Wikipedia

Liga FUTVE

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.

Liga FUTVE
Founded1921; 105 years ago (1921)
CountryVenezuela
ConfederationCONMEBOL
Number of clubs14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLiga FUTVE 2
Domestic cup(s)Copa Venezuela
Supercopa de Venezuela
International cup(s)Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Current championsUniversidad Central (4th title)
(2025 season)
Most championshipsCaracas (12 titles)
Top scorerJuan García
(271 goals)
Broadcaster(s)TVes
WebsiteLiga FUTVE (in Spanish)
Venezuelan Football Federation (in Spanish)
Current: 2026 season

Format

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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

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  • 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

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

2026 teams

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Locations of the 2025 Primera División teams – Caracas
Team City Stadium Capacity
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

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

Amateur era

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  • (In bracket, title count):
Ed. Season Champion Runner-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

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  • (In bracket, title count):
Ed. Season Champion Runner-up Winning manager Top scorer
37
1957Universidad Central (3)La SalleBrazil Orlando FantoniBrazil Tonho (Universidad Central, 12 goals)
38
1958Deportivo Portugués (1)Deportivo EspañolBrazil Orlando FantoniVenezuela René Irazque (Portugués, 6 goals)
39
1959Deportivo Español (2)Deportivo PortuguésParaguay Delfín Benítez CáceresSpain Abel Benítez (Deportivo Español, 15 goals)
40
1960Deportivo Portugués (2)Deportivo EspañolPortugal Javier FerreiraSpain José Luis Iglesias (Deportivo Portugués, 9 goals)
41
1961Deportivo Italia (1)Banco Agrícola y PecuarioBrazil Orlando FantoniVenezuela Antonio Ravelo (Banco Agrícola y Pecuario, 11 goals)
42
1962Deportivo Portugués (3)Universidad CentralSpain Emilio HuguetBrazil Jaime da Silva (Universidad Central, 16)
43
1963Deportivo Italia (2)Deportivo PortuguésBrazil Orlando FantoniBrazil Nino (Deportivo Portugués, 15 goals)
44
1964Deportivo Galicia (1)Tiquire FloresUruguay Julio César BritosBrazil Helio Rodrigues (Tiquire Flores, 12 goals)
45
1965Lara (1)Deportivo ItaliaBrazil Gaetano PintónArgentina Mario Mateo (Lara, 16 goals)
46
1966Deportivo Italia (3)Deportivo PortuguésBrazil Orlando FantoniBrazil Ratto (Deportivo Portugués, 20 goals)
47
1967Deportivo Portugués (4)Deportivo GaliciaSpain José Julián HernándezBrazil Joao Ramos (Deportivo Portugués, 28 goals)
48
1968Unión Deportiva Canarias (1)Deportivo ItaliaUruguay Manuel AriasBrazil Raimundinho (Deportivo Portugués, 21 goals)
49
1969Deportivo Galicia (2)ValenciaUruguay Julio César BritosBrazil Eustaquio Batista (Deportivo Italia, 19 goals)
Brazil Lelo (Valencia, 19 goals)
50
1970Deportivo Galicia (3)Deportivo ItaliaBrazil Silvio LeiteUruguay Roland Langon (Deportivo Galicia, 13 goals)
51
1971Valencia (1)Deportivo ItaliaUruguay Walter RoqueBrazil Agostinho Sabara (Tiquire Aragua, 20 goals)
52
1972Deportivo Italia (4)Deportivo GaliciaBrazil Elmo CorreaVenezuela Francisco Rodriguez (Anzoátegui FC, 18 goals)
53
1973Portuguesa (1)ValenciaUruguay Walter RoqueUruguay Jose Chiazzaro (Estudiantes de Mérida, 14 goals)
54
1974Deportivo Galicia (4)PortuguesaUruguay Walter RoqueUruguay Jose Chiazzaro (Estudiantes de Mérida, 15 goals)
Uruguay Sergio Hugo Castillo (Anzoátegui FC, 15 goals)
55
1975Portuguesa (2)Estudiantes de MéridaSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladica PopovićParaguay Pedro Pascual Peralta (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
56
1976Portuguesa (3)Estudiantes de MéridaParaguay Benjamín FernándezParaguay Pedro Pascual Peralta (Portuguesa, 25 goals)
