I Liga (Poland) 2026/27

The I Liga operates as the second tier of professional football in Poland, positioned immediately below the top-flight Ekstraklasa. It serves as the primary pathway for clubs seeking advancement to the national summit. The competition underwent a significant structural shift in 2008 when the second division was rebranded to distinguish its status as the first league beneath the top flight. This reorganization coincided with the top tier adopting the name Ekstraklasa. The league is managed by the Polish Football Association (PZPN) and currently features eighteen teams competing for status. The season format begins with a double round-robin regular season before splitting into two distinct groups. The top eight teams enter a championship group, while the remaining ten compete in a relegation group. Each side plays the others in their respective group once more. Promotion to the Ekstraklasa is secured by the top two teams in the championship group. The final promotion spot is decided through a playoff tournament involving teams finishing third through sixth in the championship standings. Conversely, the four teams at the bottom of the overall standings face direct relegation to the II Liga. This structure differs from the Ekstraklasa, which crowns its champion based solely on points without playoffs. While the top flight often carries a corporate sponsor in its title, the second tier is officially known as the Betclic 1 Liga. Historically, Gwardia Warsaw holds the record for most titles in the Polish second tier with six victories. Other prominent clubs include Pogoń Szczecin with five titles, alongside Arka Gdynia, Lechia Gdańsk, Odra Opole, and Widzew Łódź, who share four titles each. Recent champions include Lechia Gdańsk for the 2023–24 campaign and Arka Gdynia for the 2024–25 season. The competition maintains its official presence through a dedicated online portal.