2025-2026 Lebanese Premier League
|
Season |
2025-2026 |
|
Dates |
19 September 2025 – May 2026 |
|
Champions |
|
|
AFC Challenge Cup |
|
|
Relegated |
Bourj FC (withdrawn) |
|
Matches played |
|
|
Goals scored |
|
|
Top goalscorer |
|
|
Biggest home win |
Jwaya 7-0 Racing Beirut (round 4, 18 October 2025) |
|
Biggest away win |
Racing Beirut 0-6 Ansar (round 14, 8 February 2026) |
|
Highest scoring |
Jwaya 7-0 Racing Beirut (round 4, 18 October 2025) Racing Beirut 1-6 Safa (round 5, 2 December 2025) |
|
Longest winning run |
Nejmeh – 6 matches (rounds 1-6) |
|
Longest unbeaten run |
Ansar – 14 matches (rounds 2-15) |
|
Longest winless run |
Racing Beirut – 16 matches (have not won yet) |
|
Longest losing run |
Racing Beirut – 10 matches (rounds 7-16) |
Competition details and format
The Lebanese Premier League, or simply the Lebanese League, represents the top tier of the football system in Lebanon. It is organised by the Lebanese Football Association and 2025-2026 is the 64th complete season since its establishment in 1934, or the 67th official season as counted by the Lebanese Football Association. Ansar are the defending champions.
The “split” competition format introduced in 2020-2021 was also kept for 2025-2026. However, important changes to the format have been made. There are two stages, just like in previous seasons, but in the first (regular) stage the established format is a double round-robin championship, each team playing all other teams twice, a total of 22 rounds, compared to the single round-robin used before. This stage started on 19 September 2025 and will end in April 2026. It involved a “winter” break in January, between the first half and the second half of the regular season, which was also a transfer window period. After the first half of the regular stage, Bourj FC withdrew from the competition, leaving the league with only 11 teams, but their results are still counted. Their matches in the second half of the regular stage are cancelled.
For the second stage, teams will be divided into three groups (compared to two groups before) of four teams. The top 4 teams will play each other in a double round robin for the championship title in a championship (play-off) group, the teams classified 5 through 8 will play each other in a double round robin in a middle group, while the bottom 4 teams were supposed to play each other in a double round robin to avoid relegation, in a relegation (play-out) group. However, the relegation group will only consist of 3 teams, because Bourj FC withdrew from the competition after the first half of the regular season, and only one team remains to be relegated out of the three to play in the relegation group. Just like in the previous seasons, only half of the points earned in the first stage will be carried over in the second stage. The points are halved, and then rounded up if necessary. However, the goal difference record is carried over entirely in the second stage. The second stage will start in April 2026 and will end in May 2026.
Matches are played mostly during the week-ends, and rarely in mid-week, for various reasons. The usual kick-off time is in the afternoon. MTV Lebanon has the broadcasting rights for all the matches of the Lebanese Premier League but they broadcast only some of the matches, through MTV Sports, on different media outlets, including their TV channel, YouTube channel and Facebook. All matches are broadcasted by the Lebanese FA on the FIFA Plus (FIFA +) website.
Matches in the first half of the regular (first) stage of the season are played according to a drawing of lots. In the second half of the regular stage, matches are played in the same order and in reverse location compared to the first half to provide a more balanced and equal situation for all the teams.
In the second stage of the season, teams play each other according to the first stage table, in three groups: the top 4 teams are involved in the championship (play-off) group, the teams classified 5 through 8 play in the middle group, while the bottom 3 remaining teams (initially 4 teams before Bourj FC withdrew) are included in the relegation (play-out) group. Matches in the second stage are scheduled in such a way that the first classified play the last classified of its group in the first round and the second classified in the last round. Therefore, the potentially decisive matches are scheduled in the last round.
