Second Category, Executive Committee approves new format. What will the championship be like?

2026-06-24 17:14:00, Sport CNA

Second Category, Executive Committee approves new format. What will the

The Executive Committee of the Football Federation has approved at its last meeting changes to the structure and development scheme of the Second and Third Category championships for the coming seasons, determining the competition format, promotions, relegations, as well as the play-off and play-out match system.

The Second Category Championship will be held in two groups, with Group A consisting of 12 teams, while Group B consists of 11 teams. Taking into account the fact that in the 2027/2028 season the “Abissnet Superiore” championship and the First Category will have 12 teams each, it has been decided that four teams will secure direct promotion.

The top two teams in Group A and the top two teams in Group B will automatically be promoted to the First Division.

The other teams that secure participation in the First Category will be determined through play-off matches. The winner of the play-off phase of Group A will face the team ranked in ninth place in the First Category, while the winner of the play-off phase of Group B will play against the team ranked in tenth place in the First Category.

The teams ranked 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in each group will participate in the play-off phase.

According to the approved scheme, the third-place team will face the sixth-place team, while the fourth-place team will face the fifth-place team. The matches will be played in a single match at the home ground of the team ranked higher in the standings.

As for the First Category play-out matches, they will take place on a neutral field determined by the Albanian Football Association.

Relegation from the Second Division in the 2026/2027 season

The teams ranked last in Group A and Group B will automatically be relegated to the Third Division.

Meanwhile, the team ranked 11th in Group A and the team ranked 10th in Group B will play a play-out match at a venue designated by the Albanian Football Association. The winner will secure a place in the Second Category.

The losing team of this match will then play a decisive match with the losing team of the third-place final of the Third Category, to determine the team that will participate in the Second Category the following season.

Second Division, season 2027/2028

Even in the 2027/2028 season, the Second Category will be played with two groups, respectively with 12 teams in Group A and 12 teams in Group B.

This season, only the winning team of each group will secure direct promotion to the First Division.

The teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in each group will participate in the play-off phase. The winner of the Group A play-off will face the third-placed team from the bottom of the First Division, while the winner of Group B will play the fourth-placed team from the bottom of the First Division in the play-off matches.

Relegation from the Second Division in the 2027/2028 season

The teams ranked last in each group will automatically be relegated to the Third Division.

The teams ranked 11th in both groups will play a one-legged play-off. The winner will remain in the Second Division, while the loser will play an additional match with the winner of the Third Division second-place play-off to determine the team that will participate in the Second Division the following season.