2026 Liga de Primera

Liga de Primera Mercado Libre
Season2026
Dates30 January – 6 December 2026
Matches56
Goals141 (2.52 per match)
Top goalscorerFernando Zampedri (9 goals)
Biggest home winAudax Italiano 3–0 U. de Concepción
(6 February)
Unión La Calera 3–0 Audax Italiano
(27 February)
Dep. Limache 3–0 Huachipato
(28 February)
Dep. La Serena 3–0 Unión La Calera
(6 March)
Audax Italiano 3–0 Dep. Concepción
(13 March)
Biggest away winEverton 0–3 Huachipato
(13 February)
U. de Concepción 0–3 Everton
(1 March)
Cobresal 2–5 Dep. Limache
(15 March)
Highest scoringCobresal 2–5 Dep. Limache
(15 March)
← 2025
2027 →
All statistics correct as of 16 March 2026.

The 2026 Liga de Primera, known as Liga de Primera Mercado Libre 2026 for sponsorship purposes,[1] is the 96th season of the Liga de Primera, Chile's top-flight football league. The season began on 30 January and is scheduled to end on 6 December 2026.[2][3]

Coquimbo Unido are the defending champions.

Format changes

Although the competition kept its usual double round-robin format with teams playing each other twice for a total of 30 matchdays, changes were made to the distribution of international berths due to the introduction of a new competition named Copa de la Liga starting from 2026. The Liga de Primera champions and runners-up will still qualify for the group stage of the 2027 Copa Libertadores, whilst the team placing third in the league will face the 2026 Copa Chile champions in a play-off match for a berth into the Copa Libertadores second stage. The teams placing from fourth to sixth will qualify for the 2027 Copa Sudamericana, with the loser of the play-off match between the third-placed team and the Copa Chile champions being entitled to claim the last Copa Sudamericana berth.[4]

Teams

Locations of the 2026 Liga de Primera teams.
Locations of the 2026 Liga de Primera teams – Santiago.

Sixteen teams take part in the league in this season: the top 14 teams from the 2025 Liga de Primera, plus the 2025 Primera B champions Universidad de Concepción and the winners of the Primera B promotion play-offs Deportes Concepción. Universidad de Concepción returned to the top tier after five years, clinching promotion as well as winning the Primera B tournament with a 3–0 victory over Deportes Copiapó on 1 November 2025,[5] whilst Deportes Concepción confirmed their first promotion to the top flight in 17 years after defeating Cobreloa in the promotion play-off finals on 7 December 2025.[6] The promoted teams replaced Deportes Iquique, who were relegated after two seasons,[7] and Unión Española, relegated to the second tier after 28 years.[8]

Stadia and locations

Team City Stadium Capacity
Audax Italiano Santiago (La Florida) Bicentenario de La Florida 11,637
Cobresal El Salvador El Cobre 11,240
Colo-Colo Santiago (Macul) Monumental David Arellano 43,667
Coquimbo Unido Coquimbo Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso 15,809
Deportes Concepción Concepción Ester Roa Rebolledo 30,448
Deportes La Serena La Serena La Portada 17,134
Deportes Limache Quillota Lucio Fariña Fernández[i] 7,680
Everton Viña del Mar Sausalito 21,754
Huachipato Talcahuano Huachipato-CAP Acero 10,032
Ñublense Chillán Nelson Oyarzún Arenas 11,319
O'Higgins Rancagua El Teniente 12,476
Palestino Santiago (La Cisterna) Municipal de La Cisterna 8,000
Unión La Calera La Calera Nicolás Chahuán Nazar 8,353
Universidad Católica Santiago (Las Condes) Claro Arena 20,249
Universidad de Chile Santiago (Ñuñoa) Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos 46,190
Universidad de Concepción Concepción Ester Roa Rebolledo 30,448
Notes
  1. ^ Deportes Limache play their home matches at Estadio Municipal Lucio Fariña Fernández in Quillota since their regular stadium Estadio Gustavo Ocaranza in Limache does not meet ANFP requirements.

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsors
Audax Italiano Gustavo Lema Macron Apuestas Royal
Cobresal Gustavo Huerta KS7 Apuestas Royal, Pullman Bus
Colo-Colo Fernando Ortiz Adidas JugaBet
Coquimbo Unido Hernán Caputto Capelli Sport Pin-Up Casino
Deportes Concepción Walter Lemma Kelme Apuestas Royal
Deportes La Serena Felipe Gutiérrez Fiume Apuestas Royal
Deportes Limache Víctor Rivero Claus-7 Apuestas Royal
Everton Walter Ribonetto Skechers Terrawind
Huachipato Jaime García Marathon Apuestas Royal
Ñublense Juan José Ribera Macron Apuestas Royal
O'Higgins Lucas Bovaglio Joma BC.GAME
Palestino Cristián Muñoz Capelli Sport Bank of Palestine
Unión La Calera Martín Cicotello Givova Apuestas Royal
Universidad Católica Daniel Garnero Puma BICE
Universidad de Chile Fernando Gago Adidas JugaBet
Universidad de Concepción Facundo Gareca (caretaker) Capelli Sport Apuestas Royal

