This article is about the association football league. For the baseball league, see Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. For the basketball league, see Liga Profesional de Baloncesto.
Liga FUTVE
Pixels150px
CountryVenezuela
ConfedCONMEBOL
Founded1921 (age 105)
Teams14
RelegationLiga FUTVE 2
Levels1
Domest cupCopa Venezuela
Supercopa de Venezuela
Confed cupCopa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
ChampionsUniversidad Central (4th title)
Season2025 season
Most successful clubCaracas (12 titles)
Top goalscorerJuan García
(271 goals)
TvTVes
WebsiteLiga FUTVE (in Spanish)
Venezuelan Football Federation (in Spanish)
Current2026 season

The Liga FUTVE is the top-flight professional football league of Venezuela. It was created in 1921 and turned professional in 1957. It is organized by the Federación Venezolana de Fútbol. In 2017, the league rebranded to its current name.

Format

Starting in the 2020 season, 20 teams play in a home-and-away round-robin tournament, with the top eight teams advancing to the semi-final stage.

At the semi-final stage, the eight teams are divided into two groups of four teams each, facing the other teams in their group twice. The two group winners advance to the Serie Final to decide the league champions.

International qualification

  • The champions and runners-up qualify to the group phase of the Copa Libertadores.
  • The team with the most points in the entire season qualifies to the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores as Venezuela 3.
  • The second and third team with the most points in the entire season qualifies to the Copa Sudamericana as Venezuela 1 and Venezuela 2.
  • If a team won both tournaments that team qualify to the Copa Libertadores as Venezuela 1, then the first and second team with the most points in the entire season qualify to the Copa Libertadores as Venezuela 2 and Venezuela 3 and the fourth and fifth team with the most points in the entire season qualify to the Copa Sudamericana as Venezuela 1 and Venezuela 2.
  • If the winner of the Copa Venezuela does not qualify to the Copa Libertadores through the aforementioned manners or through the point total in the entire season, they take the Venezuela 2 spot in the Copa Sudamericana.

Relegation

  • The two lowest placed teams in the entire season are automatically relegated to the Segunda División.

2026 teams

TeamCityStadiumCapacity
Academia Puerto CabelloPuerto CabelloLa Bombonerita7,500
AnzoáteguiPuerto La CruzJosé Antonio Anzoátegui37,485
CaraboboValenciaMisael Delgado10,400
CaracasCaracasOlímpico de la UCV23,940
Deportivo La GuairaCaracasOlímpico de la UCV23,940
Deportivo TáchiraSan CristóbalPolideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo38,755
Estudiantes de MéridaMéridaMetropolitano de Mérida42,200
MetropolitanosCaracasOlímpico de la UCV23,940
MonagasMaturínMonumental de Maturín51,796
PortuguesaAcariguaGeneral José Antonio Páez18,000
Rayo ZulianoMaracaiboJosé "Pachencho" Romero40,800
TrujillanosValeraJosé Alberto Pérez25,000
Universidad CentralCaracasOlímpico de la UCV23,940
ZamoraBarinasAgustín Tovar29,800

List of champions

List of champions since the first championship held in 1920. The Primera División turned professional on 21 February 1957.[citation needed]

Amateur era

* (In bracket, title count):

width=|Ed.SeasonChampionRunner-up
1
1921América (1)Centro Atlético
2
1922Centro Atlético (1)América
3
1923América (2)Centro Atlético
4
1924Centro Atlético (2)Vargas
5
1925Loyola (1)Venzóleo
6
1926Centro Atlético (3)Venzóleo
7
1927Venzóleo (1)Centro Atlético
8
1928Deportivo Venezuela (1)Centro Atlético
9
1929Deportivo Venezuela (2)Unión
10
1930Centro Atlético (4)Unión
11
1931Deportivo Venezuela (3)Centro Atlético
12
1932Unión (1)Dos Caminos
13
1933Deportivo Venezuela (4)Dos Caminos
14
1934Unión (2)Dos Caminos
15
1935Unión (3)Dos Caminos
16
1936Dos Caminos (1)Centro Atlético
17
1937Dos Caminos (2)Litoral
18
1938Dos Caminos (3)Litoral
19
1939Unión (4)Litoral
20
1940Unión (5)Dos Caminos
21
1941Litoral (1)Dos Caminos
22
1942Dos Caminos (4)Loyola
23
1943Loyola (2)Litoral
24
1944Loyola (3)Dos Caminos
25
1945Dos Caminos (5)Loyola
26
1946Deportivo Español (1)Centro Atlético
27
1947Unión (6)Universidad Central
28
1948Loyola (4)Unión
29
1949Dos Caminos (6)Universidad Central
30
1950Unión (7)La Salle
31
1951Universidad Central (1)Loyola
32
1952La Salle (1)Loyola
33
1953Universidad Central (2)La Salle
34
1954Deportivo Vasco (1)Loyola
35
1955La Salle (2)Deportivo Español
36
1956Banco Obrero (1)La Salle

