Football in Poland

For American football, see Polish American Football League.

Football in Poland
The Kazimierz Górski National Stadium in Warsaw.
CountryPoland
Governing bodyPZPN
National teamsMen's national team
Women's national team
First played1921 (1921)
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Audience records
Single matchGórnik Z. vs. Austria W.
18 September 1963
Stadion Śląski
120,000 spectators

Football is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally. 67% of the Poles are interested in football[1] and 27% are very interested in it.[2] The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Poland national football team played its first international match in 1921.

There are hundreds of professional and amateur football teams in Poland; which are under the auspices of the national 1st league, 2nd level, 3rd level, 4 parallel divisions of 4th level, 16 regional parallel divisions of 5th level and a variety of other lower-level leagues. Additionally, there are the Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup competitions.

History

The history of football in Poland started in the late 19th century with the rising popularity of the new sport. At the time, the Polish state was partitioned. The first decades of Polish football are therefore connected with the history of Football in Austria and the Austrian Football Association, which was founded in 1904.

The first Polish football clubs were Lechia Lwów (1903), Czarni Lwów (1903), Pogoń Lwów (1904), KS Cracovia (1906) and Wisła Kraków (1906). The Polish national federation, called the Polish Football Union (Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej, PZPN), was founded on 20 December 1919, in Kraków when 31 delegates elected Edward Cetnarowski as the first president. The PZPN joined FIFA in 1923 and UEFA in 1955.

In a similar fashion to other European states, football appeared in Poland in the late 19th century. In 1888 Prof. Henryk Jordan, a court physician of the Habsburgs and the pioneer of sports in Poland, opened a sports park in Kraków's Błonia, a large open space surrounding the demolished city walls of that town. The park, along with the Sokół society founded in 1867, became the main centres to promote sports and healthy living in Poland. It was Jordan who began promoting football as a healthy sport in the open air; some sources also credit him with bringing the first football to Poland from his travels to Brunswick in 1890.[3] Other sources[4] mention Dr. Edmund Cenar as the one to bring the first ball and the one to translate The Cambridge Rules and parts of the International Football Association Board regulations to Polish language.

On 14 July 1894 during the Second Sokół Jamboree in Lwów a short football match was played between the Sokół members of Lwów and those from Kraków. It lasted only six minutes and was seen as a curiosity rather than a potentially popular sport. Nevertheless, it was the first recorded football match in Polish history.[a] It was won by the Lwów team after Włodzimierz Chomicki scored the only goal - the first known goal in Polish history.

This match precipitated the popularity of the new sport in Poland. Initially the rules and regulations were very simplified, with the size of the field and the ball varying greatly. Despite being discouraged by many educational societies and the state authorities, the new sport gained extreme popularity among pupils of various gymnasiums in Galicia. The first football teams were formed and in 1903–1904, four Lwów-based gymnasiums formed their own sport clubs: the IV Gymnasium for Boys formed a club later renamed to Pogoń Lwów, while the pupils of the I and II State Schools formed the Sława Lwów club, later renamed to Czarni Lwów.

On 6 June 1906 a representation of Lwów youth came to Kraków for a repeat match, this time composed of two already organized teams, the Czarni and the team of the IV Gymnasium. Kraków's representation was badly beaten in both meetings (4-0 and 2-0 respectively). The same summer the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show set up camp at Kraków's Błonia, right outside of the traditional playground area and Jordan's garden. On 5 August 1906 the team of the Kraków-based Jan Sobieski Gymnasium played a match against the British and American members of Buffalo Bill's troupe, winning 1–0. The only goal scored by Stanisław Szeligowski was also the first goal scored by a Polish team in an international meeting. The success led to the popularisation of football in Kraków and to creation of the first Kraków-based professional football team, KS Cracovia - initially composed primarily of students of the Jan Sobieski Gymnasium.[3] By the autumn of that year there were already 16 teams in Kraków, including Wisła Kraków (It is said that actually Wisła Kraków was the first professional football team and not Cracovia). In 1911, a Kraków-based Union of Polish Football for Galicia was formed and entered the Austrian Football Association. The union inspired the creation of a number of teams.

