Restructuring Turkish Football: Fewer Teams, higher Stakes

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has announced a notable restructuring of the Super League, reducing the number of competing teams to 18 for the upcoming season. This decision,revealed after a board meeting held on April 16,2025,at the Riva Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities,marks a pivotal moment in Turkish football,aiming to boost club revenues and foster a more intense competitive atmosphere.

A Gradual Reduction: From Pandemic Expansion to Streamlined Competition

The TFF’s decision reverses a trend of league expansion seen in recent years. In the 2019-2020 season, Turkish professional leagues featured 125 teams. This number ballooned to 145 in the subsequent season (2020-2021), partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, wich led to the suspension of relegation at the request of the Club Association. The Super League itself temporarily expanded to 21 teams.

While the initial plan was to gradually decrease the number of teams across all leagues, the devastating earthquake of 2023 prompted the TFF to accommodate the affected clubs, delaying the planned reduction. Now, the federation is recommitting to its original vision.

In order to increase club revenues and create a stronger competitive habitat, the number of teams in the professional leagues in which 139 teams will compete in the 2025-2026 season will be reduced to a gradual reduction and the number of professional teams, which is already 139, will be reduced to 120 according to the number of falls and exits specified in the visual seasons.

Turkish Football Federation (TFF)

The Rationale Behind the Reduction: Financial Health and Competitive Intensity

The TFF’s primary motivation is to improve the financial health of Turkish football clubs and create a more competitive league. A smaller league, theoretically, concentrates talent and resources, leading to higher quality matches and increased fan engagement. This, in turn, can attract more lucrative sponsorship deals and broadcast rights, boosting club revenues.

Currently, many Turkish clubs struggle with significant debt. A more streamlined league structure could help alleviate these financial pressures by creating a more sustainable economic model. For example, the English Premier League, with its 20 teams, generates billions in revenue annually, demonstrating the potential of a well-managed, competitive league.

Looking Ahead: A New Era for turkish Football?

The reduction to 18 teams in the Super league represents a bold step by the TFF. The success of this initiative will depend on how effectively the federation manages the transition and ensures that the benefits of a smaller league are realized across all levels of Turkish football. The ultimate goal is to create a more vibrant and sustainable football ecosystem that can compete on the global stage.