Professional era

* (In bracket, title count):

width=|Ed.SeasonChampionRunner-upWinning managerTop scorer
37
1957Universidad Central (3)La SalleOrlando FantoniTonho (Universidad Central, 12 goals)
38
1958Deportivo Portugués (1)Deportivo EspañolOrlando FantoniRené Irazque (Portugués, 6 goals)
39
1959Deportivo Español (2)Deportivo PortuguésDelfín Benítez CáceresAbel Benítez (Deportivo Español, 15 goals)
40
1960Deportivo Portugués (2)Deportivo EspañolJavier FerreiraJosé Luis Iglesias (Deportivo Portugués, 9 goals)
41
1961Deportivo Italia (1)Banco Agrícola y PecuarioOrlando FantoniAntonio Ravelo (Banco Agrícola y Pecuario, 11 goals)
42
1962Deportivo Portugués (3)Universidad CentralEmilio HuguetJaime da Silva (Universidad Central, 16)
43
1963Deportivo Italia (2)Deportivo PortuguésOrlando FantoniNino (Deportivo Portugués, 15 goals)
44
1964Deportivo Galicia (1)Tiquire FloresJulio César BritosHelio Rodrigues (Tiquire Flores, 12 goals)
45
1965Lara (1)Deportivo ItaliaGaetano PintónMario Mateo (Lara, 16 goals)
46
1966Deportivo Italia (3)Deportivo PortuguésOrlando FantoniRatto (Deportivo Portugués, 20 goals)
47
1967Deportivo Portugués (4)Deportivo GaliciaJosé Julián HernándezJoao Ramos (Deportivo Portugués, 28 goals)
48
1968Unión Deportiva Canarias (1)Deportivo ItaliaManuel AriasRaimundinho (Deportivo Portugués, 21 goals)
49
1969Deportivo Galicia (2)ValenciaJulio César BritosEustaquio Batista (Deportivo Italia, 19 goals)
Lelo (Valencia, 19 goals)
50
1970Deportivo Galicia (3)Deportivo ItaliaSilvio LeiteRoland Langon (Deportivo Galicia, 13 goals)
51
1971Valencia (1)Deportivo ItaliaWalter RoqueAgostinho Sabara (Tiquire Aragua, 20 goals)
52
1972Deportivo Italia (4)Deportivo GaliciaElmo CorreaFrancisco Rodriguez (Anzoátegui FC, 18 goals)
53
1973Portuguesa (1)ValenciaWalter RoqueJose Chiazzaro (Estudiantes de Mérida, 14 goals)
54
1974Deportivo Galicia (4)PortuguesaWalter RoqueJose Chiazzaro (Estudiantes de Mérida, 15 goals)
Sergio Hugo Castillo (Anzoátegui FC, 15 goals)
55
1975Portuguesa (2)Estudiantes de MéridaVladica PopovićPedro Pascual Peralta (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
56
1976Portuguesa (3)Estudiantes de MéridaBenjamín FernándezPedro Pascual Peralta (Portuguesa, 25 goals)
57
1977Portuguesa (4)Estudiantes de MéridaVladica PopovićJairzinho (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
Juan Cesar Silva (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
58
1978Portuguesa (5)Deportivo GaliciaCelino MoraAndrade (ULA Mérida, 23 goals)
59
1979Deportivo Táchira (1)Deportivo GaliciaEsteban BeracocheaOmar Ferrari (Deportivo Táchira, 15 goals)
60
1980Estudiantes de Mérida (1)PortuguesaRamón RodríguezWilfrido Campos (Portuguesa, 12 goals)
61
1981Deportivo Táchira (2)Estudiantes de MéridaEsteban BeracocheaRafael Angulo (Deportivo Táchira, 14 goals)
62
1982San Cristóbal (1)Deportivo TáchiraWalter RoqueGerman Montero (Estudiantes, 21 goals)
63
1983Universidad de Los Andes (1)PortuguesaIván GarcíaJohnny Castellanos (Atlético Zamora, 13 goals)
64
1984Deportivo Táchira (3)Deportivo ItaliaCarlos Horacio MorenoSergio Meckler (Zamora, 15 goals)
65
1985Estudiantes de Mérida (2)Deportivo TáchiraIván GarcíaSergio Meckler (Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
66
1986Unión Atlético Táchira (4)Estudiantes de MéridaCarlos Horacio MorenoWilton Arreaza (Caracas, 8 goals)
67
1986–87Marítimo (1)Unión Atlético TáchiraRafael SantanaJohnny Castellanos (Portuguesa, 16 goals)
68
1987–88Marítimo (2)Unión Atlético TáchiraAlfredo LópezMiguel González (Unión Atlético Táchira, 22 goals)
69
1988–89Mineros de Guayana (1)Pepeganga MargaritaAlfredo LópezJohnny Castellanos (Mineros, 24 goals)
70