The champions and the second classified have the right to play in the AFC Challenge Cup in the next season (2026-2027). The third classified may qualify for the Arab Champions Cup. The Lebanese FA Cup winners are no longer considered to play in any continental or international competition. The last two teams in the classification are relegated to the Second Division.
The defending champions, Ansar, are among the main favourites for the title this year, together with Al Ahed, Nejmeh, Safa, and newly-promoted Jwaya. In recent years, Nejmeh, Al Ahed, and Ansar have been the usual contenders for the title, while Safa and Jwaya have become strong contenders recently.
The other teams are likely to fight for a position in the middle group at best. Their realistic goal is to classify in between 5th and 8th at the end of the first stage, in order to play in the middle group in the second stage, and therefore to stay away from relegation.
In terms of relegation, Racing and Bourj FC had serious financial problems at the beginning of the season and were among those expected to be the main contenders in the fight to avoid relegation. Despite having some good results and classifying above the relegation zone, Bourj FC eventually withdrew from the competition after the first half of the first (regular) stage for financial reasons, leaving only one relegation spot. On the other hand, Racing had a very poor first stage, obtaining only one point, and classifying well behind all other teams, which makes them serious candidates for relegation at the end of the season. They might be joined in the relegation (play-out) group in the second stage by two of the following teams: Tadamon Sour, Riyadi Al Abbasiyah, newly-promoted Mabarra, Shabab Sahel or Hikma / Sagesse.
Team changes from the 2024-2025
Promoted from the Second Division
Jwaya (1st in the Second Division)
Mabarra (2nd in the Second Division)
Relegated from the Premier League
Shabab Baalbek
Shabab Al-Ghazieh
Teams
Please note that teams in Beirut and the southern suburbs of Beirut usually play their home matches on different grounds than their own, while their own stadium is used only as a training ground. Many matches are played on neutral grounds.
|
Team |
Home town |
Stadium |
Capacity |
2024-2025 |
|
Al Ansar |
Beirut (Tariq el Jdideh) |
Imam Musa Al Sadr |
500 |
Champions |
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Rashid Karami |
10,000 |
|||
|
Camille Chamoun |
49,500 |
|||
|
Safa SC |
Beirut (Wata el-Museitbeh) |
Safa |
4,000 |
Runners-up |
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Al Ahed |
Bourj el-Barajneh (Ouzai) |
Al Ahed |
2,000 |
3rd |
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Imam Musa Al Sadr |
500 |
|||
|
Camille Chamoun |
49,500 |
|||
|
Nejmeh |
Beirut (Ras Beirut) |
Rafic El Hariri[1] |
5,000 |
4th |
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Camille Chamoun |
49,500 |
|||
|
Mohamad Said Saad |
6,500 |
|||
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
Beirut (Achrafieh) |
Sin El Fil[2] |
N/A |
5th |
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Tadamon Sour |
Tyre / Sour |
Sour Municipal[3] |
6,500 |
6th |
|
Abbas Nasser |
500 |
|||
|
Imam Musa Al Sadr |
500 |
|||
|
Bourj FC |
Bourj el-Barajneh |
Bourj el-Barajneh[4] |
1,500 |
7th |
|
Amin Abdelnour |
3,500 |
|||
|
Al Ahed |
2,000 |
|||
|
Shabab Sahel |
Haret Hreik |
Shabab Sahel[5] |
500 |
8th |
|
Amin Abdelnour |
3,500 |
|||
|
Al Ahed |
2,000 |
|||
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
Al Abbasiyah |
Abbas Nasser |
500 |
9th |
|
Racing Beirut |
Beirut (Achrafieh) |
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
10th |
|
Safa |
4,000 |
|||
|
Al Ahed |
2,000 |
|||
|
Jwaya |
Jwaya |
Mohamad Said Saad |
6,500 |
Promoted |
|
Abbas Nasser |
500 |
|||
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
|||
|
Mabarra |
Bourj el-Barajneh (Tariq el-Matar) |
Mabarra[6] |
N/A |
Promoted |
|
Al Ahed |
2,000 |
|||
|
Camille Chamoun |
49,500 |
|||
|
Fouad Chehab |
5,000 |
List of stadiums used for matches in the Premier League
Only 9 stadiums are allowed to host Premier League matches in 2025-2026. Note that most teams may use two or more stadiums as their home ground and many matches are played on neutral grounds.
