Defensores Unidos vs Sportivo Italiano on 14 April
The Uruguayan Football Association has announced a new tournament format that will take effect in 2026. The season will be divided into two short tournaments: the Apertura and the Clausura. Each consists of a single round of matches, where every team plays each other once. If the same club wins both the Apertura and the Clausura, it will be declared the national champion automatically.
If two different clubs win the two short tournaments, they will face each other in a two-legged playoff final. The winner of that playoff will claim the national title. The two-legged final will also determine which teams qualify for the 2027 Copa Libertadores.
Regarding relegation, the current system remains in place. Relegation will continue to be based on the points-per-game average accumulated over the past two seasons, including both short tournaments. The two teams with the lowest average at the end of the season will drop to the Second Division.
Additionally, the total points earned across both the Apertura and Clausura will determine the qualifying spots for the 2027 Copa Sudamericana, South America’s secondary club competition.
