The Puerto Rico soccer league system is a series of soccer leagues based in Puerto Rico. Sometimes erroneously called the Puerto Rican soccer pyramid, teams and leagues in the United States are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) officially defines leagues in levels, called divisions. Only the top division is officially sanctioned by the FPF with second division leagues sanctioned by local regional organizations.
The Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) is the national governing body of Puerto Rican football. Below the national level, the island is divided into six regional organizations.[1] These regional associations often only organize youth leagues, however, Organización Regional del Norte organizes a senior league, Liga del Norte de Futbol de Puerto Rico. These regional leagues effectively act as the second tier of Puerto Rican football.
| Pro Soccer Teams (includes teams outside PR) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Teams | PRSL (D1) | ||
| 8 | 8 | |||
| Year | Teams | PRSL (D1) | LNF (D2) | |
| 25 | 16 | |||
| 29 | 21 | |||
| 23 | 17 | |||
| Year | Teams | LNF (D1) | ||
| - | -2 | |||
| Year | Teams | PRSL (D1) | LNF (D1) | |
| - | 9 | |||
| - | 12 | |||
| 17 | 6 | |||
| 11 | -4 | |||
| - | - | - | ||
In Puerto Rico, men's outdoor soccer leagues are sanctioned by the Puerto Rican Football Federation. FPF doesn't currently recognise any league as fully professional, but Liga Puerto Rico is recognised as division 1 status. Liga Puerto Rico teams range widely in financial status with some able to pay semi-pro wages and others made up entirely of amateurs. There are no leagues under Liga Puerto Rico that are recognised by the FPF however some regional associations recognise senior leagues.
There are currently no recognized professional leagues.
1The PRSL recessed on 2010, and established a new tournament called "Supercopa DirecTV 2010" which served as the qualifier for the 2011 CFU Club Championship.
2The PRSL folded in the 2012 season, leaving Liga Nacional to be the sole D1 league at the time.
3 The 2015 Puerto Rico Soccer League season did not take place, but teams then participated in the Excellence Cup
4 The 2016 Liga Nacional season did not take place, but teams then participated in the Copa Luis Villarejo
| Division | Effective Football League System of Puerto Rico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Liga Puerto Rico 8 clubs – No relegation | ||
| II | Liga del Norte de Futbol de Puerto Rico 10 clubs – No promotion or relegation | ||
| League | Level | Teams | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | 1 | 8 | 2018 | |
| align=left | 2 (Effective) | 10 | 2023 | |
Founded in 2018, Liga Puerto Rico is the FPF sanctioned first division football league in Puerto Rico. The team has 8 clubs as of the 2023 Apertura. Clubs range from semi-professional to Amateur. The winner of the league earns a berth in the following CFU Club Championship.
Liga del Norte de Futbol de Puerto Rico is regional league run by Organización Regional del Norte, A regional affiliate of the FPF.[2] The league has 10 teams as of the 2023 season.[3] The league is fully amateur.
| League | U21 Teams | U17 Teams | 15 Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | 10[4] | 12[5] | 13[6] | |
| align=left | - | 12[7] | 12[8] | |
Puerto Rico has historically struggled to organize a national youth football competition. FPF formally recognises Liga Junior Puerto Rico as its national youth competition however Liga Elite de Puerto Rico arguably serves the nation as effectively as LJPR.