1989–90Marítimo (3)Unión Atlético TáchiraRafael SantanaHerbert Márquez (Marítimo, 19 goals)
71
1990–91Universidad de Los Andes (2)MarítimoCarlos DiézAlexander Bottini (Monagas, 15 goals)
72
1991–92Caracas (1)MinervénManuel PlasenciaAndreas Vogler (Caracas, 25 goals)
73
1992–93Marítimo (4)MinervénMiguel SabinaHerbert Márquez (Marítimo, 21 goals)
74
1993–94Caracas (2)TrujillanosManuel PlasenciaRodrigo Soto (Trujillanos, 20 goals)
75
1994–95Caracas (3)MinervénPedro FeblesRogeiro da Silva (Mineros, 30 goals)
76
1995–96Minervén (1)Mineros de GuayanaRaúl CavalleriJose Luis Dolgetta (Caracas, 24 goals)
77
1996–97Caracas (4)Atlético ZuliaManuel PlasenciaRafael Castellín (Caracas, 19 goals)
78
1997–98Atlético Zulia (1)Estudiantes de MéridaRatomir DujkovicJose Luis Dolgetta (Estudiantes de Mérida/Carabobo, 22 goals)
79
1998–99Deportivo Italchacao (5)Unión Atlético TáchiraRaúl CavalleriGustavo Fonseca (Internacional Lara, 24 goals)
80
1999–00Deportivo Táchira (5)Deportivo ItalchacaoWalter RoqueJuan Enrique García (Caracas, 24 goals)
81
2000–01Caracas (5)TrujillanosCarlos Horacio MorenoMartín Brignani (Estudiantes de Mérida, 12 goals)
82
2001–02Nacional TáchiraEstudiantes de MéridaCarlos MaldonadoJuan Enrique García (Nacional Táchira, 34 goals)
83
2002–03Caracas (6)Unión Atlético MaracaiboNoel SanvicenteJuan Enrique García (Monagas/Mineros, 19 goals)
84
2003–04Caracas (7)Deportivo TáchiraNoel SanvicenteJuan Enrique García (Mineros, 18 goals)
85
2004–05Unión Atlético Maracaibo (1)CaracasCarlos MaldonadoDaniel Delfino (Carabobo, 19 goals)
86
2005–06Caracas (8)Unión Atlético MaracaiboNoel SanvicenteJuan Enrique García (Deportivo Táchira, 21 goals)
87
2006–07Caracas (9)Unión Atlético MaracaiboNoel SanvicenteRobinson Rentería (Trujillanos, 19 goals)
88
2007–08Deportivo Táchira (6)CaracasCarlos MaldonadoAlexander Rondon (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 19 goals)
89
2008–09Caracas (10)Deportivo ItaliaNoel SanvicenteDaniel Arismendi (Maracaibo/Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
Heatklif Castillo (Aragua, 17 goals)
90
2009–10Caracas (11)Deportivo TáchiraCeferino BencomoNorman Cabrera (Atlético El Vigía, 20 goals)
91
2010–11Deportivo Táchira (7)ZamoraJorge Luis PintoDaniel Arismendi (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 20 goals)
92
2011–12Deportivo Lara (1)CaracasEduardo SaragóRafael Castellín (Deportivo Lara, 21 goals)
93
2012–13Zamora (1)Deportivo AnzoáteguiNoel SanvicenteGabriel Torres (Zamora, 19 goals)
94
2013–14Zamora (2)Mineros de GuayanaNoel SanvicenteJuan Falcón (Zamora, 19 goals)
95
2014–15Deportivo Táchira (8)TrujillanosDaniel FaríasEdwin Aguilar (Deportivo Anzoategui, 23 goals)
96
2016Zamora (3)ZuliaFrancesco StifanoGabriel Torres (Zamora, 22 goals)
97
2017Monagas (1)Deportivo LaraJhonny FerreiraAnthony Blondell (Monagas, 24 goals)
98
2018Zamora (4)Deportivo LaraAlí CañasAnthony Uribe (Zamora, 16 goals)
99
2019Caracas (12)Estudiantes de MéridaNoel SanvicenteEdder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 18 goals)
100
2020Deportivo La Guaira (1)Deportivo TáchiraDaniel FaríasRichard Blanco (Mineros, 8 goals)
Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 8 goals)
101
2021Deportivo Táchira (9)CaracasJuan Domingo TolisanoSamson Akinyoola (Caracas, 18 goals)
102
2022Metropolitanos (1)MonagasJosé María MorrKevin Viveros (Carabobo, 21 goals)
103
2023Deportivo Táchira (10)CaracasEduardo SaragóLuifer Hernández (Academia Puerto Cabello, 18 goals)
104
2024Deportivo Táchira (11)CaraboboEdgar Pérez GrecoJuan Camilo Zapata (Inter de Barinas/Universidad Central, 16 goals)
105
2025Universidad Central (4)CaraboboDaniel SassoEdwuin Pernía (Academia Puerto Cabello, 15 goals)
106
2026

