2026 Esiliiga

Esiliiga
Season2026
Dates5 March – 8 November 2026
← 2025
2027 →

The 2026 Esiliiga is the 36th season of the Esiliiga. The season began on 5 March 2026 and is set to conclude on 8 November 2026.

Teams

The league consisted of ten teams; seven teams remaining from the previous season, two teams promoted from the Esiliiga B, and one team relegated from the Meistriliiga.

The promoted teams were the 2025 Esiliiga B champions Maardu Linnameeskond and runners-up Nõmme United U21. They replaced the 2025 Esiliiga bottom two teams Tallinna Kalev U21 and Tammeka U21.

The relegated team was the 2025 Meistriliiga bottom-placed team Tallinna Kalev. They replaced the 2025 Esiliiga champions Nõmme United.

Stadiums and locations

Locations of the 2026 Esiliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Elva Otepää Tehvandi Stadium 3,144[1]
FCI Levadia U21 Tallinn Maarjamäe Stadium 30[2]
Flora U21 Lilleküla Training Ground I 150[3]
Maardu Linnameeskond Maardu Maardu Linnastaadion 500[4]
Nõmme Kalju U21 Tallinn Hiiu Stadium 570[5]
Nõmme United U21 Männiku Stadium 500[6]
Tallinn Lasnamäe Sports Complex Stadium 200[7]
Tallinna Kalev Sportland Arena 1,172[8]
Viimsi Haabneeme Viimsi Stadium 1,006[9]
Welco Tartu Holm Park 580[10]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Elva Kaido Koppel Jasper Reilson Nike Unibet, Sportland
FCI Levadia U21 Dmitri Kruglov Macron[11] Viimsi Keevitus
Flora U21 Ats Sillaste Joosep Palts Nike Zondacrypto[12]
Maardu Linnameeskond Deniss Kovtun Aleksandr Kulinitš Givova None
Nõmme Kalju U21 Erik Šteinberg Igor Subbotin Adidas None
Nõmme United U21 Eero Maling Adidas TonyBet
Tallinn Andrei Kalimullin Vladislav Tšurilkin Adidas None
Tallinna Kalev Ivan Stojković Vadim Mihhailov Macron None
Viimsi Andres Oper
Arli Salm 		Karl Erich Kaljuvere Joma Assa Abloy, Penosil
Welco Alo Bärengrub Taijo Teniste Adidas Holm Bank

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Welco Jaanus Reitel Mutual consent 9 November 2025[13] Pre-season Alo Bärengrub 22 December 2025[14]
FCI Levadia U21 Santi García End of contract 4 December 2025[15] Dmitri Kruglov 11 December 2025[16]
Viimsi Ivo Lehtmets Resigned 5 December 2025[17] Andres Oper
Arli Salm 		8 December 2025[18]
Flora U21 Taavi Viik Signed by Vaprus 19 December 2025[19] Ats Sillaste 2 January 2026[20]
Tallinna Kalev Alo Bärengrub Signed by Welco 22 December 2025[14] Ivan Stojković 22 December 2025[21]
Nõmme United U21 Risto Sarapik Resigned 14 January 2026[22] Eero Maling 16 January 2026[23]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Welco 3 3 0 0 14 2 +12 9 Promotion to the Meistriliiga
2 Elva 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 Qualification for the Meistriliiga play-off
3 Nõmme United U21 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 Not eligible for promotion[Note]
4 Viimsi 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7
5 FCI Levadia U21 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3 Not eligible for promotion[Note]
6 Tallinna Kalev 3 1 0 2 5 6 −1 3
7 Flora U21 3 1 0 2 5 9 −4 3 Not eligible for promotion[Note]
8 Tallinn 3 0 2 1 4 8 −4 2 Qualification for the Esiliiga play-off
9 Nõmme Kalju U21 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1 Relegation to Esiliiga B
10 Maardu Linnameeskond 3 0 0 3 2 12 −10 0
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: Esiliiga
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Less matches awarded against; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Away goals scored; 9) Fair-play points; 10) Draw[24]

Notes

  1. ^
    Ineligible for promotion as a division below senior team.

Results

Home \ Away ELV FCI FLO MLM NÕK NÕM TAL TLK VII WEL ELV FCI FLO MLM NÕK NÕM TAL TLK VII WEL
Elva 3–2
FCI Levadia U21 2–0 0–1
Flora U21 3–1 1–6
Maardu Linnameeskond 0–3
Nõmme Kalju U21 0–0
Nõmme United U21 4–1 2–2
Tallinn 1–1
Tallinna Kalev 5–1
Viimsi 2–1 2–0
Welco 5–1 3–0
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: Esiliiga
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tehvandi Spordikeskuse staadion". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Maarjamäe jalgpallikeskus". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  3. ^ "A. Le Coq Arena I ja II muruväljak". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Maardu linna spordiväljakud". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Hiiu Staadioni spordiväljakud". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Männiku Jalgpallikeskuse jalgpalliväljakud". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Lasnamäe Spordikompleksi staadion ja palliväljakud". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Sportland Arena". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Viimsi staadion". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Holm Jalgpallipark". Spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  11. ^ "FCI Levadia uueks tehniliseks partneriks on hooajast 2023 Itaalia spordirõivaste bränd Macron, mida esindab Eestis 4Teams". fcilevadia.ee. 12 January 2023.
  12. ^ "zondacrypto announces the partnership with FC Flora Tallinn!". zondacrypto. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Reiteli jaoks jääb tänavune hooaeg Welcos viimaseks". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Kalevist Welcosse kolinud Bärengrub: siht on tõusta suurte poiste sekka". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Levadia duubli peatreener lahkus klubist suure rahuloluga". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 4 December 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Levadia noored uuele tasemele viinud Dmitri Kruglov sai ametikõrgendust". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Lehtmets astus Viimsi peatreenerikohalt tagasi". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 5 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Viimsit juhendavad edaspidi kaks kaaspeatreenerit, nende seas koondise rekordväravakütt". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 8 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Ametlik: Vaprus tõi Prinsi abiliseks endise Flora peatreeneri". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Paidest lahkunud Sillaste sai peatreeneriks endale tuttavas esiliigasatsis". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Tagasi tüüri juures! Kalevi uueks peatreeneriks nimetati Stojkovic". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  22. ^ "Nõmme Unitedi duubli Esiliigasse tõstnud Sarapik võttis jalgpallist pausi". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 14 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Sarapiku töö Esiliigasse tõusnud tiimis võtab üle senine abitreener". Soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Eesti 2026. a jalgpalli meistrivõistluste A. Le Coq Premium liiga ja Esiliigade juhend" (PDF) (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. pp. 17–18. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
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