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Universidad de Concepción Cristián Muñoz Resigned 1 December 2025[9] Pre-season Juan Cruz Real 16 December 2025[10]
Coquimbo Unido Esteban González 6 December 2025[11] Hernán Caputto 13 December 2025[12]
Palestino Lucas Bovaglio End of contract 7 December 2025[13] Cristián Muñoz 19 December 2025[14]
Ñublense Ronald Fuentes 8 December 2025[15] Juan José Ribera 18 December 2025[16]
Deportes La Serena Mario Sciacqua Sacked 11 December 2025[17] Felipe Gutiérrez 26 December 2025[18]
O'Higgins Francisco Meneghini End of contract 22 December 2025[19] Lucas Bovaglio 27 December 2025[20]
Universidad de Chile Gustavo Álvarez Mutual agreement 23 December 2025[21] Francisco Meneghini 29 December 2025[22]
Everton Javier Torrente Sacked 25 February 2026[23] 16th Davis González[i] 25 February 2026[23]
Davis González End of caretaker spell 8 March 2026[24] 15th Walter Ribonetto 10 March 2026[25]
Universidad de Chile Francisco Meneghini Sacked 10 March 2026[26] 12th Jhon Valladares[i] 11 March 2026[27]
Universidad de Concepción Juan Cruz Real Resigned 10 March 2026[28] 11th Facundo Gareca[i] 11 March 2026[29]
Deportes Concepción Patricio Almendra 13 March 2026[30] 16th Walter Lemma 17 March 2026[31]
Universidad de Chile Jhon Valladares End of caretaker spell 20 March 2026 8th Fernando Gago 20 March 2026[32]
Notes
  1. ^ a b c Caretaker manager.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Colo-Colo 7 5 0 2 8 4 +4 15 Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage
2 Deportes Limache 7 4 2 1 16 8 +8 14
3 Ñublense 7 3 3 1 9 6 +3 12 Qualification for Copa Libertadores play-off
4 Universidad Católica 7 3 2 2 13 10 +3 11 Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage
5 Universidad de Concepción 7 3 2 2 6 9 −3 11
6 Audax Italiano 7 3 1 3 7 5 +2 10
7 Unión La Calera 7 3 1 3 10 9 +1 10
8 Universidad de Chile 7 2 4 1 6 5 +1 10
9 O'Higgins 7 3 1 3 10 11 −1 10
10 Deportes La Serena 7 2 3 2 9 7 +2 9
11 Coquimbo Unido 7 3 0 4 8 8 0 9
12 Huachipato 7 3 0 4 8 11 −3 9
13 Palestino 7 2 2 3 11 11 0 8
14 Everton 7 2 1 4 6 9 −3 7
15 Cobresal 7 2 1 4 10 16 −6 7 Relegation to Liga de Ascenso
16 Deportes Concepción 7 1 1 5 4 12 −8 4
Updated to match(es) played on 16 March 2026. Source: Campeonato Chileno, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Playoff game (only if needed to decide championship between two teams), 3) Goal difference, 4) Matches won, 5) Goals for, 6) Away goals for, 7) Red cards, 8) Yellow cards, 9) Drawing of lots.

Results

Home \ Away AUD CSL CC COQ DCO DLS LIM EVE HUA ÑUB OHI PAL ULC UC UCH UDC
Audax Italiano — 0–1 3–0 1–0 3–0
Cobresal — 0–1 2–5 1–0 3–2
Colo-Colo — 2–0 2–0 1–0 a 0–1
Coquimbo Unido — 0–1 3–1 0–1
Deportes Concepción 1–1 — 0–2
Deportes La Serena 0–1 — 3–0 2–2 1–1
Deportes Limache 3–1 — 3–0 2–1
Everton 1–0 — 0–3 0–1
Huachipato 1–3 — 2–1 2–1
Ñublense 1–0 2–2 1–1 — 1–2
O'Higgins 0–1 2–1 1–0 — 1–0
Palestino 4–2 1–1 4–2 — 0–0
Unión La Calera 3–0 3–1 0–1 3–3 —
Universidad Católica a 3–1 2–0 2–2 — a
Universidad de Chile 0–0 a 2–2 a — 1–1
Universidad de Concepción 1–0 2–1 0–3 1–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 16 March 2026. Source: Campeonato Chileno, Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