Titles by club

Clubs in bold compete in Primera División as of the 2026 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

RankClubWinnersRunners-UpWinning yearsRunners-Up years
1Caracas1251991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 20192004–05, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2021, 2023
2Deportivo Táchira1191979, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1999–00, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2021, 2023, 20241982, 1985, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2020
3Unión731932, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1947, 19501929, 1930, 1948
4Dos Caminos671936, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1945, 19491932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1944
5Deportivo Petare571961, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1998–991965, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1984, 1999–00, 2008–09
Portuguesa531973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 19781974, 1980, 1983
7Centro Atlético471922, 1924, 1926, 19301921, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1936, 1946
Deportivo Galicia451964, 1969, 1970, 19741967, 1972, 1978, 1979
Deportivo Portugués431958, 1960, 1962, 19671959, 1963, 1966
Universidad Central431951, 1953, 1957, 20251947, 1949, 1962
Marítimo411986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1992–931990–91
Zamora4[note 1]12012–13, 2013–14, 2016, 20182010–11
Deportivo Venezuela4—1928, 1929, 1931, 1933—
14Loyola351925, 1943, 19441942, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1954
15Estudiantes de Mérida281980, 19851975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2019
Deportivo Español231946, 19591955, 1958, 1960
La Salle231952, 19551950, 1953, 1956
América211921, 19231922
Universidad de Los Andes2—1983, 1990–91—
20Litoral1419411937, 1938, 1939, 1943
Carabobo1419711969, 1973, 2024, 2025
Unión Atlético Maracaibo132004–052002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07
Minervén131995–961991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95
Deportivo Lara122011–122017, 2018
Mineros de Guayana121988–891995–96, 2013–14
Venzóleo1219271925, 1926
Atlético Zulia111997–981996–97
Monagas1120172022
Banco Obrero1—1956—
Deportivo La Guaira1—2020—
Deportivo Vasco1—1954—
Lara1—1965—
Metropolitanos1—2022—
Nacional Táchira1—2001–02—
San Cristóbal1—1982—
Unión Deportiva Canarias1—1968—
  1. ^ Zamora won the Torneo de Adecuación in 2015, but this title is not counted as it was not a full season.

