--- title: "Ukrainian Premier League Prepares Global Reform: Two-Stage Format and Threat of Reduction to 12 Teams" description: "Ukrainian Premier League clubs are discussing a transition to a two-stage format with groups and a possible reduction of the league to 12 teams from the 2028/29 season. The majority of clubs are against reducing the number of participants." date: 2026-09-15T07:46:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/upl-format-reform-two-stage-12-teams-en tags: [ukrainian-premier-league, upl, football-reform, shakhtar, ukrainian-football] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukrainian Premier League Prepares Global Reform: Two-Stage Format and Threat of Reduction to 12 Teams ![Official Ukrainian Premier League logo on a blue background, illustrating news about a global reform and potential reduction to 12 teams](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/15/upl-format-reform-two-stage-12-teams/upl-format-reform-two-stage-12-teams-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The UPL is discussing abandoning the double round-robin system in favor of a two-stage tournament with a championship and a lower group, while retaining 16 clubs. - A new "mid-table group" of four teams is proposed, with a playoff for a Conference League spot or a sponsor's monetary prize. - Shakhtar is promoting the reduction of the league to 12 teams from the 2028/29 season, potentially supported by LNZ, but the majority of clubs are against it. - Final decisions depend on the approval of the European calendar for the 2027/28 season; all changes are still at the discussion stage. The Ukrainian Premier League may undergo significant changes to its competition format starting next season. According to Sport RBC.UA, citing the Telegram channel of journalist Igor Burbas, clubs in the elite division have already begun discussing possible reform options for the championship, awaiting the approval of the European calendar for the 2027/28 season. This means that final decisions on the tournament structure will be made with the dates of European cup matches in mind, which in itself narrows the room for maneuver for the organizers. ### Two-Stage System Instead of the Classic Double Round-Robin The basic foundation of the reform is planned to retain the familiar number of participants — 16 clubs. At the same time, it is proposed to abandon the classic double round-robin system and introduce a two-stage tournament. The scheme may resemble preliminary formats with the division of teams into groups after the regular stage: a championship group of six teams will decide the fate of the medals, while the lower group will fight for the right to remain in the elite. This approach is intended to increase the intrigue at the end of the season and make matches within the groups more significant. ### "Mid-Table Group" and a New Monetary Prize A new feature of the proposed format may be the appearance of a so-called "mid-table group." It will consist of four teams that did not make it into either the championship or the lower group. By the design of the initiators, this group may hold an additional playoff for a Conference League spot or compete for a special monetary prize from the title sponsor. Thus, even mid-table teams receive an additional incentive and financial motivation. ### Radical Step: Reducing the League to 12 Participants In addition to changing the format, the next club meeting is expected to consider a more radical initiative — reducing the UPL to 12 participants starting from the 2028/29 season. According to the source, this idea is being promoted by Donetsk's Shakhtar, and among those potentially ready to support it, Cherkasy's LNZ stands out. Reducing the number of teams typically shortens the calendar and increases the density and value of individual matches, which may benefit clubs with deeper budgets. ### Contradictory Data Here, the positions of the clubs diverge. On the one hand, Shakhtar and, potentially, LNZ are in favor of reducing the league to 12 teams. On the other hand, the majority of clubs are strongly against reducing the number of participants, as they do not want to risk losing their place in the elite division. Moreover, it is important to emphasize that all the changes described — the two-stage system, the "mid-table group," and the reduction to 12 — are currently a matter of discussion and proposals, not approved decisions; the final structure will depend on the approval of the European calendar for the 2027/28 season and the results of the club vote. ### Context: Parallel Reform of the Foreign Player Quota The format reform is not the only potential change in Ukrainian football. Previously, there were reports of another initiative — the possible abolition of the foreign player quota. On why this issue has no simple answer for Ukrainian football, media manager and sports official Mikhail Metreveli wrote in a separate column. The totality of these discussions indicates that the UPL is on the verge of a comprehensive restructuring of the rules and competition structure. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Global Changes Planned in the UPL from Next Season: What Is Known](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/upl-planuyut-globalni-zmini-nastupnogo-sezonu-1789455021.html) - Источник подтверждает факт обсуждения реформы формата (16 клубов, двухступенчатая система, «группа середняков») и инициативы сокращения до 12 команд с сезона-2028/29 (продвигается «Шахтером», потенциально ЛНЗ), а также резкое несогласие большинства клубов. Данные получены со ссылкой на Telegram-канал журналиста Игоря Бурбаса; изменения носят характер предложений до утверждения европейского календаря на сезон-2027/28. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How many clubs will remain in the UPL under the proposed reform? **A:** The basic plan is to retain 16 clubs. A more radical option — reducing to 12 participants — is being discussed separately, but it is proposed for the 2028/29 season and is not supported by the majority of clubs. ### Q: What is the "mid-table group" in the new format? **A:** It is a group of four teams that did not make it into either the championship or the lower group. It may hold a playoff for a Conference League spot or compete for a special monetary prize from the title sponsor. ### Q: Who is in favor of reducing the league to 12 teams? **A:** According to the source, this idea is being promoted by Donetsk's Shakhtar, and among those potentially ready to support it, Cherkasy's LNZ stands out. Meanwhile, the majority of clubs are strongly against the reduction. ### Q: Has the new format already been approved? **A:** No. All the changes described are at the stage of discussion among the clubs and depend on the approval of the European calendar for the 2027/28 season. These are proposals, not final decisions.