Alongside nine other applicants, Valmiera FC has been granted a Latvian Football Federation B licence to compete in the 2026 1st League championship.
After fully meeting all licensing criteria, licences were awarded to JDFS “Alberts”, Rēzeknes FA, FK “Metta”, Riga Mariners, JFK “Ventspils”, Skanstes SK, Leevon PPK, FK “Smiltene”, Mārupes SC, as well as Valmiera FC, the 2025 2nd League champions.
Places in the championship have also been retained by the reserve teams of Virslīga clubs — Riga FC-2, FC RFS-2, and FK “Tukums 2000-2”/TSS — who will be joined next season by the 2025 2nd League runners-up, SK “Super Nova-2”.
Under the guidance of head coach Gatis Kalniņš, Valmiera FC will begin the new season away from home, facing Riga FC-2 on March 21.
The 1st League championship will be played over two rounds. The league winner will earn direct promotion to the Virslīga, while the second-placed team will contest a promotion play-off against the second-to-last team from the Virslīga for the final spot in Latvia’s top division.
