2025–26 Russian Premier League
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18 July 2025 – May 2026 |
| Matches played | 40 |
| Goals scored | 109 (2.73 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Aleksey Batrakov (6 goals) |
| Biggest home win | CSKA 5–1 Rubin 9 August 2025 Krasnodar 5–1 Sochi 17 August 2025 |
| Biggest away win | Sochi 0–4 Akron 26 July 2025 |
| Highest scoring | CSKA 5–1 Rubin 9 August 2025 Lokomotiv 4–2 Spartak 9 August 2025 Krasnodar 5–1 Sochi 17 August 2025 |
| Longest winning run | 4 matches Lokomotiv |
| Longest unbeaten run | 5 matches Baltika CSKA Lokomotiv |
| Longest winless run | 5 matches Sochi |
| Longest losing run | 4 matches Pari NN |
| Highest attendance | 43,757 Zenit 1–1 CSKA 3 August 2025 |
| Lowest attendance | 232 Pari NN 2–3 Lokomotiv 2 August 2025 played in Grozny |
| Total attendance | 553,166[1] |
| Average attendance | 13,829[1] |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 18 August 2025. | |
The 2025–26 Russian Premier League (known as the Mir Russian Premier League, also written as Mir Russian Premier Liga for sponsorship reasons) is the 34th season of the premier football competition in Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the 24th under the current Russian Premier League name. It started on 18 July 2025 and the regular season will end on 17 May 2026, followed by the relegation play-offs.
Teams
The relegation and promotion team movement was particularly complicated in this offseason. At the conclusion of the previous season, Orenburg and Fakel Voronezh were relegated directly from the Premier League, both after three seasons in the top tier. Top two teams of the Russian First League, Baltika Kaliningrad and Torpedo Moscow were promoted and returned to the Premier League after one and two seasons in the second tier, respectively. In the RPL/RFL play-offs, Premier League club Akhmat Grozny defeated Ural Yekaterinburg and remained in the league, while Pari Nizhny Novgorod lost to Sochi, Sochi returned to the Premier League after one season in the lower level.[2]
Khimki, which finished the RPL season outside of relegation zone, were relegated administratively by the Russian Football Union due to lack of financial guarantees.[3] After several weeks of uncertainty, on 16 June 2025 Khimki were officially replaced by Pari Nizhny Novgorod, which was kept in the league despite losing in the play-offs.[4]
In late June, an investigation was opened into Sochi's player Vladimir Pisarsky, who was betting on his team's games. On 3 July 2025, he was banned from football for at least a year, however, the club was not punished as there was no evidence that he influenced the games outcomes to improve his betting results.[5]
On 19 June 2025, Torpedo Moscow's co-owner Leonid Sobolev and general director Valeri Skorodumov were arrested on suspicion of attempting to bribe referee Maksim Perezva. They are suspected of offering Perezva 6,000,000 rubles (approximately 66,000 euros) for giving Torpedo advantage in three First League games from March 2025 to May 2025 in which he was expected to be the referee, Perezva reported their offer to the police. The investigators searched their offices and homes, confiscating communication devices and documents. Russian Football Union opened their own investigation.[6] On 8 July 2025, referee Bogdan Golovko, who did not award a penalty kick against Torpedo on the last day of the 2024–25 season (a decision later deemed incorrect by the official RFU refereeing review commission) was also arrested on the charge of "illegally influencing an official sporting event".[7][8] On 10 July 2025, eight days before the season was scheduled to begin, RFU excluded Torpedo from the Premier League, banned Skorodumov and Sobolev from football activity (for 10 and 5 years respectively) and fined Torpedo 5 million rubles (approximately 55,000 euros).[9] The league president Aleksandr Alayev commented that the decision about Torpedo's replacement (if any) will be made by the Russian Football Union.[10] On the next day, RFU decided to allow Orenburg to remain in the Premier League and keep Torpedo in the First League for the 2025–26 season.[11]
Venues
| Zenit Saint Petersburg | Spartak Moscow | Rubin Kazan | Rostov | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krestovsky Stadium | Lukoil Arena | Ak Bars Arena | Rostov Arena | ||||||||
| Capacity: 60,228 | Capacity: 44,929 | Capacity: 42,398 | Capacity: 43,472 | ||||||||
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| Dynamo Makhachkala |
.svg.png) Locations of teams in the 2025–26 Russian Premier League |
Krylia Sovetov Samara / Akron Tolyatti | |||||||||
| Anzhi Arena | Solidarnost Arena | ||||||||||
| Capacity: 24,859 | Capacity: 42,347 | ||||||||||
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| Krasnodar | Akhmat Grozny | ||||||||||
| Krasnodar Stadium | Akhmat-Arena | ||||||||||
| Capacity: 35,179 | Capacity: 30,597 | ||||||||||
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| CSKA Moscow | Lokomotiv Moscow | ||||||||||
| VEB Arena | RZD Arena | ||||||||||
| Capacity: 30,114 | Capacity: 27,032 | ||||||||||
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| Sochi | Pari Nizhny Novgorod | ||||||||||
| Fisht Olympic Stadium | Nizhny Novgorod Stadium | ||||||||||
| Capacity: 44,287 | Capacity: 44,242 | ||||||||||
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| Baltika | Dynamo Moscow | Orenburg | |||||||||
| Kaliningrad Stadium | VTB Arena | Gazovik Stadium | |||||||||
| Capacity: 35,016 | Capacity: 25,716 | Capacity: 10,046 | |||||||||
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Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krylia Sovetov Samara |  Igor Osinkin
|
Mutual consent | 27 May 2025[12] | Pre-season | Magomed Adiyev
|
5 June 2025[13] |
| CSKA Moscow |  Marko Nikolić
|
Resigned | 9 June 2025[14] | .svg.png){kind=small} Fabio Celestini
