| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 16 January – December 2026 |
← 2025 2027 → | |
The 2026 Liga DIMAYOR (officially known as the 2026 Liga BetPlay Dimayor for sponsorship purposes) will be the 79th season of the first division of Colombian football. The season is scheduled to begin on 16 January 2026.[1]
Two tournaments (Apertura and Finalización) will be played in the season, each one of them being an independent championship. Junior will enter the season as defending champions, having won the 2025 Finalización tournament.
Format
[edit]The competition format for the season was determined at the Extraordinary Assembly of Dimayor, held on 10 and 11 December 2025. Due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the need to end the Torneo Apertura by 5 June 2026, the format proposed and eventually approved for the Torneo Apertura consisted in playing a round-robin first stage with 19 matchdays (without the extra regional derby matchday), with the top eight teams advancing to a final stage to be played as single-elimination playoffs instead of the semifinal group stage played in recent seasons, thus resembling the format last used in the 2021 Apertura tournament.[2][3]
Unlike the Apertura, the Torneo Finalización will be played under the usual format, with a round-robin first stage in which teams will play each other once (with reversed fixtures) and the top eight teams from the first stage advancing to the following phase. Instead of play-offs, the eight qualified teams will be drawn into two semi-final groups, with the two group winners advancing to play the tournament finals.[4]
Teams
[edit]
Twenty teams will take part in the season, the top 18 teams in the relegation table of the previous season as well as the 2025 Torneo DIMAYOR champions Jaguares and Cúcuta Deportivo, who returned to the top flight after one year and six years, respectively. Both teams promoted after winning the season's short tournaments and securing the top two places of the aggregate table.[5][6] The promoted teams replaced Envigado and Unión Magdalena, the bottom two teams in the relegation table of the 2025 season, who were relegated to Torneo DIMAYOR after sixteen and one year in the top flight, respectively.[7]
Starting from this season, La Equidad rebranded to Internacional de Bogotá, following the club's takeover by the Tylis-Porter Group in early 2025 and the decision by its former owners Seguros La Equidad to keep the name, symbols and colors to themselves.[8][9] The club's new identity was officially presented on 10 December 2025.[10]
Stadia and locations
[edit]Personnel and kits
[edit]| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Main shirt sponsor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Águilas Doradas |  Juan David Niño
|
Aerosport | |
| Alianza | Hubert Bodhert
|
Pin-Go | Gobernación del Cesar, Pool, Fundación Universitaria San Mateo |
| América de Cali | David González
|
Le Coq Sportif | Águila, BetPlay |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Leonel Álvarez
|
Lotto | Rivalo, Clinisports |
| Atlético Nacional | Diego Arias
|
Nike | Betsson |
| Boyacá Chicó | Flabio Torres
|
Geus | Pool |
| Cúcuta Deportivo | Nelson Flórez
|
Boman | Crezcamos Compañía de Financiamiento, BetPlay |
| Deportes Tolima | Lucas González
|
Umbro | BetPlay, Pool, Mercacentro |
| Deportivo Cali | Alberto Gamero
|
Hillside | Wplay, Pastas La Muñeca, FluoCardent |
| Deportivo Pasto |  Jonathan Risueño
|
Boman | Aguardiente Nariño, Banco AV Villas |
| Deportivo Pereira |  Vacant
|
Oto | Matecaña International Airport, Gobernación de Risaralda |
| Fortaleza | Sebastián Oliveros
|
Go Rigo Go | Stake |
| Independiente Medellín | Alejandro Restrepo
|
Adidas | Colanta, Wplay |
| Internacional de Bogotá |  Ricardo Valiño
|
Umbro | BetPlay, TaDa, Bogotá |
| Jaguares | Alexis Márquez
|
Kimo | Colanta, Pool |
| Junior |  Alfredo Arias
|
Adidas | Olímpica, Águila, Tecnoglass |
| Llaneros | José Luis García
|
Aerosport | Maxi Cola, Aitabü Hotel Campestre, Gobernación del Meta |
| Millonarios | Hernán Torres
|
Adidas | Cerveza Andina |
| Once Caldas | Hernán Darío Herrera
|
Boman | Colanta, BetPlay, Wakate |
| Santa Fe | Pablo Repetto
|
Fila | Colanta, BetPlay |
Managerial changes
[edit]| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torneo Apertura | ||||||
| Deportivo Pereira | Cristian Galíndez
|
End of caretaker spell | 12 November 2025 | Pre-season | ||
| Internacional de Bogotá | Daniel Gómez
|
12 November 2025 | Ricardo Valiño
|
10 December 2025[11] | ||
| Deportivo Pasto | René Rosero
|
13 November 2025 | Jonathan Risueño
|
1 December 2025[12] | ||
| Jaguares | Álvaro Hernández
|
Resigned | 24 November 2025[13] | Alexis Márquez
|
28 November 2025[14] | |
