2026 Liga DIMAYOR

The 2026 Liga DIMAYOR (officially known as the 2026 Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR for sponsorship purposes) is the 79th season of the first division league of Colombian football. The season began on 16 January 2026.^[1]

Two tournaments (Apertura and Finalización) will be played in the season, each one of them being an independent championship. Junior entered the season as defending champions, having won the 2025 Finalización tournament.

Format

The competition format for the season was determined at the Extraordinary Assembly of Dimayor, held on 10 and 11 December 2025. Due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the need to end the Torneo Apertura by 5 June 2026, the format proposed and eventually approved for the Torneo Apertura consisted in playing a round-robin first stage with 19 matchdays (without the extra regional derby matchday), with the top eight teams advancing to a final stage to be played as single-elimination playoffs instead of the semifinal group stage played in recent seasons, thus returning to the format last used in the 2021 Apertura tournament.^[2][3]

Unlike the Apertura, the Torneo Finalización will be played under the usual format, with a round-robin first stage in which teams will play each other once (with reversed fixtures) and the top eight teams from the first stage advancing to the following phase. Instead of play-offs, the eight qualified teams will be drawn into two semi-final groups, with the two group winners advancing to play the tournament finals.^[4]

Teams

Twenty teams take part in the season, the top 18 teams in the relegation table of the previous season as well as the 2025 Torneo DIMAYOR champions Jaguares and Cúcuta Deportivo, who returned to the top flight after one year and six years, respectively. Both teams promoted after winning the season's short tournaments and securing the top two places of the aggregate table.^[5][6] The promoted teams replaced Envigado and Unión Magdalena, the bottom two teams in the relegation table of the 2025 season, who were relegated to the second tier after sixteen and one year in the top flight, respectively.^[7]

Starting from this season, La Equidad rebranded to Internacional de Bogotá, following the club's takeover by the Tylis-Porter Group in early 2025 and the decision by its former owners Seguros La Equidad to keep the name, symbols and colors to themselves.^[8][9] The club's new identity was officially presented on 10 December 2025.^[10]

Stadia and locations

Notes

1. ^ Águilas Doradas play their home matches at Estadio Cincuentenario in Medellín due to the closure of their regular stadium Estadio Alberto Grisales in Rionegro for remodeling works.^[45][46]
2. ^ Deportivo Pereira played their first four Torneo Apertura home matches at Estadio Centenario in Armenia due to remodeling works at their regular stadium Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.^[47] Starting from March, they moved to Estadio Santiago de las Atalayas in Yopal after incidents involving their fanbase led to the cancellation of their lease of Estadio Centenario.^[48]
3. ^ Junior play their Torneo Apertura home matches at Estadio Romelio Martínez due to remodeling works at their regular stadium Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez.^[49]
4. ^ Caretaker manager.
5. ^ Braynner García was the caretaker manager for the Torneo Apertura round 5 match against Águilas Doradas on 7 February.^[50]

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

Notes

Torneo Apertura

The Torneo Apertura, officially known as Liga BetPlay Dimayor 2026–I, is the 102nd first division football championship and the first tournament of the 2026 season. It began on 16 January and will end on 8 June 2026.^[41][42] The champions will qualify for the 2027 Copa Libertadores group stage.

First stage

Standings

<onlyinclude><section begin="Apertura" /><section end="Apertura" /></onlyinclude>

Knockout stage

For the knockout stage, teams were drawn into four ties with Atlético Nacional and Junior being seeded into the first and fourth one, respectively, for being the top two teams in the first stage of the tournament. Both seeded teams were granted home advantage for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, whilst the order of legs was drawn for the remaining two quarter-final ties.

Finals

Top scorers

Source: BeSoccer^[43]

Aggregate table

<onlyinclude><section begin="Aggregate table" /><section end="Aggregate table" /></onlyinclude>

Relegation

A separate table is kept to determine the teams that will be relegated to Torneo DIMAYOR for the next season. This table is elaborated from a sum of all first stage games played in the three most recent seasons (including the 2024–I, 2024–II, 2025–I, 2025–II, 2026–I, and 2026–II tournaments), with the points earned being averaged per match played. The bottom two teams of the relegation table at the end of the season will be relegated to Torneo DIMAYOR.

Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2026. Source: Dimayor
Rules for classification: 1) average, 2) 2026 points, 3) 2026 goal difference, 4) 2026 goals for, 5) 2026 away goals for, 6) 2026 goals against, 7) 2026 away goals against, 8) 2026 wins, 9) play-off match (only if needed to decide relegation).^[44]

See also

• 2026 Torneo DIMAYOR
• 2026 Copa Colombia

References

1. ^ Amézquita, Christian (22 November 2025). "Liga Colombiana 2026: fecha en que iniciará y el sorpresivo formato que tendría por el Mundial" [2026 Colombian League: Start date and the surprising format it would have due to the World Cup] (in Spanish). Caracol Radio. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
2. ^ "Liga BetPlay 2026: Formato, cambios y qué se debatirá en Asamblea" [2026 Liga BetPlay: Format, changes and what will be discussed at the Assembly] (in Spanish). ESPN. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
3. ^ "Revolución en la Liga BetPlay: Dimayor define dos formatos de competencia y la norma de los extranjeros en año de Mundial" [Revolution in Liga BetPlay: Dimayor sets two competition formats and the foreigner rule in World Cup year] (in Spanish). Marca. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
4. ^ "Liga BetPlay 2026: Dimayor aprueba cambios y nuevo formato" [2026 Liga BetPlay: Dimayor approves changes and new format] (in Spanish). ESPN. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
5. ^ Rodríguez Parrado, Juan Camilo (11 November 2025). "Jaguares se convirtió en el primer ascendido a la Liga BetPlay Dimayor: empató contra Cúcuta y se aseguró un lugar en la A" [Jaguares became the first team promoted to the Liga BetPlay Dimayor: they drew with Cúcuta and secured a spot in the top flight] (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
6. ^ "Cúcuta Deportivo vuelve a primera división después de seis años" [Cúcuta Deportivo return to the first division after six years] (in Spanish). Zona Cero. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
7. ^ "Estos son los equipos descendidos a Categoría B en Colombia para 2026" [These are the teams relegated to Categoría B in Colombia for 2026] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
8. ^ Chalela Ambrad, Daniel (14 July 2025). "Presidente de La Equidad confirmó detalles de nuevo nombre, uniforme y escudo: ya hay fecha" [La Equidad chairman confirmed details on new name, kit and crest: there is a date already] (in Spanish). Deportes RCN. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
9. ^ Pinzón, David Esteban (9 May 2025). "'Internacional de Bogotá' sería el nuevo nombre de popular equipo de la primera división del fútbol colombiano" ["Internacional de Bogotá" would be the new name of popular team in the first division of Colombian football] (in Spanish). NTN24. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
10. ^ Yepes Izquierdo, Harold (10 December 2025). "Fin de la espera en la Liga Betplay: Internacional de Bogotá presentó su nuevo escudo y sus colores tras dejar de llamarse La Equidad" [The wait is over in the Liga Betplay: Internacional de Bogotá unveiled its new crest and colors after changing its name from La Equidad] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
11. ^ Arciniegas Morales, Sara Lucía (31 December 2025). "Arturo Reyes, nuevo entrenador de Deportivo Pereira" [Arturo Reyes, new Deportivo Pereira coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
12. ^ "El nuevo equipo de Bogotá confirmó a su técnico, y fichó a campeón con Millonarios" [Bogotá's new team confirmed its manager, and signed a champion with Millonarios] (in Spanish). Noticias Caracol. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
13. ^ Vallejo, Sebastián (1 December 2025). "Jonathan Risueño, el elegido para levantar al Deportivo Pasto" [Jonathan Risueño, the chosen one to lift Deportivo Pasto] (in Spanish). Claro Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
14. ^ Hernández, Claudia (24 November 2025). "Álvaro Hernández renunció como director técnico de Jaguares de Córdoba" [Álvaro Hernández resigned as head coach of Jaguares de Córdoba] (in Spanish). W Radio. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