|
Name of the stadium |
City |
Capacity |
Teams |
|
Fouad Chehab |
Jounieh |
5,000 |
Nejmeh, Hikma / Sagesse, Racing, Ansar, Al Ahed, Safa, Shabab Sahel, Jwaya, Mabarra |
|
Amin Abdelnour |
Aley (Bhamdoun) |
3,500 |
Bourj FC, Shabab Sahel |
|
Al Ahed |
Bourj el-Barajneh (Ouzai) |
2,000 |
Al Ahed, Bourj FC, Shabab Sahel, Mabarra, Racing |
|
Safa |
Beirut (Wata el-Museitbeh) |
4,000 |
Safa, Racing |
|
Imam Musa Al Sadr |
Beirut (Tariq el Jdideh) |
500 |
Ansar, Tadamon Sour, Al Ahed |
|
Abbas Nasser |
Abbasiyah |
500 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah, Tadamon Sour, Jwaya |
|
Rashid Karami |
Tripoli |
10,000 |
Ansar |
|
Mohamed Said Saad |
Jwaya |
6,500 |
Jwaya, Nejmeh |
|
Camille Chamoun |
Beirut |
49,500 |
Ansar, Mabarra, Nejmeh, Al Ahed |
Geographical distribution of teams
Most of the teams (9 out of 12) are from Beirut and the southern suburbs of Beirut. Three teams, Tadamon Sour, Riyadi Al Abbasiyah, and Jwaya are located in the South Governorate.
Location of the 2025-2026 Lebanese Premier League teams.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025-26_Lebanese_Premier_League
Location of the Beirut teams and of those in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025-26_Lebanese_Premier_League
|
Part of Lebanon |
No. of teams |
Teams |
|
Beirut (proper) |
5 |
Nejmeh, Ansar, Safa, Racing, Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Southern suburbs of Beirut[7] |
4 |
Al Ahed, Bourj, Shabab Sahel, Mabarra |
|
South |
3 |
Tadamon Sour, Riyadi Al Abbasiyah, Jwaya |
Foreign players
There are four foreign players allowed in the squads, as well as a number of Lebanese-born Palestinian players.
Compulsory use of young players and limits to the use of players aged 30+
All teams have to use at least two young players, under 21 years of age, in the Premier League. There should be a minimum of 750 minutes played by one young player and 1200 combined minutes played by two young players for each team.
If teams fail to comply, points would be deducted at the end of the season.
Also, only eight players above the age of 30 are allowed in a roster, and only five of them can be used simultaneously in the field.