As of 16 March 2026
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Fernando Zampedri Universidad Católica 9
2 Daniel Castro Deportes Limache 5
Sebastián Sáez Unión La Calera
4 Jean Meneses Deportes Limache 4
Nelson Da Silva Palestino
Steffan Pino Cobresal
7 Maximiliano Gutiérrez Huachipato 3
Ignacio Jeraldino Ñublense
Maximiliano Romero Colo-Colo
Justo Giani Universidad Católica

Source: Besoccer[33]

Attendance

Average home attendances

As of 16 March 2026
Rank Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1 Colo-Colo 4 122,819 38,318 24,934 30,705
2 Universidad de Chile 3 72,898 32,326 20,033 24,299
3 Universidad Católica 3 49,625 17,705 15,461 16,542
4 Coquimbo Unido 3 25,009 9,690 7,606 8,336
5 O'Higgins 4 24,422 7,438 4,263 6,106
6 Deportes Concepción 2 21,848 12,101 9,747 10,924
7 Ñublense 4 19,986 7,385 3,814 4,997
8 Deportes La Serena 4 15,504 5,578 2,857 3,876
9 Universidad de Concepción 4 14,374 11,125 525 3,594
10 Audax Italiano 4 9,731 3,204 1,869 2,433
11 Palestino 4 8,822 2,524 1,639 2,206
12 Unión La Calera 4 8,706 2,691 1,799 2,177
13 Deportes Limache 3 7,537 2,981 2,153 2,512
14 Everton 1 6,214 6,214 6,214 6,214
15 Huachipato 2 5,961 3,217 2,744 2,981
16 Cobresal 4 1,412 712 221 353
Total 53 414,868 38,318 221 7,828