15. ^ "Alexis Márquez regresa a Jaguares de Córdoba como director técnico" [Alexis Márquez returns to Jaguares de Córdoba as head coach] (in Spanish). El Meridiano. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
16. ^ Chalela Ambrad, Daniel (26 November 2025). "Equipo de la Liga BetPlay arranca el 2026 sin entrenador" [2026 Liga BetPlay team starts 2026 without a coach] (in Spanish). Deportes RCN. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
17. ^ "Un boyacense, el nuevo director técnico del equipo de fútbol Águilas Doradas" [A Boyacá native, the new head coach of the Águilas Doradas football team] (in Spanish). Boyacá 7 Días. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
18. ^ Rivera, Nelson (4 December 2025). "Francisco López y el Santa Fe que le entrega a Pablo Repetto" [Francisco López and the Santa Fe team he is handing over to Pablo Repetto] (in Spanish). Claro Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
19. ^ González Villate, Christian Ricardo (2 December 2025). "Pablo Repetto es el nuevo DT de Santa Fe" [Pablo Repetto is Santa Fe's new coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
20. ^ "Hernán Torres fue destituido como técnico de Millonarios: es oficial" [Hernán Torres was dismissed as manager of Millonarios: it is official] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
21. ^ "¿Quién dirigirá a Millonarios mientras llega nuevo DT? Hay decisión" [Who will manage Millonarios until a new head coach is found? A decision has been made] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
22. ^ "Millonarios confirmó a Fabián Bustos como su nuevo técnico" [Millonarios confirmed Fabián Bustos as their new manager] (in Spanish). La FM. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
23. ^ Muñoz Camargo, David Santiago (3 February 2026). "Cae el segundo técnico de la Liga colombiana 2026-I" [The 2026–I Colombian league's second manager is down] (in Spanish). Caracol Radio. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
24. ^ Prieto Pérez, Miguel Ángel (5 February 2026). "Richard Páez regresa al FPC: Nuevo DT de Cúcuta Deportivo" [Richard Páez returns to the FPC: Cúcuta Deportivo's new head coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
25. ^ Castillo Vizcaíno, Rafael (14 February 2026). "Alexis Márquez renuncia a la dirección técnica de Jaguares" [Alexis Márquez resigns from the technical direction of Jaguares] (in Spanish). El Heraldo. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
26. ^ "Gustavo Florentín fue presentado en su nuevo club de la Liga BetPlay" [Gustavo Florentín was presented at his new Liga BetPlay club] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
27. ^ Castro Daza, Ramón Eduardo (16 February 2026). "Ya van cuatro: Boyacá Chicó no aguantó y despidió a Flabio Torres" [That makes four: Boyacá Chicó could not take it anymore and fired Flabio Torres] (in Spanish). Futbolred. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
28. ^ "¿Solución en Boyacá Chicó? El inesperado sucesor de Flabio Torres" [A solution in Boyacá Chicó? The unexpected successor to Flabio Torres] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
29. ^ Romero, Pablo (17 February 2026). "Cae otro técnico en la Liga Betplay: Hubert Bodhert sale de la dirección técnica de Alianza Valledupar" [Another manager is down in the Liga Betplay: Hubert Bodhert leaves his position as head coach of Alianza Valledupar] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
30. ^ Romero, Pablo (18 February 2026). "Alianza Valledupar ya le encontró reemplazo a Hubert Bodhert: Camilo Ayala es su nuevo entrenador" [Alianza Valledupar already found the replacement to Hubert Bodhert: Camilo Ayala is their new coach] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
31. ^ Rincón, Juan Felipe (6 March 2026). "Alberto Gamero deja de ser técnico del Deportivo Cali" [Alberto Gamero ceases to be Deportivo Cali's manager] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
32. ^ "Oficial: Rafael Dudamel vuelve a Deportivo Cali para acabar la crisis" [Official: Rafael Dudamel returns to Deportivo Cali to end the crisis] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