First (regular) stage
Round 1 (19-21 September 2025)
|
Bourj |
0-3 |
Jwaya |
|
Shabab Sahel |
0-0 |
Mabarra |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
0-3 |
Al Ahed |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
2-0 |
Racing |
|
Tadamon Sour |
1-1 |
Safa |
|
Ansar |
1-2 |
Nejmeh |
Round 2 (26-28 September 2025)
|
Al Ahed |
3-0 |
Racing |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
0-2 |
Jwaya |
|
Shabab Sahel |
0-0 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
1-4 |
Ansar |
|
Bourj |
0-0 |
Mabarra |
|
Nejmeh |
1-0 |
Safa |
Round 3 (3-5 October 2025)
|
Ansar |
2-0 |
Racing |
|
Nejmeh |
3-1 |
Shabab Sahel |
|
Safa |
0-0 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Al Ahed |
1-0 |
Jwaya |
|
Bourj |
3-1 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Mabarra |
1-1 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
Round 4 (17-19 October 2025)
|
Tadamon Sour |
1-3 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
|
Al Ahed |
2-0 |
Mabarra |
|
Jwaya |
7-0 |
Racing |
|
Ansar |
1-0 |
Safa |
|
Shabab Sahel |
0-2 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Nejmeh |
3-0 |
Bourj |
Round 5 (25-26 October 2025)
|
Tadamon Sour |
0-2 |
Al Ahed |
|
Jwaya |
2-0 |
Mabarra |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
0-1 |
Nejmeh |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
1-0 |
Bourj |
|
Shabab Sahel |
1-1 |
Ansar – played on 2 December 2025 |
|
Racing |
1-6 |
Safa – played on 2 December 2025 |
Round 6 (31 October – 2 November 2025)
|
Mabarra |
0-0 |
Racing |
|
Al Ahed |
0-4 |
Nejmeh |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
3-0 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
|
Jwaya |
0-0 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Safa |
1-0 |
Shabab Sahel – played on 30 December 2025 |
|
Ansar |
4-1 |
Bourj – played on 30 December 2025 |
Round 7 (7-9 November 2025)
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
0-1 |
Ansar |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
1-3 |
Al Ahed |
|
Mabarra |
0-3 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Racing |
0-4 |
Shabab Sahel |
|
Nejmeh |
0-1 |
Jwaya |
|
Safa |
2-0 |
Bourj |
Round 8 (5-7 December 2025)
|
Jwaya |
2-1 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Shabab Sahel |
1-0 |
Bourj |
|
Al Ahed |
1-5 |
Ansar |
|
Racing |
0-1 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Safa |
2-1 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
|
Mabarra |
2-2 |
Nejmeh |
Round 9 (12-14 December 2025)
|
Bourj |
2-1 |
Racing |
|
Tadamon Sour |
0-0 |
Nejmeh |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
0-0 |
Shabab Sahel |
|
Safa |
0-1 |
Al Ahed |
|
Mabarra |
2-1 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Jwaya |
0-1 |
Ansar |
Round 10 (19-21 December 2025)
|
Bourj |
1-0 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
|
Tadamon Sour |
0-0 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Racing |
1-4 |
Nejmeh |
|
Shabab Sahel |
2-1 |
Al Ahed |
|
Ansar |
2-0 |
Mabarra |
|
Safa |
0-1 |
Jwaya |
Round 11 (25-28 December 2025)
|
Bourj |
1-4 |
Al Ahed |
|
Mabarra |
1-0 |
Safa |
|
Shabab Sahel |
2-0 |
Jwaya |
|
Ansar |
2-0 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Nejmeh |
3-0 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Racing |
1-3 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
Table after the first half of the regular season
|
1 |
Ansar |
11 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
24-6 |
28 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
2 |
Nejmeh |
11 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
23-6 |
26 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
3 |
Al Ahed |
11 |
8 |
0 |
3 |
21-13 |
24 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
4 |
Jwaya |
11 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
18-5 |
22 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
5 |
Shabab Sahel |
11 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
11-8 |
16 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
6 |
Safa |
11 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
12-8 |
14 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
7 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
11 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
12-14 |
14 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
8 |
Tadamon Sour |
11 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
7-11 |
11 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
9 |
Mabarra |
11 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
6-13 |
11 |
Qualified for the play-out |
|
10 |
Bourj |
11 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
8-20 |
10 |
Qualified for the play-out |
|
11 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
11 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
8-16 |
8 |
Qualified for the play-out |
|
12 |
Racing |
11 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
4-34 |
1 |
Qualified for the play-out |
If two or more teams have the same number of points, the results of head-to-head matches between them are the main ranking criteria.
