T3) (Semi-pro)72 clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Thailand Amateur League (Amateur)Unlimited clubs
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National teams |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League system |
| ||||||||
| Domestic cups |
| ||||||||
| Reserve and Academy |
| ||||||||
| Continental cups | |||||||||
| Exhibition game |
| ||||||||
| Lists | |||||||||
