Summary
The Peru First Division (Spanish pronunciation: [pɾiˈmeɾa ðiβiˈsjon]; known simply as First Division, and Liga 1 Te Apuesto for sponsorship reasons), officially known as Liga 1, is the top flight of association football in Peru. It has been referred to as Torneo Descentralizado since 1966 until 2019, when the first teams residing outside the Lima and Callao provinces were invited to compete in the inaugural league national competition.
The main sponsor is the sports betting company Te Apuesto. As of the 2025 season, there are 19 teams in the division of a league that operates on a system of promotion and relegation determined at the end of the season with the Segunda División (Liga 2). Seasons run from February to December, with each team playing 38 matches, 18 in the Apertura and 18 in the Clausura. The league is organized by Asociación Deportiva de Fútbol Profesional (English: Professional Football Sport Association) (ADFP).
The Peruvian Football League was founded on an amateur basis and organized in 1912 into the two tiers of Primera División and the Segunda División. Editions from 1912 to 1921 were played by clubs based in Lima and Callao. In 1922 the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) was created and in 1926 it organized its first amateur championship. The Primera División became professional in 1951. In 1966, the first true national league was founded and continues.
As of the win by current champion Universitario in the 2024 season, the league championship has gone to 21 different clubs, though a majority (73 of 108 championships) have been won by just three clubs: Universitario (28), Alianza Lima (25), and Sporting Cristal (20).
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