2025–26 Lebanese Premier League
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 September 2025 – 2 August 2026 |
| Champions | Ansar (16th title) |
| Relegated | Bourj Racing Beirut |
| AFC Challenge League | Ansar Nejmeh |
| Matches | 139 |
| Goals | 333 (2.4 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Hicham Khalf Allah (18 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Mostafa Matar (15 clean sheets) |
| Biggest win | Jwaya 7–0 Racing Beirut (18 October 2025) Mabarra 0–7 Ansar (29 June 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Jwaya 7–0 Racing Beirut (18 October 2025) Racing Beirut 1–6 Safa (2 December 2025) Mabarra 0–7 Ansar (29 June 2026) |
← 2024–25 2026–27 → | |
The 2025–26 Lebanese Premier League was the 64th season of the Lebanese Premier League, the top Lebanese league for football clubs since its establishment in 1934.
The season began on 19 September 2025.[1] Following the outbreak of the 2026 Lebanon war, the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) suspended all football activities on 18 March 2026.[2] The LFA subsequently announced that league competitions would resume in May following a ceasefire, but the Premier League ultimately resumed on 12 June.[3] The season concluded on 2 August, with Ansar defeating Nejmeh 2–1 in the final matchday to secure their 16th league title.[4]
On 4 May, the LFA launched the National Solidarity Tournament, a preparatory tournament for the top six teams of the suspended Premier League. It was intended to provide players with competitive matches before the Lebanon national team's 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Yemen. The tournament was held from 12 to 21 May.[3][5]
Summary
Regulations
The Lebanese Football Association (LFA) retained the requirement for clubs to give playing time to under-21 players. Each club was required to give at least one player under the age of 21 a minimum of 750 minutes of playing time during the season, while two such players were required to accumulate 1,200 minutes between them. A club that failed to meet the required playing-time quotas was subject to a three-point deduction from its league total.[6]
The limit of foreign players remained at four per club, having been increased from three beginning with the 2023–24 season.[7] The video assistant referee (VAR) system had been introduced to the Premier League during the second half of the 2023–24 season.[8]
Format
The LFA announced a new competition format for the 2025–26 season in July 2025. The regular stage was scheduled to be played on a home-and-away basis, after which each club's points total would be halved. The four highest-ranked teams were then to enter a championship group, while the next four teams were to enter a relegation group. Both groups were scheduled to be played over two rounds, with each team facing the other teams in its group home and away.[9]
The announced format was subsequently affected by the withdrawal of Bourj during the regular stage. The LFA ruled that Bourj would be placed last in the 2025–26 league and relegated to the Lebanese Second Division for the following season.[10] After Bourj's withdrawal, its remaining fixtures were cancelled and the regular stage continued with the other 11 clubs. The remaining clubs played one another twice, while each played Bourj once before its withdrawal.[11] Following the regular stage, the LFA placed the four highest-ranked active clubs in the championship group and the three lowest-ranked active clubs in the relegation group. Bourj had already been relegated following its withdrawal.[12]
The championship group was played over two rounds, with each team playing the other three teams twice, for six additional matches per team. The relegation group consisted of three teams, with each team playing the other two teams twice, for four additional matches per team.[12][11] Points carried over from the regular stage were calculated as half of each club's total, with fractions rounded upwards.[11] Ansar won the championship group and the 2025–26 Lebanese Premier League title.[13] Lebanon was allocated two direct places in the 2026–27 AFC Challenge League, with the league champion and runner-up occupying the country's two league places.[14]
Teams
Twelve teams competed in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the Lebanese Second Division. The promoted teams were Jwaya, who played their first season in the Lebanese Premier League, and Mabarra, who returned to the top flight after an absence of 11 years.[15] They replaced Chabab Ghazieh and Shabab Baalbek, who were relegated to the Lebanese Second Division after respective spells of three and one years in the top flight.
Stadiums and locations
The following table lists teams in alphabetical order. Locations refer to where the clubs were based, not necessarily where their stadiums were. The stadiums listed are where clubs typically trained, but are not necessarily club-owned. League games were usually held in a few neutral stadiums, which may have differed from those listed.