|
20 June 2025[15] | |
| Pari Nizhny Novgorod |  Viktor Goncharenko
|
Sacked | 11 June 2025[16] | Aleksey Shpilevsky
|
16 June 2025[17] | |
| Dynamo Moscow | Rolan Gusev (caretaker)
|
End of caretaking spell | 13 June 2025 | Valery Karpin
|
13 June 2025[18] | |
| Akhmat Grozny | Fyodor Shcherbachenko (caretaker)
|
16 June 2025 | Aleksandr Storozhuk
|
16 June 2025[19] | ||
| Akhmat Grozny | Aleksandr Storozhuk
|
Mutual consent | 5 August 2025[20] | 13th | Stanislav Cherchesov
|
6 August 2025[21] |
Tournament format and regulations
The 16 teams play a round-robin tournament whereby each team plays each one of the other teams twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 240 matches with each team playing 30.
The season started on 18 July. The last games before the winter break will be played on 8 December; the spring part of the season will begin on 27 February and the last games will be played on 17 May.[22]
Promotion and relegation
For the purpose of determining First League positions for the following considerations, the teams that do not pass 2026–27 RPL licensing or drop out of 2026–27 season for any other reason, or the teams that finished lower than 6th place in First League standings will not be considered. For example, if the teams that finished 1st, 3rd and 4th in the First League standings fail licensing, the team that finished 2nd will be considered the 1st-placed team, the team that finished 5th will be considered the 2nd-placed team, and the team that finished 6th will be considered the 3rd-placed team. There would be no designated 4th-placed team in this scenario.
The teams that finish 15th and 16th will be relegated to the 2026–27 First League, while the top two in that league will be promoted to the Premier League for the 2026–27 season.
The 13th and 14th Premier League teams will play the 4th and 3rd 2025–26 First League teams respectively in two (home-and-away) playoff games, with penalty shootout in effect if necessary. The winners will secure Premier League spots for the 2026–27 season. If only one First League team is eligible for the play-offs (as in the example scenario above), that team will play the 14th-placed RPL team in playoffs, with the winners securing the Premier League spot, and the 13th RPL team will remain in the league. If none of the First League teams are eligible for the play-offs, they will not be held and 13th and 14th-placed RPL teams will remain in the league. If any of the teams are unable to participate in the season after the play-offs have been concluded, or there are not enough teams that pass licensing to follow the above procedures, the replacement will be chosen by the Russian Football Union in consultation with RPL and FNL.[23]
Exclusion from the league
Any team can be excluded from the Premier League during the season for the following reasons: a) using counterfeit documents or providing inaccurate information to the league; b) not arriving to the game on more than one occasion; c) match fixing. Such a team is automatically relegated and is not replaced during the season, and only one additional team (that gains the least amount of points at the end of the season) is directly relegated. If the excluded team had played fewer than 15 games at the time of exclusion, all its results would be annulled and would not count for the standings. If the excluded team had played at least 15 games at the time of exclusion, all their remaining opponents would be awarded a victory without effect on their goal difference, the same would retroactively apply to the results of the second-half-of-the-season games such a team would have already played at the time of their exclusion, the results of the first 15 games of this team would remain in place and count for standings.[23]
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lokomotiv Moscow | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 13 | |
| 2 | Krasnodar | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 12 | |
| 3 | CSKA Moscow | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 11 | |
| 4 | Rubin Kazan | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | |
| 5 | Baltika Kaliningrad | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 9 | |
| 6 | Krylia Sovetov Samara | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 8 | |
| 7 | Akhmat Grozny | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 6[a] | |
| 8 | Akron Tolyatti | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 6[a] | |
| 9 | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6[a] | |
| 10 | Orenburg | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 5[b] | |
| 11 | Dynamo Moscow | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 5[b] | |
| 12 | Dynamo Makhachkala | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 5[b] | |
| 13 | Spartak Moscow | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 5[b] | Qualification to relegation play-offs |
| 14 | Rostov | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3[c] | |
| 15 | Pari Nizhny Novgorod | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 3[c] | Relegation to First League |
| 16 | Sochi | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 15 | −12 | 1 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head matches won; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Matches won; 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Away matches won; 10) Away goals scored; 11) Disciplinary points (3 for red card, 1 for caution), in ascending order; 9) 2024–25 position (not applicable to final standings); 10) Play-off. Note: if teams tied on points did not play an equal number of head-to-head matches, head-to-head criteria are not considered for the standings.[24]
Notes:
- ^ a b c Head-to-head matches played: Akhmat, Zenit 1, Akron 0. Matches won: Akhmat 2, Akron, Zenit 1. Goal difference: Akron +3, Zenit 0.
