Azores football league to adopt new two‑phase format from 2027‑28

The senior men’s football championship in Portugal’s Azores will be reorganised beginning with the 2027‑28 season. The new structure will consist of two phases. In the first phase, clubs will compete in their respective island leagues organised by the three regional football associations – Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo and Horta – between September and December. The top clubs from each island (three from Ponta Delgada, three from Angra do Heroísmo and two from Horta) will then advance to an eight‑team regional championship that runs from January to May. The winner of this regional phase will be crowned Azores champion and will earn the right to enter the national Campeonato de Portugal for the following season.

The regional sports authority confirmed that the reorganisation will not reduce public investment in Azores football and is intended to improve sustainability and competitive balance. A parallel decision was made for the women’s game: the winner of a new regional women’s tournament will represent the Azores in the national IV Divisão Nacional.

The changes replace the current single‑phase league of ten teams and aim to modernise the competition while preserving the pathway to national competition.