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Ahed | Beirut (Ouzai) | Al Ahed Stadium |
| Ansar | Beirut (Tariq el-Jdideh) | Al Ansar Stadium |
| Bourj | Beirut (Bourj el-Barajneh) | Bourj el-Barajneh Stadium |
| Jwaya | Jwaya | Mohamad Said Saad Stadium |
| Mabarra | Beirut (Tariq el-Matar) | Mabarra Field |
| Nejmeh | Beirut (Ras Beirut) | Rafic Hariri Stadium |
| Racing Beirut | Beirut (Achrafieh) | Sharek Stadium |
| Riyadi Abbasiyah | Al-Aabbassiyah | Abbas Kazem Nasser Stadium |
| Safa | Beirut (Wata el-Msaytbeh) | Safa Stadium |
| Sagesse | Beirut (Achrafieh) | Fouad Chehab Stadium |
| Shabab Sahel | Beirut (Haret Hreik) | Shabab Al Sahel Stadium |
| Tadamon Sour | Tyre | Sour Municipal Stadium |
Personnel and kits
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahed |  Ahmed Hafez |
 Hussein Dakik |
 Kelme |
|
| Ansar |  Dragan Jovanović |
Nazih Assaad |
Kelme |
Green Glory |
| Bourj | Ahmad Atwi |
Youssef Anbar |
Kelme |
Royal |
| Jwaya | Youssef Al Jawhari |
Hassan Maatouk |
Kelme |
|
| Mabarra | Malek Hassoun |
Ahmad Taktouk |
Kelme |
|
| Nejmeh |  Lassaad Dridi |
Kassem El Zein |
 Capelli Sport |
Tawfeer |
| Racing Beirut | .svg.png){kind=small} James Hemaid |
Ali Ayoub |
Joma |
|
| Riyadi Abbasiyah | Mohammed Zouheir |
Fadel Ajami |
 Jako |
La Fabrica |
| Safa | Hussein Tahan |
Hussein Sharafeddine |
Kelme |
Tawfeer |
| Sagesse | Paul Rustom |
Hatem Eid |
Capelli Sport |
OMT Pay |
| Shabab Sahel | Said Iskandar |
Ibrahim Mokdad |
Jako |
Xglobal Group |
| Tadamon Sour | Khalil Watfa |
 Ichaka Diarra |
Jako |
GCB Exchange |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ansar | 27 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 64 | 16 | +48 | 39 | Qualification for the AFC Challenge League group stage |
| 2 | Nejmeh | 27 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 50 | 15 | +35 | 34 | |
| 3 | Jwaya | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 37 | 22 | +15 | 24 | |
| 4 | Ahed | 27 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 41 | 34 | +7 | 23 | |
| 5 | Safa | 21 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 36 | |
| 6 | Sagesse | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 29 | 27 | +2 | 30 | |
| 7 | Shabab Sahel | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 27 | |
| 8 | Mabarra | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 22 | |
| 9 | Riyadi Abbasiyah | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 32 | −8 | 20 | |
| 10 | Tadamon Sour | 25 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 16 | |
| 11 | Racing Beirut (R) | 25 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 71 | −65 | 1 | Relegation to Lebanese Second Division |
| 12 | Bourj[b] (R) | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 20 | −12 | 10 | Withdraw |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Disciplinary points.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
- ↑ The regular stage was affected by Bourj's withdrawal after 11 matchdays. The remaining 11 clubs played one another twice, while each played Bourj once. The four highest-ranked active clubs then entered a championship group and the three lowest-ranked active clubs entered a relegation group. Each group was played over two rounds, with the four-team championship group producing six matches per team and the three-team relegation group producing four matches per team. Points carried over from the regular stage were halved, with fractions rounded upwards.
