Leagues from other continents

[amenina]

The seven Central American leagues all finished their half-season tournaments, with the following teams winning league titles.

Belize (Opening): Altitude (2nd title, 1st since 2022 Opening, 3rd most in league, 7 behind Belmopan Bandits)

Costa Rica (Apertura): Saprissa (39th title, 3rd consecutive, most in league, 9 ahead of Alajuelense)

El Salvador (Apertura): Aguila (17th title, 1st since 2019 Clausura, 2nd most in league, 2 behind FAS)

Guatemala (Apertura): Comunicaciones (32nd title, 1st since 2022 Clausura, most in league, 1 ahead of Municipal)

Honduras (Apertura): Olimpia (37th title, 3rd consecutive, most in league, 19 ahead of Motagua)

Nicaragua (Apertura): Diriangen (31st title, 1st since 2022 Clausura, most in league, 10 ahead of Real Esteli)

Panama (Clausura): Independiente (6th title, 3rd consecutive, 5th most in league, 10 behind Tauro)

Apart from Altitude, the other six league champions qualified for the 2024 CONCACAF Central American Cup, which will be used as a qualifying tournament for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Since Belize only receive one spot in the Central American Cup, Altitude will qualify if they also win the Closing tournament, or have a better overall season record than the Closing tournament champions.

[amenina]

As 2023 is coming to an end, let's have a recap of the league titles won in this calendar year in the five continents (no need to list European leagues since you know who they are).

First of all, here are the league champions of each association of OFC.

American Samoa: Royal Puma
Cook Islands: Tupapa Maraerenga
Fiji: Lautoka
New Caledonia: Magenta
New Zealand: Wellington Olympic
Papua New Guinea: Lae City (2022/23 season which ended in February), Hekari United (2023 season which ended in December)
Samoa: Vaipuna
Solomon Islands: Solomon Warriors (two titles, 2022/23 season which ended in February, and 2023 season which ended in October)
Tahiti: Tefana
Tonga: Veitongo (two titles, 2022/23 season which ended in January, and 2023 season which ended in November)
Vanuatu: Ifira Black Bird (two titles, 2022/23 season which ended in February, and 2023 season which ended in November)

[amenina]

And here are the league champions of each association of CONMEBOL.

Argentina: River Plate
Bolivia: The Strongest
Brazil: Palmeiras
Chile: Huachipato
Colombia: Millonarios (Aperutra), Junior (Finalizacion)
Ecuador: LDU Quito
Paraguay: Libertad (two titles, both Apertura and Clausura)
Peru: Universitario
Uruguay: Liverpool
Venezuela: Deportivo Tachira

[Jackson Harrison]

And here are the league champions of each association of CONMEBOL.

Argentina: River Plate
Bolivia: The Strongest
Brazil: Palmeiras
Chile: Huachipato
Colombia: Millonarios (Aperutra), Junior (Finalizacion)
Ecuador: LDU Quito
Paraguay: Libertad (two titles, both Apertura and Clausura)
Peru: Universitario
Uruguay: Liverpool
Venezuela: Deportivo Tachira

What are Apertutra and Finalizacion? 2 different championships?

[Sagy]

And here are the league champions of each association of CONMEBOL.

Argentina: River Plate
Bolivia: The Strongest
Brazil: Palmeiras
Chile: Huachipato
Colombia: Millonarios (Aperutra), Junior (Finalizacion)
Ecuador: LDU Quito
Paraguay: Libertad (two titles, both Apertura and Clausura)
Peru: Universitario
Uruguay: Liverpool
Venezuela: Deportivo Tachira

What are Apertutra and Finalizacion? 2 different championships?

Yes, two different championships (Opening and Final/Closing). If needed the two champions play for the over championship.

[amenina]

And here are the league champions of each association of CONMEBOL.

