2. liga (Slovakia) 2026/27

The Slovak 2. Liga serves as the second tier of professional football in Slovakia, positioned directly below the top-flight Niké liga and above the 3. liga. Established in 1993 by the Slovak Football Association (SFZ) following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the competition replaced the Second Slovak National League to become the country's second division. The league currently operates with 14 teams for the 2026 season, a structure that has varied historically between 12 and 18 participants. The season follows a double round-robin format where each team plays every opponent twice, resulting in 26 matches per side. Unlike some systems, there are no play-offs for the league title itself; the champion is determined strictly by the final standings. Promotion is split into two pathways. The first-place team secures automatic promotion to the Niké liga, contingent on meeting licensing requirements. The second-place team enters a two-legged play-off against the 15th-placed side from the top flight, with the winner claiming the second promotion spot. Relegation sees the two lowest-finishing teams drop directly to the 3. liga. The most successful historical entities include FC Nitra and 1. FC Tatran Prešov, each holding three titles, with Tatran Prešov holding the current championship from the 2024/2025 campaign. A distinctive feature of this league compared to the neighboring Czech National Football League is the specific promotion play-off mechanism for the second-place finisher. Additionally, the competition includes reserve teams such as ŠK Slovan Bratislava B and MŠK Žilina B, which participate but are ineligible for promotion. The league has undergone several name changes due to sponsorship, currently operating as the MONACObet LIGA since 2024, following previous iterations like the DOXXbet liga. Notable structural reforms occurred in 1996, 2006, and 2017, adjusting the number of participating clubs over time.