BY NONTSETSELELO DLAMINI (INTERN)
MBABANE– The Premier League of Eswatini has officially confirmed the promotion and relegation criteria that will apply at the end of the 2025/26 football season, clarifying how clubs will move between the Premier League, National First Division, and regional leagues.
In a media statement released on May 19, 2026 , the league announced that teams finishing in positions 14, 15, and 16 in the MTN Premier League standings will be automatically relegated to the National First Division, while the club finishing in position 13 will enter promotion and relegation playoffs for survival.
The statement further confirmed that the top two clubs in the National First Division will secure automatic promotion to the Premier League, while teams finishing third, fourth, and fifth in the second-tier league will compete in playoffs alongside the 13th-placed Premiership side for the remaining top-flight places.
According to the league’s regulations, the playoffs will determine the final two teams to feature in next season’s Premier League campaign, with the teams finishing at the top of the playoff standings earning promotion to the elite division. The Premier League of Eswatini stated that the rules are contained in Clause 9 of the league’s Master Rules and Regulations and will be implemented “strictly and without deviation.”
The league also confirmed that the bottom four clubs in the National First Division will be relegated to their respective EFA Regional Super Leagues, while champions from the country’s four regional leagues will gain promotion to the National First Division.
Football stakeholders believe the structure is designed to strengthen competitiveness across all levels of Eswatini football by ensuring that clubs continue fighting for points throughout the season, whether in the title race, promotion battle, or relegation struggle.
The promotion and relegation system remains one of the key features of football competitions globally, providing clubs from lower divisions with opportunities to rise into elite competitions while ensuring accountability and competitiveness among top-flight teams.
The National First Division continues to serve as an important development platform for clubs and players aspiring to compete at Premier League level, with several teams in recent years successfully earning promotion to the top flight.
Analysts say the confirmed playoff format could add further excitement towards the conclusion of the season as clubs battle for survival and promotion positions in both the Premier League and National First Division. Supporters across the country are now expected to closely monitor league standings as the race for titles, promotion, and survival intensifies heading into the final stages of the football season.
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(Courtesy Pic)