Half-year / Short tournaments

Copa Bolivariana

SeasonChampionRunner-upThird place
2000–01OccidentalDeportivo TáchiraUniversidad de Los AndesTrujillanos
OrientalCaracasDeportivo ItalchacaoCarabobo

Apertura and Clausura seasons

SeasonChampionRunner-upThird place
1996–97AperturaAtlético ZuliaMinervénUnión Atlético Táchira
ClausuraCaracasUnión Atlético TáchiraEstudiantes de Mérida
1997–98AperturaAtlético ZuliaDeportivo ItaliaTrujillanos
ClausuraEstudiantes de MéridaTrujillanosDeportivo Italia
1998–99AperturaUnión Atlético TáchiraEstudiantes de MéridaCaracas
ClausuraDeportivo ItalchacaoEstudiantes de MéridaUniversidad de Los Andes
1999–00AperturaDeportivo TáchiraEstudiantes de MéridaDeportivo Italchacao
ClausuraDeportivo TáchiraDeportivo ItalchacaoCaracas
2001–02AperturaEstudiantes de MéridaMonagasDeportivo Táchira
ClausuraNacional TáchiraMonagasDeportivo Italchacao
2002–03AperturaCaracasDeportivo ItalchacaoCarabobo
ClausuraUnión Atlético MaracaiboDeportivo ItalchacaoTrujillanos
2003–04AperturaCaracasDeportivo TáchiraMineros de Guayana
ClausuraCaracasDeportivo TáchiraCarabobo
2004–05AperturaUnión Atlético MaracaiboCaracasMineros de Guayana
ClausuraUnión Atlético MaracaiboCaracasDeportivo Táchira
2005–06AperturaUnión Atlético MaracaiboDeportivo TáchiraMineros de Guayana
ClausuraCaracasDeportivo TáchiraCarabobo
2006–07AperturaCaracasUnión Atlético MaracaiboMineros de Guayana
ClausuraUnión Atlético MaracaiboCaracasMineros de Guayana
2007–08AperturaCaracasDeportivo AnzoáteguiDeportivo Táchira
ClausuraDeportivo TáchiraCaracasDeportivo Anzoátegui
2008–09AperturaDeportivo ItaliaMonagasCaracas
ClausuraCaracasDeportivo TáchiraEstudiantes de Mérida
2009–10AperturaDeportivo TáchiraDeportivo ItaliaCaracas
ClausuraCaracasDeportivo TáchiraDeportivo Italia
2010–11AperturaDeportivo TáchiraReal EspporCaracas
ClausuraZamoraCaracasDeportivo Anzoátegui
2011–12AperturaDeportivo LaraCaracasDeportivo Petare
ClausuraDeportivo LaraMineros de GuayanaDeportivo Anzoátegui
2012–13AperturaDeportivo AnzoáteguiCaracasDeportivo Lara
ClausuraZamoraDeportivo AnzoáteguiDeportivo Lara
2013–14AperturaMineros de GuayanaCaracasZamora
ClausuraZamoraMineros de GuayanaDeportivo Táchira
2014–15AperturaTrujillanosDeportivo La GuairaCaracas
ClausuraDeportivo TáchiraCaracasZamora
2015AdecuaciónZamoraDeportivo La Guaira
—
2016AperturaZamoraDeportivo Anzoátegui
ClausuraZuliaDeportivo Táchira
2017AperturaMonagasCaracas
ClausuraDeportivo LaraMineros de Guayana
2018AperturaZamoraMineros de Guayana
ClausuraDeportivo LaraDeportivo La Guaira
2019AperturaEstudiantes de MéridaMineros de Guayana
ClausuraCaracasDeportivo Táchira
2024AperturaCaraboboMetropolitanos
ClausuraDeportivo TáchiraCarabobo
2025AperturaUniversidad CentralDeportivo Táchira
ClausuraCaraboboAcademia Puerto Cabello
2026Apertura
Clausura

Footnotes

A. No third team recorded so the championship was played in a two zones format, where both teams qualified first played a final.

See also