Round 12 (23-25 January 2026)
|
Jwaya |
cancelled |
Bourj |
|
Mabarra |
1-0 |
Shabab Sahel |
|
Racing |
0-2 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Safa |
2-0 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Al Ahed |
0-1 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
|
Nejmeh |
0-0 |
Ansar |
Round 13 (30 January – 1 February 2026)
|
Mabarra |
cancelled |
Bourj |
|
Ansar |
2-0 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Tadamon Sour |
1-2 |
Shabab Sahel |
|
Safa |
1-0 |
Nejmeh |
|
Racing |
0-2 |
Al Ahed |
|
Jwaya |
0-0 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
Round 14 (6-8 February 2026)
|
Tadamon Sour |
cancelled |
Bourj |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
1-2 |
Safa |
|
Jwaya |
0-1 |
Al Ahed |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
0-0 |
Mabarra |
|
Shabab Sahel |
1-1 |
Nejmeh |
|
Racing |
0-6 |
Ansar |
Round 15 (13-16 February 2026)
|
Bourj |
cancelled |
Nejmeh |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
1-1 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Safa |
0-1 |
Ansar |
|
Mabarra |
1-0 |
Al Ahed |
|
Racing |
0-4 |
Jwaya |
|
Hikma / Sagesse |
2-1 |
Shabab Sahel |
Round 16 (20-22 February)
|
Bourj |
cancelled |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Safa |
2-0 |
Racing |
|
Al Ahed |
0-0 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Mabarra |
0-2 |
Jwaya |
|
Nejmeh |
4-0 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
|
Ansar |
3-0 |
Shabab Sahel |
Round 17 (27 February – 1 March 2026)
|
Bourj |
cancelled |
Ansar |
|
Jwaya |
1-0 |
Tadamon Sour |
|
Shabab Sahel |
postponed |
Safa |
|
Nejmeh |
postponed |
Al Ahed |
|
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
postponed |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Racing |
postponed |
Mabarra |
Table
|
1 |
Ansar |
17 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
37-8 |
41 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
2 |
Jwaya |
16 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
25-6 |
32 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
3 |
Nejmeh |
15 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
28-8 |
31 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
4 |
Al Ahed |
16 |
10 |
1 |
5 |
24-15 |
31 |
Qualified for the play-off |
|
5 |
Safa |
16 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
19-10 |
26 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
6 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
15 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
17-19 |
20 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
7 |
Shabab Sahel |
16 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
15-16 |
20 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
8 |
Mabarra |
15 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8-15 |
18 |
Qualified for the middle group |
|
9 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah |
17 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
12-22 |
17 |
Qualified for the play-out |
|
10 |
Tadamon Sour |
16 |
2 |
7 |
7 |
9-17 |
13 |
Qualified for the play-out |
|
11 |
Racing |
16 |
0 |
1 |
15 |
4-50 |
1 |
Qualified for the play-out |
|
12 |
Bourj (R) |
11 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
8-20 |
10 |
Relegated to the Second Division |
If two or more teams have the same number of points, the results of head-to-head matches between them are the main ranking criteria.
R – Relegated (Bourj FC had withdrawn from the competition after the first half of the regular season and all their matches in the second half of the regular season were cancelled)
Round 18 (6-7 March 2026)
|
Bourj |
cancelled |
Safa |
|
Ansar |
1-2 |
Riyadi Al Abbasiyah – played on 17 February 2026 |
|
Shabab Sahel |
- |
Racing |
|
Al Ahed |
- |
Hikma / Sagesse |
|
Tadamon Sour |
- |
Mabarra |
|
Jwaya |
- |
Nejmeh |
[1] Rafic El Hariri Stadium in the Ras Beirut (Al Manara) area of Beirut is mainly used as a training ground for Nejmeh.
[2] This stadium is used only as a training ground for Hikma / Sagesse.
[3] This stadium is mainly used as a training ground for Tadamon Sour.
[4] The stadium in Bourj el-Barajneh is used only as a training ground for Bourj FC.
[5] This stadium is used only as a training ground for Shabab Sahel.
[6] This stadium is used only as a training ground for Mabarra.
[7] Officially, the southern suburbs of Beirut, also known as Dahieh, are administratively included in the Baabda District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate. However, they have very strong ties to the city of Beirut.
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