Argentina: River Plate
Bolivia: The Strongest
Brazil: Palmeiras
Chile: Huachipato
Colombia: Millonarios (Aperutra), Junior (Finalizacion)
Ecuador: LDU Quito
Paraguay: Libertad (two titles, both Apertura and Clausura)
Peru: Universitario
Uruguay: Liverpool
Venezuela: Deportivo Tachira

What are Apertutra and Finalizacion? 2 different championships?

Yes, two titles are currently awarded each year in Colombia and Paraguay, without an “overall” season champion. A few other countries, like Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, also used to have two league champions per season, but now only have one.

The leagues of Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay, while currently divided into two stages, winning one stage only qualifies the team to the “play-offs” which decide the league title, so there is still only one league champion crowned each season.

[amenina]

And here are the league champions of each association of CONCACAF.

Anguilla: Doc's United
Antigua and Barbuda: Grenades
Aruba: Racing Club Aruba
Bahamas: Western Warriors
Barbados: Weymouth Wales
Belize: Verdes (2022/23 Closing), Altitude (2023/24 Opening)
Bermuda: PHC Zebras
Bonaire: None (season calendar changed from 2022 to 2023/24)
British Virgin Islands: One Love United
Canada: Forge
Cayman Islands: Scholars International
Costa Rica: Saprissa (two titles, both 2022/23 Clausura and 2023/24 Apertura)
Cuba: Cienfuegos
Curacao: None (season calendar changed from 2022 to 2023/24)
Dominica: Dublanc
Dominican Republic: Cibao
El Salvador: Aguila (2023/24 Apertura; 2022/23 Clausura abandoned due to stadium stampede)
French Guiana: Etoile Matoury
Grenada: None (no league between 2021/22 and 2023/24 seasons)
Guadeloupe: Moulien
Guatemala: Xelaju (2022/23 Clausura), Comunicaciones (2023/24 Apertura)
Guyana: Guyana Defence Force
Haiti: None (no league since 2020/21 season)
Honduras: Olimpia (two titles, both 2022/23 Clausura and 2023/24 Apertura)
Jamaica: Mount Pleasant
Martinique: Golden Lion
Mexico: Tigres UANL (2022/23 Clausura), America (2023/24 Apertura)
Montserrat: None (no league since 2016 season)
Nicaragua: Real Esteli (2022/23 Clausura), Diriangen (2023/24 Apertura)
Panama: Independiente (two titles, both Apertura and Clausura)
Puerto Rico: Metropolitan (2022/23 Clausura), Academia Quintana (2023/24 Apertura)
Saint Kitts and Nevis: Village Superstars
Saint Lucia: BAYS
Saint-Martin: Junior Stars
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: JeBelle
Sint Maarten: SCSA Eagles
Suriname: Robinhood
Trinidad and Tobago: Defence Force
Turks and Caicos Islands: SWA Sharks
USA: Columbus Crew
US Virgin Islands: New Vibes

[amenina]

And here are the league champions of each association of CAF.

Algeria: CR Belouizdad
Angola: Petro de Luanda
Benin: Coton
Botswana: Jwaneng Galaxy
Burkina Faso: AS Douanes
Burundi: Bumamuru
Cameroon: Coton Sport
Cape Verde: GD Palmeira
Central African Republic: Red Star
Chad: AS PSI
Comoros: Djabal
Congo: AS Otoho
Cote d'Ivoire: ASEC Mimosas
Djibouti: Garde Republicaine
DR Congo: None (2022/23 season abandoned)
Egypt: Al Ahly
Equatorial Guinea: Dragon
Eritrea: Unknown if any (info on league not available)
Eswatini: Green Mamba
Ethiopia: Saint George
Gabon: None (2022/23 season abandoned)
Gambia: Real Banjul
Ghana: Medeama
Guinea: Hafia
Guinea-Bissau: Canchungo
Kenya: Gor Mahia
Lesotho: Bantu
Liberia: LISCR
Libya: Al-Ahli Tripoli
Madagascar: Fosa Juniors
Malawi: Nyasa Big Bullets
Mali: Real Bamako
Mauritania: Nouadhibou
Mauritius: GRSE Wanderers
Morocco: AS FAR
Mozambique: Ferroviario da Beira
Namibia: African Stars
Niger: AS GNN
Nigeria: Enyimba
Reunion: AS Excelsior
Rwanda: APR
Sao Tome and Principe: 6 de Setembro
Senegal: Generation Foot
Seychelles: Foresters
Sierra Leone: Bo Rangers
Somalia: None (season calendar changed from 2022 to 2023/24)
South Africa: Mamelodi Sundowns
South Sudan: Salaam Bor
Sudan: None (2022/23 season abandoned)
Tanzania: Young Africans
Togo: ASKO de Kara
Tunisia: Etoile du Sahel
Uganda: Vipers
Zambia: Power Dynamos
Zanzibar: KMKM
Zimbabwe: Ngezi Platinum

