2025–26 Macedonian First Football League

Macedonian First League
Season2025–26
Dates8 August 2025 –
24 May 2026
Matches73
Goals218 (2.99 per match)
Top goalscorerBassirou Compaoré (12 goals)
All statistics correct as of 8 November 2025.

The 2025–26 Macedonian First League is the 34th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of North Macedonia. It began on 8 August 2025 and is scheduled to end on 24 May 2026.[1] Shkëndija are the defending champions, having won their fifth title in 2024–25.[2][3]

Promotion and relegation

At the end of the 2024–25 season

Promoted from 2024–25 Second League

Relegated to 2025–26 Second League

  • Besa (DD) (10th; lost play-off, relegated after a single season spell in top flight)
  • Gostivar (11th, relegated after a 2 seasons spell in top flight)1
  • Voska Sport (12th, relegated after a 2 seasons spell in top flight)2

1Gostivar withdrew from the First League after a leaving of pitch at the 29th round match against Rabotnički.[6]
2Voska Sport withdrew from the First League after a leaving of pitch at the 28th round match against Vardar.[7]

Participating teams

Arsimi AP Brera Shkendija Rabotnički Sileks
City Stadium Gostivar Blagoj Istatov Stadium
UEFA StarStarStar
Ecolog Stadium National Arena Toše Proeski
UEFA StarStarStarStar
Sileks Stadium
Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 9,200 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 33,011 Capacity: 4,800
Pelister
Location of teams in 2025–26 Macedonian First League
Makedonija G.P.
Petar Miloshevski Stadium Gjorče Petrov Stadium
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 3,000
Bashkimi Struga Tikvesh Vardar Shkupi
KF Bashkimi Stadium Gradska Plaža Stadium Kavadarci City Stadium National Arena Toše Proeski
UEFA StarStarStarStar
Čair Stadium
Capacity: 3,500 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 9,000 Capacity: 33,011 Capacity: 7,500

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Arsimi North Macedonia Vildan Saliu North Macedonia Vulnet Islami Sporttex Ardival AG
Bashkimi North Macedonia Muarem Muarem North Macedonia Armend Alimi Jako Aristan holdings LTD
AP Brera North Macedonia Martin Alagjozovski North Macedonia Filip Antovski Sportika SA Mozzart
Makedonija G.P. North Macedonia Boban Grnčarov North Macedonia Jovan Popzlatanov Joma KX.BLR
Pelister North Macedonia Dimitar Kapinkovski North Macedonia Mirko Ivanovski Joma
Rabotnichki Turkey Alparslan Erdem Albania Besir Demiri Joma
Shkëndija North Macedonia Jeton Beqiri North Macedonia Besart Ibraimi Macron Ecolog
Shkupi Turkey Ümit Sahin North Macedonia Suhejlj Muharem Reaction
Sileks North Macedonia Aleksandar Vasoski North Macedonia Darko Angjeleski Macron Sileks
Struga Albania Bledi Shkëmbi North Macedonia Bunjamin Shabani Macron Trim & Lum
Tikvesh North Macedonia Gjorgji Mojsov North Macedonia Aleksandar Varelovski Joma Sinalco
Vardar North Macedonia Goce Sedloski Bosnia and Herzegovina Goran Zakarić Erima Novomatic Macedonia

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Vardar 22 17 4 1 51 18 +33 55 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Shkëndija 22 16 4 2 43 18 +25 52 Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round
3 Struga 22 14 5 3 51 18 +33 47
4 Sileks 22 12 3 7 41 24 +17 39
5 Bashkimi 22 9 5 8 27 34 −7 32
6 Tikvesh 22 9 3 10 32 24 +8 30
7 Brera 22 7 7 8 32 38 −6 28
8 Arsimi 22 7 5 10 37 45 −8 26 Qualification for the Macedonian First Football League play-off
9 Makedonija G.P. 22 6 5 11 26 34 −8 23
10 Pelister 22 5 6 11 23 33 −10 21 Relegation to the Macedonian Second League
11 Rabotnički 22 4 4 14 23 42 −19 16
12 Shkupi 22 0 1 21 12 70 −58 1
Updated to match(es) played on 10 March 2026. Source: FFM.mk, MacedonianFootball.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Draw; 9) Play-off. (Note: Criteria 2, 3 and 8 is only used if not deciding Champion, teams for UEFA competitions or relegation).

Results

Every team will play three times against each other team for a total of 33 matches. The first 22 matchdays will consist of a regular double round-robin schedule. The league standings at this point will then be used to determine the games for the last 11 matchdays.

Home \ Away ARS BAS APB MGP PEL RAB SKE SKU SIL STR TIK VAR ARS BAS APB MGP PEL RAB SKE SKU SIL STR TIK VAR
Arsimi 4–2 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–2 3–0 4–2 0–1 1–2 0–5 1–4
Bashkimi 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–3 4–1 2–1 0–5 3–1 0–0
Brera 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 3–4 2–3 1–0 3–3 0–0 0–4 0–2
Makedonija G.P. 4–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 1–2 0–2 0–1 1–2
Pelister 0–4 1–2 1–0 1–1 4–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 a
Rabotnički 1–0 0–2 3–4 0–0 3–0 0–1 3–0 0–3 1–3 0–2 0–3
Shkëndija 0–0 2–1 1–1 7–2 2–1 1–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–1
Shkupi 0–3 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–3 1–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–6 2–4
Sileks 1–3 0–0 5–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 1–2 5–1 1–3 1–0 0–1
Struga 4–0 6–0 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–3 3–0 1–1
Tikvesh 3–4 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–4 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–2
Vardar 5–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 4–1 3–1 0–1 6–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 a
Updated to match(es) played on 10 March 2026. Source: FFM.mk, MacedonianFootball.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 8 December 2025.
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Burkina Faso Bassirou Compaoré Struga 12
Uganda Rogers Mato Vardar
3 Albania Shefit Shefiti Arsimi 11
4 North Macedonia Martin Mirchevski Sileks 9
5 North Macedonia Hristijan Maleski Struga 8
Gabon Fahd Ndzengue Brera Strumica
North Macedonia Azer Omeragikj Vardar
8 Ghana Emmanuel Avornyo Bashkimi 6
North Macedonia Ivan Ivanovski Tikvesh
Portugal Miguel Pires Sileks
North Macedonia Marjan Radeski Struga
North Macedonia Bunjamin Shabani Struga
North Macedonia Alban Taipi Arsimi
Senegal Fabrice Tamba Shkëndija

See also

References

  1. ^ "Календар за натпревари" (PDF) (in Macedonian). Football Federation of Macedonia. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. ^ "1.MFL 2024/25 Final Standings". MacedonianFootball.com. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  3. ^ "1. MFL 2024/2025 table, results - North Macedonia". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "2.MFL 2024/25 Final Standings". MacedonianFootball.com. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "2. MFL 2024/2025 table, results - North Macedonia". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Gostivar announced withdrawal from 1.MFL". MacedonianFootball.com. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Voska Sport announced withdrawal from 1.MFL". MacedonianFootball.com. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.