| Águilas Doradas | Jonathan Risueño
|
26 November 2025[15] | Juan David Niño
|
17 December 2025[16] | ||
| Santa Fe | Francisco López Grigori Méndez
|
End of caretaker spell | 8 December 2025[17] | Pablo Repetto
|
2 December 2025[18] | |
Torneo Apertura
[edit]The Torneo Apertura, officially known as Liga BetPlay Dimayor 2026–I, will be the 102nd first division football championship and the first tournament of the 2026 season. It is scheduled to start on 16 January and end on 5 June 2026.[19]
First stage
[edit]Standings
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águilas Doradas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 2 | Alianza | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | América de Cali | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Atlético Nacional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Boyacá Chicó | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Deportes Tolima | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Deportivo Cali | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Pasto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Deportivo Pereira | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Fortaleza | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Independiente Medellín | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Internacional de Bogotá | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Jaguares | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | Junior | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | Llaneros | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | Millonarios | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | Once Caldas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | Santa Fe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Away goals against, 6) Yellow cards, 7) Red cards, 8) Drawing of lots.
Results
[edit]Relegation
[edit]A separate table is kept to determine the teams that will be relegated to Torneo DIMAYOR for the next season. This table is elaborated from a sum of all first stage games played in the three most recent seasons (including the 2024–I, 2024–II, 2025–I, 2025–II, 2026–I, and 2026–II tournaments), with the points earned being averaged per match played. The bottom two teams of the relegation table at the end of the season will be relegated to Torneo DIMAYOR.
| Pos | Team | 2024 Pts |
2025 Pts |
2026 Pts |
2026 GF |
2026 GA |
2026 GD |
Total Pld |
Total Pts |
Avg. | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deportes Tolima | 72 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 146 | 1.872 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 71 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 135 | 1.731 | |
| 3 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 66 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 132 | 1.692 | |
| 4 | Junior | 60 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 132 | 1.692 | |
| 5 | América de Cali | 62 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 130 | 1.667 | |
| 6 | Independiente Medellín | 58 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 130 | 1.667 | |
| 7 | Millonarios | 66 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 130 | 1.667 | |
| 8 | Atlético Nacional | 56 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 128 | 1.641 | |
| 9 | Once Caldas | 60 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 120 | 1.538 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Pereira | 61 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 107 | 1.372 | |
| 11 | Fortaleza | 51 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 106 | 1.359 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Pasto | 49 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 97 | 1.244 | |
| 13 | Águilas Doradas | 46 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 94 | 1.205 | |
| 14 | Alianza | 33 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 91 | 1.167 | |
| 15 | Llaneros | — | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 45 | 1.125 | |
| 16 | Deportivo Cali | 38 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 83 | 1.064 | |
| 17 | Internacional de Bogotá | 55 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 79 | 1.013 | |
| 18 | Boyacá Chicó | 33 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 69 | 0.885 | |
| 19 | Jaguares | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | Relegation to Torneo DIMAYOR |
| 20 | Cúcuta Deportivo | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Source: El Tiempo[20]
Rules for classification: 1) average, 2) 2026 points, 3) 2026 goal difference, 4) 2026 goals scored, 5) 2026 away goals scored, 6) 2026 away goals against, 7) 2026 wins, 8) 2026 yellow cards, 9) 2026 red cards, 10) drawing of lots.