[amenina]

And finally, here are the league champions of each association of AFC.

Afghanistan: None (no league since 2022 season)
Australia: Central Coast Mariners
Bahrain: Khalidiya
Bangladesh: Bashundhara Kings
Bhutan: Paro (two titles, 2022/23 season which ended in January, and 2023 season which ended in December)
Brunei: Kasuka
Cambodia: None (season calendar changed from 2022 to 2023/24)
China PR: Shanghai Port
Chinese Taipei: Tainan City Taiwan Steel
DPR Korea: April 25
Guam: Wings
Hong Kong: Kitchee
India: ATK Mohun Bagan
Indonesia: PSM
Iran: Persepolis
Iraq: Al Shorta
Japan: Vissel Kobe
Jordan: None (season calendar changed from 2022 to 2023/24)
Korea Republic: Ulsan Hyundai
Kuwait: Al Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan: Abdysh-Ata Kant
Laos: Young Elephant
Lebanon: Al Ahed
Macau: Chao Pak Kei
Malaysia: Johor Darul Ta'zim
Maldives: Maziya
Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar
Myanmar: Shan United
Nepal: Church Boys United
Northern Mariana Islands: Eleven Tiger (Spring 2023)
Oman: Al Nahda
Pakistan: None (no league since 2021/22 season)
Palestine: Jabal Mukabar (West Bank), Khadamat Rafah (Gaza Strip)
Philippines: Kaya
Qatar: Al Duhail
Saudi Arabia: Al Ittihad
Singapore: Albirex Niigata Singapore
Sri Lanka: None (no league since 2021/22 season)
Syria: Al Futuwa
Tajikistan: Istiklol
Thailand: Buriram United
Timor-Leste: Karketu Dili
Turkmenistan: Arkadag
United Arab Emirates: Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Uzbekistan: Pakhtakor
Vietnam: Cong An Ha Noi
Yemen: None (no league between 2021 and 2023/24 seasons)

[amenina]

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Maclaren hits milestone in City win; Nam Dinh stay top

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/domesti ... y_top.html


West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal maintain pace; Air Force Club take lead

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/domesti ... _lead.html


Central & South Asia Wrap: Kerala Blasters, Esteghlal end year on top

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/domesti ... n_top.html

[seso]

What are Apertutra and Finalizacion? 2 different championships?

Yes, two titles are currently awarded each year in Colombia and Paraguay, without an “overall” season champion.

How is it decided which club will participate in each championship? Is it due to different organising bodies like FIBA and ULEB in basketball some years ago?

EDIT: no worries, I read about it in Wikipedia. I see that both Apertura and Clausura champions qualify for the Copa Libertadores.

[amenina]

What are Apertutra and Finalizacion? 2 different championships?

Yes, two titles are currently awarded each year in Colombia and Paraguay, without an “overall” season champion.

How is it decided which club will participate in each championship? Is it due to different organising bodies like FIBA and ULEB in basketball some years ago?

No, it is nothing like this.

Basically each season is divided into two halves, the Apertura (meaning Opening) and Clausura (meaning Closing), and the same teams compete for one title each half, meaning two titles are awarded each season, and it is possible that one team can win both titles (such as Libertad which won both the Apertura and Clausura titles in Paraguay in 2023).