- ↑ Bourj withdrew after matchday 11 due to financial difficulties.[16]
Season statistics
Goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[17] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hicham Khalf Allah |
Ansar | 18 |
| 2 |  Elhadji Malick Tall |
Ansar | 12 |
| Ali Kassas |
Nejmeh | ||
| 4 | Sékou Traoré |
Sagesse | 10 |
| Ali Tneich |
Ansar | ||
| 6 |  Juma Masud |
Nejmeh | 9 |
| Hassan Maatouk |
Jwaya | ||
| 8 |  Issah Akuka |
Riyadi Abbasiyah | 6 |
| Tidiane Camara |
Safa | ||
| Hassan Salami |
Shabab Sahel | ||
| Fadel Antar |
Ahed | ||
| Mohammad Nasser |
Ansar |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issah Akuka | Riyadi Abbasiyah | Tadamon Sour | 3–1[18] | 17 October 2025 |
| Elhadji Malick Tall | Ansar | Mabarra | 7–0[19] | 29 June 2026 |
2026 National Solidarity Tournament
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Dates | 12–21 May 2026 |
| Teams | 6 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Ansar (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Nejmeh |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 7 |
| Goals scored | 21 (3 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Mohamad Bou Saleh Elhadji Malick Tall (3 goals each) |
The 2026 National Solidarity Tournament (Arabic: بطولة التضامن الوطني) was a football tournament organized by the Lebanese Football Association from 12 to 21 May 2026, following the suspension of the 2025–26 Lebanese Premier League due to the 2026 Lebanon war. Contested by the top six clubs in the league at the time of its suspension, the tournament was created to help players regain match fitness and prepare members of the Lebanon national team ahead of the team's Asian Cup qualification match against Yemen in June 2026.[5]
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ansar | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 3 | Qualification for the final |
| 2 | Ahed | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Safa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nejmeh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | Qualification for the final |
| 2 | Jwaya | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Sagesse | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0 |
Final
See also
References
- ↑ Saad, Abdul Qader (28 July 2025). "مفاجأة النجم حسن معتوق: من الأنصار إلى جويّا" [Star Hassan Maatouk's surprise move: from Ansar to Jwaya]. Al Akhbar (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Hamza (22 April 2026). "Lebanese football league officially resumes after war-related suspension". News Tunisia. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- 1 2 قررت اللجنة التنفيذية في الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم استكمال منافسات بطولات (in Arabic). Lebanese Football Association. 21 May 2026 – via Facebook.
- ↑ "الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم يُثبت الأنصار بطلاً للدوري وعقوبات انضباطية تطال أندية وإداريين" [The Lebanese Football Association confirms Ansar as league champions and issues disciplinary sanctions against clubs and officials]. Elsport (in Arabic). 3 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- 1 2 حلّ يرضي جميع الأطراف المعنيّة... دورة تنشيطية قبل استحقاق منتخب لبنان مع اليمن [A solution satisfying all concerned parties... a preparatory tournament before Lebanon's match against Yemen]. الأخبار (in Arabic). 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "الاتحاد اللبناني يقر النظام الفني لبطولة الدوري: 4 أجانب و4 مراحل وحسم نصف النقاط" [The Lebanese Football Association approves the technical system for the league championship: four foreigners, four stages, and half points deducted]. Lebanon Football Guide (in Arabic). 29 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "84 ألف دولار دخل جديد للاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم" [USD84,000: new income for the Lebanese Football Association]. Lebanon Football Guide (in Arabic). 19 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Khaled, Nasser (26 July 2023). "تقنية الفيديو حاضرة في لقاء العهد والراسينغ" [Video technology will be present in the match between Ahed and Racing]. Kooora (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم يكشف عن النظام الجديد للبطولات" [The Lebanese Football Association reveals the new competition system]. Elsport (in Arabic). 25 July 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "تداعيات انسحاب البرج تتكرّس بقرار انضباطي رسمي" [The consequences of Bourj's withdrawal are confirmed by an official disciplinary decision]. Nidaa Al Watan (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 Stokkermans, Karel (2 August 2026). "Lebanon 2025/26". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- 1 2 "مقررات الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم : خصم نقاط من الصفاء، تحديد أندية الأوائل والأواخر، وعقوبات انضباطية بالجملة" [Decisions of the Lebanese Football Association: points deducted from Safa, identification of the top and bottom clubs, and disciplinary sanctions]. Elsport (in Arabic). 6 July 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم يُثبت الأنصار بطلاً للدوري وعقوبات انضباطية تطال أندية وإداريين" [The Lebanese Football Association confirms Ansar as league champions and issues disciplinary sanctions against clubs and officials]. Elsport (in Arabic). 3 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "AFC Club Competitions 2026/27 Slot Allocation (West)" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ صعود جويا والمبرة إلى الدرجة الأولى: قصتا نجاح بنكهتين مختلفتين. الأخبار (in Arabic). 5 June 2025.
- ↑ نادي البرج يعلن انسحابه من بطولة كرة القدم. An-Nahar (in Arabic). 12 January 2026.
- ↑ "Lebanese First Division 2025/2026". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "Tadamon SC Sour 1–3 Al Riyadi Al Abbasiyah Club". Global Sports Archive. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "Al Mabarrah SC 0–7 Al Ansar SC". Global Sports Archive. 29 June 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.