57
1977Portuguesa (4)Estudiantes de MéridaSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladica PopovićBrazil Jairzinho (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
Brazil Juan Cesar Silva (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
58
1978Portuguesa (5)Deportivo GaliciaParaguay Celino MoraBrazil Andrade (ULA Mérida, 23 goals)
59
1979Deportivo Táchira (1)Deportivo GaliciaUruguay Esteban BeracocheaUruguay Omar Ferrari (Deportivo Táchira, 15 goals)
60
1980Estudiantes de Mérida (1)PortuguesaParaguay Ramón RodríguezBrazil Wilfrido Campos (Portuguesa, 12 goals)
61
1981Deportivo Táchira (2)Estudiantes de MéridaUruguay Esteban BeracocheaColombia Rafael Angulo (Deportivo Táchira, 14 goals)
62
1982San Cristóbal (1)Deportivo TáchiraUruguay Walter RoqueUruguay German Montero (Estudiantes, 21 goals)
63
1983Universidad de Los Andes (1)PortuguesaVenezuela Iván GarcíaVenezuela Johnny Castellanos (Atlético Zamora, 13 goals)
64
1984Deportivo Táchira (3)Deportivo ItaliaArgentinaVenezuela Carlos Horacio MorenoBrazil Sergio Meckler (Zamora, 15 goals)
65
1985Estudiantes de Mérida (2)Deportivo TáchiraVenezuela Iván GarcíaBrazil Sergio Meckler (Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
66
1986Unión Atlético Táchira (4)Estudiantes de MéridaArgentinaVenezuela Carlos Horacio MorenoVenezuela Wilton Arreaza (Caracas, 8 goals)
67
1986–87Marítimo (1)Unión Atlético TáchiraVenezuela Rafael SantanaVenezuela Johnny Castellanos (Portuguesa, 16 goals)
68
1987–88Marítimo (2)Unión Atlético TáchiraUruguay Alfredo LópezArgentina Miguel González (Unión Atlético Táchira, 22 goals)
69
1988–89Mineros de Guayana (1)Pepeganga MargaritaUruguay Alfredo LópezVenezuela Johnny Castellanos (Mineros, 24 goals)
70
1989–90Marítimo (3)Unión Atlético TáchiraVenezuela Rafael SantanaVenezuela Herbert Márquez (Marítimo, 19 goals)
71
1990–91Universidad de Los Andes (2)MarítimoArgentina Carlos DiézVenezuela Alexander Bottini (Monagas, 15 goals)
72
1991–92Caracas (1)MinervénVenezuela Manuel PlasenciaGermany Andreas Vogler (Caracas, 25 goals)
73
1992–93Marítimo (4)MinervénCuba Miguel SabinaVenezuela Herbert Márquez (Marítimo, 21 goals)
74
1993–94Caracas (2)TrujillanosVenezuela Manuel PlasenciaColombia Rodrigo Soto (Trujillanos, 20 goals)
75
1994–95Caracas (3)MinervénVenezuela Pedro FeblesBrazil Rogeiro da Silva (Mineros, 30 goals)
76
1995–96Minervén (1)Mineros de GuayanaArgentina Raúl CavalleriVenezuela Jose Luis Dolgetta (Caracas, 24 goals)
77
1996–97Caracas (4)Atlético ZuliaVenezuela Manuel PlasenciaVenezuela Rafael Castellín (Caracas, 19 goals)
78
1997–98Atlético Zulia (1)Estudiantes de MéridaSerbia Ratomir DujkovicVenezuela Jose Luis Dolgetta (Estudiantes de Mérida/Carabobo, 22 goals)
79
1998–99Deportivo Italchacao (5)Unión Atlético TáchiraArgentina Raúl CavalleriColombia Gustavo Fonseca (Internacional Lara, 24 goals)
80
1999–00Deportivo Táchira (5)Deportivo ItalchacaoUruguay Walter RoqueVenezuela Juan Enrique García (Caracas, 24 goals)
81
2000–01Caracas (5)TrujillanosArgentinaVenezuela Carlos Horacio MorenoArgentina Martín Brignani (Estudiantes de Mérida, 12 goals)
82
2001–02Nacional TáchiraEstudiantes de MéridaUruguayVenezuela Carlos MaldonadoVenezuela Juan Enrique García (Nacional Táchira, 34 goals)
83
2002–03Caracas (6)Unión Atlético MaracaiboVenezuela Noel SanvicenteVenezuela Juan Enrique García (Monagas/Mineros, 19 goals)
84
2003–04Caracas (7)Deportivo TáchiraVenezuela Noel SanvicenteVenezuela Juan Enrique García (Mineros, 18 goals)
85
2004–05Unión Atlético Maracaibo (1)CaracasUruguayVenezuela Carlos MaldonadoArgentina Daniel Delfino (Carabobo, 19 goals)
86
2005–06Caracas (8)Unión Atlético MaracaiboVenezuela Noel SanvicenteVenezuela Juan Enrique García (Deportivo Táchira, 21 goals)
87
2006–07Caracas (9)Unión Atlético MaracaiboVenezuela Noel SanvicenteColombia Robinson Rentería (Trujillanos, 19 goals)
88