At the end of the season, there is also an aggregate table which combine the records of each team as some sort of overall ranking, and this is usually used to determine the qualifying teams for continental tournaments (Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana for South America, or CONCACAF Champions Cup or Central American Cup for North and Central America). This table MAY (I emphasize the word MAY) also be used to determine which teams are relegated at the end of the season. However, some countries use a multiple-season average table to determine which team(s) are relegated instead of only looking at the teams' records of one season.

I am entirely not sure about the history of this split season format, and why the leagues in the Americans quite often use this format. I think Argentina, in 1991/92, were the first country to award two titles in one season, although in previous seasons, the league season was already divided into stages (I think because of the geography of the clubs, with many concentrated in Buenos Aires but the others scattered around the country).

As for the reasons of using this format, there are many. If you award two titles each seasons, there are more titles for everybody (Yay!). Also shorter tournaments can mean more excitement. And for a big team, even if they screw up the first half of the season, they can start afresh for the second half (just imagine what it would be like for Manchester United or Chelsea if something like this is used in the Premier League). I also think for these leagues, since a lot of their players get poached by European clubs or other Latin American clubs during the season (remember, June/July is the middle of the South American league season), selling their star players won't hurt as much because they have already completed one tournament, instead of having them leave halfway through a title chase.

[amenina]

What are Apertutra and Finalizacion? 2 different championships?

Yes, two titles are currently awarded each year in Colombia and Paraguay, without an “overall” season champion.

How is it decided which club will participate in each championship? Is it due to different organising bodies like FIBA and ULEB in basketball some years ago?

EDIT: no worries, I read about it in Wikipedia. I see that both Apertura and Clausura champions qualify for the Copa Libertadores.

Yes, both Apertura and Clausura champions qualify for the Copa Libertadores. There is also a combined table used to determine the rest of the Copa Libertadores places and the Copa Sudamericana places.

[seso]

Yes, two titles are currently awarded each year in Colombia and Paraguay, without an “overall” season champion.

How is it decided which club will participate in each championship? Is it due to different organising bodies like FIBA and ULEB in basketball some years ago?

No, it is nothing like this.

Basically each season is divided into two halves, the Apertura (meaning Opening) and Clausura (meaning Closing), and the same teams compete for one title each half, meaning two titles are awarded each season, and it is possible that one team can win both titles (such as Libertad which won both the Apertura and Clausura titles in Paraguay in 2023).

At the end of the season, there is also an aggregate table which combine the records of each team as some sort of overall ranking, and this is usually used to determine the qualifying teams for continental tournaments (Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana for South America, or CONCACAF Champions Cup or Central American Cup for North and Central America). This table MAY (I emphasize the word MAY) also be used to determine which teams are relegated at the end of the season. However, some countries use a multiple-season average table to determine which team(s) are relegated instead of only looking at the teams' records of one season.

I am entirely not sure about the history of this split season format, and why the leagues in the Americans quite often use this format. I think Argentina, in 1991/92, were the first country to award two titles in one season, although in previous seasons, the league season was already divided into stages (I think because of the geography of the clubs, with many concentrated in Buenos Aires but the others scattered around the country).

As for the reasons of using this format, there are many. If you award two titles each seasons, there are more titles for everybody (Yay!). Also shorter tournaments can mean more excitement. And for a big team, even if they screw up the first half of the season, they can start afresh for the second half (just imagine what it would be like for Manchester United or Chelsea if something like this is used in the Premier League). I also think for these leagues, since a lot of their players get poached by European clubs or other Latin American clubs during the season (remember, June/July is the middle of the South American league season), selling their star players won't hurt as much because they have already completed one tournament, instead of having them leave halfway through a title chase.

Thank you amenina! I never followed the club competitions in South America, but I heard about Apertura, Clausura, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana etc; good to finally know how the system works!

[amenina]

Thank you amenina! I never followed the club competitions in South America, but I heard about Apertura, Clausura, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana etc; good to finally know how the system works!

You are welcome!