After the outbreak of World War I, most of the Galician football players, many of them members of either Strzelec or Sokół, joined Piłsudski's Polish Legions. The unit, fighting alongside the Austro-Hungarian Army, fought mostly in various parts of Russian-held Poland, which led to popularisation of the new sport in other parts of Poland. After Poland regained her independence, on 21 December 1919 the Polish Football Association (PZPN) was formed. Headed by Edward Centrarowski, it united most of the then-existent Polish football clubs. The league could not be formed due to the Polish-Bolshevik War, but in 1922 the PZPN published the rules of football[5] and the following year it joined FIFA. In 1921 the league was resumed and the first champions of Poland were KS Cracovia, followed by Pogoń Lwów in 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1926. As Poland was then a fully independent state, in 1921 the Poland national football team was formed. On 18 December 1921 it played its first international match in Budapest against the Hungarian team and was defeated 1–0. In the third international match in Stockholm on 28 May 1922 Poland defeated Sweden 2–1, scoring its first international victory.

During World War II, football in occupied Poland was subject to significant restrictions (see Football in occupied Poland (1939–1945)) for more.

In 1955, the PZPN became one of the founding members of UEFA.

Women's football

Main article: Poland women's national football team

In 1979, a Polish women's football league, the Ekstraliga, was established.

On 3 December 2024, the Polish women's national team made history by defeating Austria 1–0 in Vienna via a 94th minute goal by captain Ewa Pajor, thereby defeating the Austrians 2–0 on aggregate in a home and away playoff tie, and qualifying for their first ever major international tournament, the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro.[6]

Corruption in Polish football

In 2005, Polish authorities began an investigation into widespread corruption within Polish football.

In July 2006, the Polish sports minister criticized the PZPN (Polish Football Association) for failing to take adequate steps to fight corruption, and announced an audit of the organization. In January 2007, PZPN board member Wit Żelazko was arrested by Wrocław police. Shortly thereafter, the entire PZPN board was suspended by the sports ministry. This move displeased FIFA which announced that the principle of autonomy of football associations was of utmost importance. The Polish sports ministry, Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński, and most fans felt that the battle against corruption was more important,[7] but when FIFA threatened sanctions, the sports ministry backed down and agreed to re-instate the PZPN board.

In September 2008, the Polish Olympic Committee made a request to the Polish Arbitration Tribunal to suspend the management of the PZPN a second time, stating that the PZPN was guilty of "[violating] its statutes in a continuous and flagrant fashion."[8] This request was granted and Robert Zawłocki was named as temporary administrator. However, FIFA again threatened to suspend Polish teams from international competition.

On 15 April 2009, the total number of arrests reached 200, including referees, observers, coaches, players as well as some high-ranking officials of the PZPN.[9][10] By the end of April 2009, only 15 referees remained who were allowed to preside over top-flight matches.[11]

World Cup

Main article: Poland at the FIFA World Cup

Poland national football team have qualified for the finals on nine occasions, most recently for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Table

Year Result Position GP W D* L GS GA
1930 did not enter
1934
1938 Round 1 11th 1 0 0 1 5 6
1950 did not enter
1954
1958 did not qualify
1962
1966
1970
1974 Third place 3rd 7 6 0 1 16 5
1978 Second group stage 5th 6 3 1 2 6 6
1982 Third place 3rd 7 3 3 1 11 5
1986 Round of 16 14th 4 1 1 2 1 7
1990 did not qualify
1994
1998
2002 Group stage 25th 3 1 0 2 3 7
2006 Group stage 21st 3 1 0 2 2 4
2010 did not qualify
2014
2018 Group stage 25th 3 1 0 2 2 5
2022 Round of 16 15th 4 1 1 2 3 5
2026
Total Third place 8/21 38 17 6 15 49 50

European competitions

UEFA Champions League

The following teams have qualified at least for the main phase of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League.