2007–08Deportivo Táchira (6)CaracasUruguayVenezuela Carlos MaldonadoVenezuela Alexander Rondon (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 19 goals)
89
2008–09Caracas (10)Deportivo ItaliaVenezuela Noel SanvicenteVenezuela Daniel Arismendi (Maracaibo/Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
Venezuela Heatklif Castillo (Aragua, 17 goals)
90
2009–10Caracas (11)Deportivo TáchiraVenezuela Ceferino BencomoColombia Norman Cabrera (Atlético El Vigía, 20 goals)
91
2010–11Deportivo Táchira (7)ZamoraColombia Jorge Luis PintoVenezuela Daniel Arismendi (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 20 goals)
92
2011–12Deportivo Lara (1)CaracasVenezuela Eduardo SaragóVenezuela Rafael Castellín (Deportivo Lara, 21 goals)
93
2012–13Zamora (1)Deportivo AnzoáteguiVenezuela Noel SanvicentePanama Gabriel Torres (Zamora, 19 goals)
94
2013–14Zamora (2)Mineros de GuayanaVenezuela Noel SanvicenteVenezuela Juan Falcón (Zamora, 19 goals)
95
2014–15Deportivo Táchira (8)TrujillanosVenezuela Daniel FaríasPanama Edwin Aguilar (Deportivo Anzoategui, 23 goals)
96
2016Zamora (3)ZuliaVenezuela Francesco StifanoPanama Gabriel Torres (Zamora, 22 goals)
97
2017Monagas (1)Deportivo LaraVenezuela Jhonny FerreiraVenezuela Anthony Blondell (Monagas, 24 goals)
98
2018Zamora (4)Deportivo LaraVenezuela Alí CañasVenezuela Anthony Uribe (Zamora, 16 goals)
99
2019Caracas (12)Estudiantes de MéridaVenezuela Noel SanvicenteVenezuela Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 18 goals)
100
2020Deportivo La Guaira (1)Deportivo TáchiraVenezuela Daniel FaríasVenezuela Richard Blanco (Mineros, 8 goals)
Venezuela Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 8 goals)
101
2021Deportivo Táchira (9)CaracasVenezuela Juan Domingo TolisanoBenin Samson Akinyoola (Caracas, 18 goals)
102
2022Metropolitanos (1)MonagasVenezuela José María MorrColombia Kevin Viveros (Carabobo, 21 goals)
103
2023Deportivo Táchira (10)CaracasVenezuela Eduardo SaragóVenezuela Luifer Hernández (Academia Puerto Cabello, 18 goals)
104
2024Deportivo Táchira (11)CaraboboVenezuela Edgar Pérez GrecoColombia Juan Camilo Zapata (Inter de Barinas/Universidad Central, 16 goals)
105
2025Universidad Central (4)CaraboboVenezuela Daniel SassoVenezuela Edwuin Pernía (Academia Puerto Cabello, 15 goals)
106
2026

Titles by club

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

Rank Club Winners Runners-Up Winning years Runners-Up years
1 Caracas1251991–92, 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
2 Deportivo 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
3 Unión731932, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1947, 19501929, 1930, 1948
4 Dos Caminos671936, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1945, 19491932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1944
5 Deportivo Petare571961, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1998–991965, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1984, 1999–00, 2008–09
Portuguesa531973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 19781974, 1980, 1983
7 Centro 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—
14 Loyola351925, 1943, 19441942, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1954
15 Estudiantes 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—
20 Litoral1419411937, 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

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Copa Bolivariana

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Apertura and Clausura seasons

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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
—[A]
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
2026AperturaCaraboboAcademia Puerto Cabello
Clausura

Footnotes

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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

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References

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