Source: Worldfootball[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jeria, Diego (12 December 2025). "Millonario acuerdo: la Liga de Primera cambia de nombre para el 2026 con nuevo patrocinador" [Million-dollar deal: the Liga de Primera changes its name for 2026 with a new sponsor] (in Spanish). RedGol. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  2. ^ Catalán, Javier (24 November 2025). "Con nuevo torneo y fútbol de enero a diciembre: ANFP fija las fechas para el inicio de las competencias de 2026" [With a new tournament and football from January to December: ANFP sets the dates for the start of the 2026 competitions] (in Spanish). ADN Radio. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  3. ^ Viluñir Silva, JP (12 December 2025). "Todo listo: ANFP le pone fecha al inicio de la temporada 2026 de la Liga de Primera" [Everything set: ANFP sets a date for the start of the 2026 Liga de Primera season] (in Spanish). RedGol. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  4. ^ Zúñiga, Alfonso (14 October 2025). "Oficial: Consejo de Presidentes aprueba Copa de la Liga 2026 y redistribuye cupos internacionales" [Official: Council of Presidents approves 2026 Copa de La Liga and redistributes international slots] (in Spanish). RedGol. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  5. ^ Tapia, Carlos (1 November 2025). "El Campanil regresa a Primera: Universidad de Concepción se queda con la fiesta de Copiapó y con el título del Ascenso" [The Campanil returns to Primera: Universidad de Concepción claims both Copiapó's party and the Ascenso's title] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Deportes Concepción derrotó a Cobreloa y firmó su retorno a la Liga de Primera" [Deportes Concepción defeated Cobreloa and secured their return to the Liga de Primera] (in Spanish). ESPN. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  7. ^ Bastidas, Juan Miguel (6 December 2025). "Everton se salva en la última jornada y Deportes Iquique desciende sin obrar el milagro" [Everton avoid relegation on the final day and Deportes Iquique are relegated without pulling off a miracle] (in Spanish). TNT Sports. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Tras 28 años de su último descenso: Unión Española perdió duelo clave ante O'Higgins y condenó su caída a la Liga de Ascenso 2026" [After 28 years since their last relegation: Unión Española lost a key match against O'Higgins and sealed their fall to the 2026 Liga de Ascenso] (in Spanish). Onefootball. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  9. ^ Catalán, Bastián (1 December 2025). ""Debemos recuperar el tiempo perdido": U de Conce anuncia la salida de su DT con duro descargo" ["We must make up for the lost time": U de Conce announce the departure of their coach with a harsh statement] (in Spanish). Al Aire Libre. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  10. ^ Urrutia, Joaquín (16 December 2025). "Juan Cruz Real asumió la dirección técnica de la UdeC para la temporada 2026" [Juan Cruz Real took over the technical direction of UdeC for the 2026 season] (in Spanish). Radio UdeC. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  11. ^ González, Christian; Parker, Matías (6 December 2025). "Duro mazazo al campeón: Esteban González le anuncia su salida a Coquimbo Unido" [Major blow to the champion: Esteban González informs Coquimbo Unido of his departure] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  12. ^ González, Vicente (13 December 2025). "Con la Copa Libertadores por delante: Coquimbo Unido presenta a Hernán Caputto como su DT para el 2026" [With the Copa Libertadores on the horizon: Coquimbo Unido present Hernán Caputto as their manager for 2026] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Palestino oficializó la salida de Lucas Bovaglio" [Palestino made official the exit of Lucas Bovaglio] (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  14. ^ López Castro, Magdalena (19 December 2025). "Cristián Muñoz llega a Palestino con una señal potente que ya mira a la U de Chile en la Sudamericana" [Cristián Muñoz arrives at Palestino with a strong signal that he already has his sights set on U de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana] (in Spanish). Al Aire Libre. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  15. ^ Bustos, Daniel (8 December 2025). ""Valoramos profundamente su trabajo": Ñublense comunica la salida de Ronald Fuentes" ["We deeply value his work": Ñublense announce the departure of Ronald Fuentes] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Ñublense oficializó la contratación de Juan José Ribera como nuevo director técnico" [Ñublense made official the signing of Juan José Ribera as new head coach] (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  17. ^ Rivera Valencia, Carlos (11 December 2025). "Mario Sciacqua deja CD La Serena tras solo nueve fechas y un duro cierre de temporada" [Mario Sciacqua leaves CD La Serena after only nine matches and a tough end to the season] (in Spanish). El Día. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  18. ^ Solís Vega, Francisco (26 December 2025). "Tras polémico paso por Perú: La Serena oficializa a Felipe Gutiérrez como director técnico para 2026" [After controversial stint in Peru: La Serena officially appoint Felipe Gutiérrez as head coach for 2026] (in Spanish). Radio Bío-Bío. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  19. ^ García, Javier (22 December 2025). "Se acabó: O'Higgins comunica oficialmente el fin de ciclo de Francisco Meneghini" [It's over: O'Higgins officially inform the end of Francisco Meneghini's cycle] (in Spanish). En Cancha. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  20. ^ Miranda, Gonzalo (27 December 2025). "Fichaje inesperado: O'Higgins se olvida de 'Paqui' y tiene nuevo técnico para la temporada 2026" [Unexpected signing: O'Higgins forget about Paqui and have a new head coach for the 2026 season] (in Spanish). ADN Radio. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Universidad de Chile oficializó la salida de su entrenador Gustavo Álvarez" [Universidad de Chile made official the exit of their coach Gustavo Álvarez] (in Spanish). ESPN. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  22. ^ Arriaza, Bastián (29 December 2025). "Oficial: la U presentó a su nuevo entrenador" [Official: the U presented their new coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Javier Torrente se va de Everton y es el primer DT caído del Torneo Nacional" [Javier Torrente leaves Everton and is the Torneo Nacional's first sacked manager] (in Spanish). El Mercurio. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  24. ^ Zúñiga, Alfonso (8 March 2026). "Everton insistirá con DT extranjero pese al 100% de rendimiento de técnico interino" [Everton will insist on a foreign manager despite the interim manager's 100% performance] (in Spanish). RedGol. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Everton oficializó a Walter Ribonetto como su nuevo entrenador" [Everton turned Walter Ribonetto official as their new coach] (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  26. ^ Parker, Matías; González, Christian (10 March 2026). "Universidad de Chile se queda sin DT: los azules despiden a Paqui Meneghini" [Universidad de Chile end up without a manager: the blues fire Paqui Meneghini] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  27. ^ "Universidad de Chile oficializó salida de Meneghini y anunció quién será el técnico interino" [Universidad de Chile made official Meneghini's departure and announced who will be the interim manager] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  28. ^ García, Javier (10 March 2026). "Sorpresa total en la U. de Conce tras amargar a la U: su DT decidió renunciar" [Total shock at U. de Conce after upsetting the U: their manager decided to resign] (in Spanish). En Cancha. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Juan Cruz dejó la banca de Universidad de Concepción por "situaciones personales"" [Juan Cruz left the Universidad de Concepción bench due to "personal issues"] (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  30. ^ Pizarro, Felipe (13 March 2026). "Patricio Almendra renuncia tras derrota de Deportes Concepción: "Me voy con..."" [Patricio Almendra resigns after Deportes Concepción's defeat: "I'm leaving with..."] (in Spanish). TNT Sports. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  31. ^ "Deportes Concepción anunció a Walter Lemma como su nuevo técnico" [Deportes Concepción announced Walter Lemma as their new manager] (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  32. ^ Mujica, Lucas (20 March 2026). ""Jerarquía internacional": la U oficializa el arribo de Fernando Gago" ["International hierarchy": the U makes official the arrival of Fernando Gago] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  33. ^ "Table of top scorers Primera Chile 2026". BeSoccer. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  34. ^ "Liga de Primera 2026 Team-Statistics: Attendance Home»". Worldfootball. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
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