UEFA Europa League

The following teams have qualified for the main phase of the UEFA Europa League.

UEFA Conference League

The following teams have qualified for the main phase of the UEFA Conference League.

UEFA Euro

Main article: Poland at the UEFA European Championship

Poland have participated in five UEFA European Championships so far: Euro 2008, Euro 2012, Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

On 18 April 2007, the President of UEFA, Michel Platini, announced that the hosts of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship would be Poland and Ukraine. Both countries automatically qualified for the event.

Table

UEFA European Championship record
Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
1960 Did not qualify
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008 Group stage 14th 3 0 1 2 1 4
2012 Group stage 14th 3 0 2 1 2 3
2016 Quarter-finals 5th 5 2 3 0 4 2
2020 Group stage 21st 3 0 1 2 4 6
2024 Group stage 23d 3 0 1 2 3 6
Total - - 17 2 8 7 14 21

Largest football stadiums in Poland

# Image Stadium Capacity Location Region Home team Opened
1 Kazimierz Górski National Stadium 58,580 Warsaw Masovian Poland 2012[12]
2 Silesian Stadium 55,211 Chorzów Silesian Poland 1956[13]
3 Wrocław Stadium 45,105 Wrocław Lower Silesian Śląsk Wrocław 2011[14]
4 Poznań Stadium 42,837 Poznań Greater Poland Lech Poznań 1980[15]
5 Gdańsk Stadium 41,620 Gdańsk Pomeranian Lechia Gdańsk 2011[16]

Attendances

The average attendance per top-flight football league season and the club with the highest average attendance:

Season League average Best club Best club average
2024-25 12,651 Lech Poznań 28,947
2023-24 12,322 Lech Poznań 24,852
2022-23 9,403 Legia Warszawa 21,230
2021-22 — — —
2020-21 — — —
2019-20 8,879 Legia Warszawa 17,376
2018-19 8,808 Legia Warszawa 17,614
2017-18 9,436 Lech Poznań 20,544
2016-17 9,622 Legia Warszawa 20,521
2015-16 9,103 Legia Warszawa 21,209
2014-15 8,325 Lech Poznań 18,999
2013-14 8,338 Lech Poznań 19,575
2012-13 8,409 Lech Poznań 22,640
2011-12 8,849 Legia Warszawa 20,928
2010-11 8,496 Lech Poznań 18,635
2009-10 5,247 Korona Kielce 10,182
2008-09 7,351 Lech Poznań 16,300
2007-08 7,329 Lech Poznań 18,010
2006-07 6,707 Lech Poznań 15,068
2005-06 5,522 Wisła Kraków 10,467
2004-05 5,230 Pogoń Szczecin 9,846
2003-04 5,492 Lech Poznań 14,846
2002-03 5,142 Lech Poznań 15,133
2001-02 4,078 Wisła Kraków 7,286
2000-01 4,465 Pogoń Szczecin 9,967
1999-2000 4,622 Pogoń Szczecin 9,687
1998-99 4,158 Wisła Kraków 7,720
1997-98 4,352 Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski 8,895
1996-97 3,818 Stomil Olsztyn 6,500
1995-96 4,264 Stomil Olsztyn 9,824
1994-95 4,209 Stomil Olsztyn 10,441
1993-94 4,236 Legia Warszawa 10,441
1992-93 3,724 Lech Poznań 7,765
1991-92 4,778 Lech Poznań 10,199
1990-91 4,471 Wisła Kraków 7,867
1989-90 7,404 Zawisza Bydgoszcz 15,811
1988-89 8,407 Jagiellonia Białystok 19,659
1987-88 9,840 Jagiellonia Białystok 26,133
1986-87 9,529 Górnik Zabrze 15,533
1985-86 10,044 Górnik Zabrze 19,067
1984-85 12,358 Lechia Gdańsk 25,400
1983-84 12,066 Lech Poznań 29,536
1982-83 9,598 Lech Poznań 23,533
1981-82 9,816 Pogoń Szczecin 18,267
1980-81 9,954 Zawisza Bydgoszcz 18,667
1979-80 11,082 Zawisza Bydgoszcz 20,867
1978-79 10,831 Arka Gdynia 16,933
1977-78 13,339 Wisła Kraków 28,200
1976-77 14,358 Pogoń Szczecin 21,800
1975-76 13,833 Pogoń Szczecin 23,667
1974-75 13,814 Lech Poznań 32,333
1973-74 13,939 Lech Poznań 34,867
1972-73 14,783 Lech Poznań 44,615
1971-72 12,971 ŁKS 27,538
1970-71 10,905 Ruch Chorzów 15,231
1969-70 10,192 Górnik Zabrze 15,077
1968-69 12,155 Ruch Chorzów 16,538
1967-68 13,375 Ruch Chorzów 29,615
1966-67 12,211 ŁKS 20,000
1965-66 13,857 Śląsk Wrocław 24,154
1964-65 11,387 Śląsk Wrocław 23,923
1963-64 11,481 Górnik Zabrze 16,692
1962-63 11,335 Pogoń Szczecin 16,462
1962 15,523 Górnik Zabrze 26,000
1961 13,115 Cracovia 18,923
1960 15,473 Wisła Kraków 19,273
1959 17,697 Pogoń Szczecin 24,182
1958 17,023 ŁKS 28,545
1957 17,402 Górnik Zabrze 27,273
1956 15,879 ŁKS 26,364
1955 13,515 ŁKS 23,364
1954 12,891 ŁKS 27,000
1953 10,867 Ruch Chorzów 16,364
1952 10,859 Lechia Gdańsk 18,000
1951 13,515 ŁKS 18,000
1950 11,464 ŁKS 18,091
1949 11,427 ŁKS 17,400
1948 8,431 Cracovia 12,214