References
[edit]- ^ Amézquita, Christian (22 November 2025). "Liga Colombiana 2026: fecha en que iniciará y el sorpresivo formato que tendría por el Mundial" [2026 Colombian League: Start date and the surprising format it would have due to the World Cup] (in Spanish). Caracol Radio. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Liga BetPlay 2026: Formato, cambios y qué se debatirá en Asamblea" [2026 Liga BetPlay: Format, changes and what will be discussed at the Assembly] (in Spanish). ESPN. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ^ "Revolución en la Liga BetPlay: Dimayor define dos formatos de competencia y la norma de los extranjeros en año de Mundial" [Revolution in Liga BetPlay: Dimayor sets two competition formats and the foreigner rule in World Cup year] (in Spanish). Marca. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Liga BetPlay 2026: Dimayor aprueba cambios y nuevo formato" [2026 Liga BetPlay: Dimayor approves changes and new format] (in Spanish). ESPN. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ Rodríguez Parrado, Juan Camilo (11 November 2025). "Jaguares se convirtió en el primer ascendido a la Liga BetPlay Dimayor: empató contra Cúcuta y se aseguró un lugar en la A" [Jaguares became the first team promoted to the Liga BetPlay Dimayor: they drew with Cúcuta and secured a spot in the top flight] (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Cúcuta Deportivo vuelve a primera división después de seis años" [Cúcuta Deportivo return to the first division after six years] (in Spanish). Zona Cero. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Estos son los equipos descendidos a Categoría B en Colombia para 2026" [These are the teams relegated to Categoría B in Colombia for 2026] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Chalela Ambrad, Daniel (14 July 2025). "Presidente de La Equidad confirmó detalles de nuevo nombre, uniforme y escudo: ya hay fecha" [La Equidad chairman confirmed details on new name, kit and crest: there is a date already] (in Spanish). Deportes RCN. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Pinzón, David Esteban (9 May 2025). "'Internacional de Bogotá' sería el nuevo nombre de popular equipo de la primera división del fútbol colombiano" ["Internacional de Bogotá" would be the new name of popular team in the first division of Colombian football] (in Spanish). NTN24. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Yepes Izquierdo, Harold (10 December 2025). "Fin de la espera en la Liga Betplay: Internacional de Bogotá presentó su nuevo escudo y sus colores tras dejar de llamarse La Equidad" [The wait is over in the Liga Betplay: Internacional de Bogotá unveiled its new crest and colors after changing its name from La Equidad] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ "Nace Internacional de Bogotá, la nueva era de la antigua Equidad Seguros" [Internacional de Bogotá, the new era of the former Equidad Seguros, is born] (in Spanish). Pluralidad Z. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ Vallejo, Sebastián (1 December 2025). "Jonathan Risueño, el elegido para levantar al Deportivo Pasto" [Jonathan Risueño, the chosen one to lift Deportivo Pasto] (in Spanish). Claro Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Hernández, Claudia (24 November 2025). "Álvaro Hernández renunció como director técnico de Jaguares de Córdoba" [Álvaro Hernández resigned as head coach of Jaguares de Córdoba] (in Spanish). W Radio. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Alexis Márquez regresa a Jaguares de Córdoba como director técnico" [Alexis Márquez returns to Jaguares de Córdoba as head coach] (in Spanish). El Meridiano. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Chalela Ambrad, Daniel (26 November 2025). "Equipo de la Liga BetPlay arranca el 2026 sin entrenador" [2026 Liga BetPlay team starts 2026 without a coach] (in Spanish). Deportes RCN. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Un boyacense, el nuevo director técnico del equipo de fútbol Águilas Doradas" [A Boyacá native, the new head coach of the Águilas Doradas football team] (in Spanish). Boyacá 7 Días. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ Rivera, Nelson (4 December 2025). "Francisco López y el Santa Fe que le entrega a Pablo Repetto" [Francisco López and the Santa Fe team he is handing over to Pablo Repetto] (in Spanish). Claro Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ González Villate, Christian Ricardo (2 December 2025). "Pablo Repetto es el nuevo DT de Santa Fe" [Pablo Repetto is Santa Fe's new coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Chalela Ambrad, Daniel (10 December 2025). "Así se jugará la primera fecha de la Liga BetPlay 2026-I" [This is how the 2026-I Liga BetPlay's first matchday will be played] (in Spanish). Deportes RCN. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ Ascensio, José Orlando (14 November 2025). "Así comienza la tabla del descenso para 2026: Boyacá Chicó, Internacional de Bogotá y Deportivo Cali, los más comprometidos" [This is how the relegation table starts in 2026: Boyacá Chicó, Internacional de Bogotá, and Deportivo Cali, the most compromised ones] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
External links
[edit]- Dimayor's official website (in Spanish)