- ^ a b c d Head-to-head matches played: Dynamo Makhachkala 2, Orenburg, Spartak 1, Dynamo Moscow 0. Goal difference: Orenburg –1, Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Makhachkala –2, Spartak –4. Goals scored: Dynamo Moscow 4, Dynamo Makhachkala 3.
- ^ a b Head-to-head points: Rostov 3, Pari NN 0.
Results
Season statistics
Top goalscorers
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksey Batrakov |
Lokomotiv | Spartak | 4–2 (H) | 9 August 2025 | [26] |
Clean sheets
References
- ^ a b "League statistics" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ ""Сочи" обыграл в гостях "Пари НН" и завоевал право выступать в Мир РПЛ" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 31 May 2025.
- ^ "«Химки» и «Черноморец» не получили лицензии для участия в РПЛ 2025/26" [Khimki and Chernomorets were not licensed for the 2025-26 RPL] (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ ""Пари НН" сыграет в Мир РПЛ 2025/2026" [Pari NN will play in Mir RPL 2025-26] (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Футболист Писарский отстранен от футбола на четыре года, три из них условно — представитель игрока" [Footballer Pisarsky banned from football for four years, three of them suspended - player representative] (in Russian). Match TV. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Руководителей "Торпедо" обвинили во взятке арбитру за три матча. Суд — 21 июня" [Torpedo managers are charged with bribing a referee for three games. Court date is 21 June] (in Russian). Sport Express. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Полиция задержала арбитра из-за решающего пенальти в матче "Торпедо"" [Police arrested a referee because of a decisive penalty in Torpedo game] (in Russian). RBK Group. 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Контрольно-дисциплинарный комитет РФС рассмотрит дело "Торпедо" 10 июля" [Control-disciplinary committee of RFU will hear Torpedo's case on July 10] (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 8 July 2025.
- ^ "КДК РФС принял решение об исключении "Торпедо" из состава участников Мир РПЛ" [RFU CDC decided to exclude Torpedo from Mir RPL] (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Александр Алаев – о решении КДК РФС по "Торпедо"" [Aleksandr Alayev about RFU's decision on Torpedo] (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Бюро исполкома РФС включило «Оренбург» в состав участников МИР РПЛ" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Игорь Осинькин покидает пост главного тренера "Крыльев Советов"" [Igor Osinkin leaves the position of the head coach of Krylia Sovetov] (in Russian). Krylia Sovetov Samara. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "Магомед Адиев – главный тренер "Крыльев Советов"" (in Russian). Krylia Sovetov Samara. 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Марко Николич покидает ПФК ЦСКА" [Marko Nikolić leaves PFC CSKA] (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ "Фабио Челестини – новый главный тренер ПФК ЦСКА!" [Fabio Celestini is the new head coach of PFC CSKA!] (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Виктор Ганчаренко покидает пост главного тренера "Пари НН"" (in Russian). FC Pari Nizhny Novgorod. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Алексей Шпилевский – главный тренер "Пари НН"" (in Russian). FC Pari Nizhny Novgorod. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Валерий Карпин – главный тренер московского "Динамо"!" [Valery Karpin is the head coach of Dynamo Moscow!] (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Александр Сторожук — главный тренер ФК "Ахмат"" (in Russian). FC Akhmat Grozny. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Александр Сторожук и его штаб покидают "Ахмат"" (in Russian). FC Akhmat Gornzy. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "Станислав Черчесов – главный тренер ФК "Ахмат"" (in Russian). FC Akhmat Gornzy. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ "Календарь Мир РПЛ на сезон 2025/26" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 20 June 2025.
- ^ a b "2025-26 Russian Premier League regulations, section 4.5" (PDF) (in Russian). Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "2025–26 Premier League regulations article 18" (PDF) (in Russian). Russian Premier League.
- ^ "Goalscorers". Russian Premier League. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Lokomotiv 4–2 Spartak". Russian Premier League. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.