Source:[17]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In fact there was a previous meeting mentioned by the press in Kraków in 1892, though no details are known

References

  1. ^ "Where is Soccer Most Popular? [With Charts by Country]". 30 June 2022.
  2. ^ TGM Research. "TGM Global Euro Survey 2024 | Insights in Poland". TGM Research. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  3. ^ a b Leszek Mazan (2006). "Buffalo Bill na Błoniach". Polityka (in Polish). 2544 (9): 82–84.
  4. ^ Zbigniew Chmielewski (2003). "Obok Czarnych znak Pogoni". Polityka (in Polish). 2414 (33).
  5. ^ Francis Percy Addington; Rudolf Wacek (1922). Teorja piłki nożnej (football); praktyczny i teoretyczny przewodnik gry wraz z prawidłami Polskiego Związku Piłki Nożnej (in Polish). Lwów: M. Bodek. p. 96.
  6. ^ Vinestock, Drew (2024-12-04). "Euro 2025: Poland qualify for first time after historic playoff win over Austria". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  7. ^ Sparre, Kirsten (2007-01-31). "Poland sets fighting corruption higher than football interests". Playthegame.org. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  8. ^ "Administrator taking over scandal-hit Polish federation". AFP. 2008-09-29. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  9. ^ "Dwie osoby zatrzymane w sprawie korupcji". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  10. ^ Pakulniewicz, Michał (2007-01-22). "Red card for PZPN". Warsaw Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  11. ^ Patryk Wasilewski and Gabriela Baczynska (2009-04-27). "More arrests likely in Polish corruption probe". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  12. ^ "Stadion Narodowy w końcu otwarty" (in Polish). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Dokładnie 64 lata temu został otwarty Stadion Śląski w Chorzowie. Co wiecie o Kotle Czarownic?" (in Polish). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Stadion we Wrocławiu" (in Polish). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Historia stadionu" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Teraz już Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk. Nowy sponsor tytularny gdańskiego stadionu" (in Polish). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Polish attendances".
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