Slovakia has participated in international football as an independent nation ever since 1993 when Czechoslovakia was divided into two new states.[1][2][3] Slovakia qualified to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2010, where the side upset perennial power Italy and lost in the Round of 16.[4] Since independence, they qualified for the UEFA European Championship for their first time in 2016. Football is the most popular sport in the Slovak Republic.

Football in Slovakia
CountrySlovakia
Governing bodySlovak Football Association
National team(s)Slovakia
First played1863
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

Football Association

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The Slovak Football Association was a member of FIFA from April 1939 to 1945 and resumed in 1994.[5]

League football

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The Slovak club's football tournament is held every season in the Slovak First Football League. The first Slovak football league was formed in its current form in 1993, when the Czechoslovak league was discontinued after the end of the federation with the Czech Republic. In 2007-08 there was an average of approximately 3000 spectators per game. The clubs sell their players to financially stronger clubs from western Europe. Examples of players that have succeeded in notable leagues are Marek Hamšík, former captain of Italian club SSC Napoli, Peter Pekarík who captains Bundesliga side Hertha BSC and Martin Škrtel, a well-known former Liverpool centre-back. Moreover, over the last few years more and more youngsters have been given the chance to perform regularly in the league before being transferred abroad. For example Leon Bailey, Milan Škriniar, Stanislav Lobotka and Samuel Kalu all played in the Slovak league.

The record champion is ŠK Slovan Bratislava with 13 titles, followed by MŠK Žilina with 7 titles.

The second-tier football league in Slovakia is called 2. Liga and 16 teams compete in it. The third tier league (known as 3. Liga) consists of four divisions of which three (division East, division Middle & division Bratislava) are of 16 teams and the other one (division West) consists of 18 teams.

In 2010, MŠK Žilina became the third Slovak club to participate in the Champions League, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

System

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As of the 2024–25 season:[6]

Level
Clubs
League(s) / Division(s)
1
12
I. Liga
12 clubs
2
14
II. Liga
14 clubs
3
33
III. Liga
West
17 clubs
III. Liga
East
16 clubs
4
63
IV. Liga (BFZ)
16 clubs
IV. Liga (ZsFZ)
17 clubs
IV. Liga (SsFZ)
14 clubs
IV. Liga (VsFZ)
16 clubs
5
102
V. Liga (BFZ)
16 clubs
V. Liga (ZsFZ)
North-West - 14 clubs
South-East - 16 clubs
V. Liga (SsFZ)
North - 14 clubs
South - 14 clubs
V. Liga (VsFZ)
North - 14 clubs
South - 14 clubs
6
225
VI. Liga (BFZ)
Bratislava-city - 14 clubs
Bratislava-country - 14 clubs
VI. Liga (ZsFZ)
North - 16 clubs
West - 15 clubs
South - 11 clubs
East - 16 clubs
Centre - 16 clubs
VI. Liga (SsFZ)
Group A - 14 clubs
Group B - 14 clubs
Group C - 14 clubs
Group D - 13 clubs
VI. Liga (VsFZ)
Podtatranská - 14 clubs
Šarišská - 14 clubs
Zemplínska - 14 clubs
Košicko-Gemerská - 14 clubs
Vihorlatsko-Dukelská - 12 clubs

7




8




9

VII. Liga (BFZ)
Bratislava-city - 10 clubs
Bratislava-country - 9 clubs
Sub-regional football unions

Dunajská Streda
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Galanta
VII. Liga
Komárno
VII. Liga
Levice
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Nitra
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga A
VIII. Liga B
Nové Zámky
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Považská Bystrica
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Prievidza
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga A
VIII. Liga B
IX. Liga
Senica
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
IX. Liga
Topoľčany
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Trenčín
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga North
VIII. Liga South
IX. Liga
Trnava
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga A
VIII. Liga B
IX. Liga

Sub-regional football unions

Banská Bystrica
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Kysuce
VII. Liga
Dolný Kubín
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Liptov
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
IX. Liga
Lučenec
VII. Liga
Martin (Turiec)
I. trieda
II. trieda
Rimavská Sobota
VII. Liga
Veľký Krtíš
VII. Liga
Zvolen
I. trieda
II. trieda
Žiar nad Hronom
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Žilina
I. trieda
II. trieda
III. trieda

Sub-regional football unions

Bardejov
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Humenné
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Košice-country
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Michalovce
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Podtatranský FZ
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
Prešov
VII. Liga
VIII. Liga
IX. Liga
Rožňava
VII. Liga
Spišský OFZ
VII. Liga
Stará Ľubovňa
VII. Liga
Svidník (Ondava)
VII. Liga
Trebišov
VII. Liga
Vranov nad Topľou
VII. Liga

Slovak cup

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The Slovak Cup is the football cup competition for Slovak club teams. It is organized annually by the Slovak Football Association (Slovenský futbalový zväz, SFZ). The cup has been held since the 1969/70 season, the first winner was Slovan Bratislava, who is also the record holder, with 17 titles.

National team

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The men's national team qualified as group winners for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. At the final tournament, the Slovak team surprisingly won against the world champions Italy 3–2, the Slovaks also qualified for the knockout stages, where they were eliminated after a 2–1 defeat against the eventual finalists Netherlands.[7]

The Slovak national team also qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, reaching the round of 16, and UEFA Euro 2020, where they were eliminated in the group stage.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Slovakia harnessing women's talent". UEFA.com. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  2. ^ "Debutant Slovakia will be a surprise package". The Hindu. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  3. ^ Grove, Daryl (2010-06-04). "It's soccer vs. hockey in Slovakia | Daryl Grove - Yahoo News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  4. ^ Fletcher, Paul (1970-01-01). "Slovakia 3-2 Italy". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  5. ^ FIFA.com. "Member Association - Slovakia". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  6. ^ Slovak football league system – please click on "SÚŤAŽE"
  7. ^ Wilson, Paul (24 June 2010). "Slovakia 3-2 Italy | World Cup 2010 match report | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  8. ^ "Slovakia: all their EURO records and stats". UEFA. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
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