33. ^ Prieto Pérez, Miguel Ángel (16 March 2026). "Jaguares se queda sin DT: Gustavo Florentín presenta su renuncia" [Jaguares end up without a manager: Gustavo Florentín submits his resignation] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
34. ^ "Jaguares ante Alianza, en medio del caos" [Jaguares vs. Alianza, amidst chaos] (in Spanish). El Meridiano. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
35. ^ "Hubert Bodhert ya tiene nuevo equipo en el FPC" [Hubert Bodhert already has a new team in Colombian Professional Football] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 31 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
36. ^ "Leonel Álvarez no continúa al frente de la dirección técnica de Atlético Bucaramanga" [Leonel Álvarez is no longer the head coach of Atlético Bucaramanga] (in Spanish). Vanguardia. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
37. ^ "¿Por qué Bucaramanga no ha anunciado la salida de Leonel Álvarez?" [Why have Bucaramanga not announced Leonel Álvarez's departure?] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
38. ^ Martínez González, Brandon (21 April 2026). "Se acabó la era de Alejandro Restrepo en el DIM: se confirmó la salida antes de enfrentar a Chicó, ¿cuál fue su rendimiento y quién lo reemplazará?" [The Alejandro Restrepo era at DIM is over: the departure was confirmed prior to facing Chicó, what was his performance like and who will replace him?] (in Spanish). El Colombiano. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
39. ^ Castro Daza, Ramón Eduardo (26 May 2026). "Amaranto Perea vuelve al DIM: anuncio oficial por parte del club" [Amaranto Perea returns to DIM: official announcement by the club] (in Spanish). Futbolred. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
40. ^ "Atlético Bucaramanga anunció a su nuevo entrenador" [Atlético Bucaramanga announced their new coach] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
41. ^ Chalela Ambrad, Daniel (10 December 2025). "Así se jugará la primera fecha de la Liga BetPlay 2026-I" [This is how the 2026-I Liga BetPlay's first matchday will be played] (in Spanish). Deportes RCN. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
42. ^ "¿Cuándo se jugaría la final de la Liga BetPlay 2026-I?" [When would the 2026-I Liga BetPlay's final be played?] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
43. ^ "Table of top scorers Liga Betplay - Apertura 2026". BeSoccer. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
44. ^ "Reglamento Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR 2026" [2026 Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR Regulations] (in Spanish). Dimayor. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
45. ^ "Histórico estadio del fútbol colombiano quedó inhabilitado para 2026" [Historical stadium of Colombian football was closed for 2026] (in Spanish). Caracol Radio. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
46. ^ Molina Marín, Luz Élida (21 January 2026). "Águilas Doradas vuelve a cambiar de nido: jugará en el estadio Cincuentenario" [Águilas Doradas change nest again: they will play at the Cincuentenario stadium] (in Spanish). El Colombiano. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
47. ^ "Deportivo Pereira vuelve al Centenario para atender la visita de Fortaleza" [Deportivo Pereira return to the Centenario to host Fortaleza] (in Spanish). El Quindiano. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
48. ^ Vallejo, Sebastián (6 March 2026). "Oficial: Deportivo Pereira se muda a Yopal por el resto del semestre" [Official: Deportivo Pereira move to Yopal for the remainder of the semester] (in Spanish). Claro Sports. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
49. ^ "Definidas las sedes del Junior para los partidos del próximo año" [Junior's venues for next year's matches were set] (in Spanish). Diario Deportes. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
50. ^ Contreras Sabogal, Gustavo (7 February 2026). "En medio de la transición de su banco técnico, Cúcuta Deportivo visita a Águilas Doradas en el Cincuentenario de Medellín" [Amidst a coaching transition, Cúcuta Deportivo visit Águilas Doradas at Medellín's Cincuentenario stadium] (in Spanish). La Opinión. Retrieved 7 February 2026.

External links

• Dimayor's official website (in Spanish)