2026 in Estonian football

Football in Estonia

Season	2026
←  2025 2027  →

This page summarizes everything related to Estonian football in the year 2026. It contains information about different league systems, national teams, futsal, beach football and most important transfers.

National teams

The 2026 season for the Estonia national football team is centered on international friendlies and the commencement of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League in September. Following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup qualification cycle in late 2025, the team enters a transition phase under head coach Jürgen Henn. The women's national team begins its 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification campaign in March, while the youth setups continue their development in UEFA European Championship qualifying rounds.

Women's senior

Bosnia and Herzegovina   v   Estonia

3 March 2027 WC Q — L.C	Bosnia and Herzegovina	v	Estonia	Zenica, Bosnia
(UTC+3)		Report

Lithuania   v   Estonia

7 March 2027 WC Q — L.C	Lithuania	v	Estonia	Kaunas, Lithuania
(UTC+3)		Report

Estonia   v   Liechtenstein

14 April 2027 WC Q — L.C	Estonia	v	Liechtenstein	Tallinn, Estonia
18:00 (UTC+3)		Report		Stadium: Lilleküla Stadium

Estonia   v   Lithuania

18 April 2027 WC Q — L.C	Estonia	v	Lithuania	Tallinn, Estonia
17:00 (UTC+3)		Report		Stadium: Lilleküla Stadium

Liechtenstein   v   Estonia

5 June 2027 WC Q — L.C	Liechtenstein	v	Estonia	Liechtenstein
(UTC+3)		Report

Estonia   v   Bosnia and Herzegovina

9 June 2027 WC Q — L.C	Estonia	v	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Pärnu, Estonia
(UTC+3)		Report		Stadium: Pärnu Rannastaadion

League system

The 2026 domestic season is scheduled to run from March 6 to November, with the Premium Liiga featuring ten clubs competing for the national title. This year marks the return of Nõmme United to the top flight. The Esiliiga and Esiliiga B provide the professional pathway for the pyramid, while the lower regional tiers continue to host matches across the country throughout the summer months.

Men's leagues

Premium Liiga

Main article: 2026 Meistriliiga

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation 1 FC Kuressaare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Champions League first qualifying round 2 FC Nõmme United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Conference League first qualifying round 3 Harju JK Laagri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 JK Narva Trans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Nõmme Kalju FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Paide Linnameeskond 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Pärnu JK Vaprus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Tallinna FC Flora 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Tallinna FCI Levadia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Play-off for Esiliiga 10 Tartu JK Tammeka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Esiliiga Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: EJL Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Less matches awarded against; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Away goals scored; 9) Fairplay ranking. [1]

Tallinn Vaprus Paide Tammeka Trans Kuressaare Laagri Tallinn  teams: Flora Kalju Levadia United class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024 Meistriliiga teams

Relegation play-off:

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
(Esiliiga 2nd)		(Meistriliiga 9th)

Cup competitions

Knockout football in 2026 is split between two seasons. The 2025–26 Estonian Cup (Tipneri karikas) resumes in the spring with the quarter-final stage, culminating in the final in May. Simultaneously, the 2026–27 edition of the tournament is set to begin in the summer with preliminary rounds. The season's first silverware is contested in the Estonian Supercup, traditionally held in early March as the curtain-raiser for the league season.

European competitions

Estonian clubs represented the nation in the 2026–27 editions of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League. As the league champions, FC Flora entered the Champions League qualification path, while other top finishers from the previous season participated in the Conference League. These matches provided crucial international experience and financial incentives for the domestic clubs.

Notable transfers

Players are listed in an alphabetical order. Players with an "*" behind their name have changed teams inside and outside of Meistriliiga. Player's last team is listed as "free agent" if he has not represented a team in the previous six months. Player's next team is listed as "free agent" if he has not found a new club within the following six months.

Inside Meistriliiga

Listed are players, who have joined or left a club participating in the 2026 Meistriliiga. The player must have represented the Estonian national team at least once. The list may also contain more known players, who have either changed their club inside the lower leagues or retired from football.

Name	Pos.	Age	From	To	Date	Notes	Ref
Ilja Antonov	MF	33	FC Kuressaare	Tallinna FC Flora	01.01	Signed a contract with Flora.	[2]

Outside Meistriliiga

Listed are all Estonian footballers, who have joined or left a foreign team.

Name	Pos.	Age	From	To	Date	Notes	Ref
Marten-Chris Paalberg	FW	17	Pärnu JK Vaprus	AS Saint-Étienne	02.02	Signed a 2.5 year contract with Saint-Étienne.	[3]
Michael Schjönning-Larsen	DF	24	Tallinna FCI Levadia	Kilmarnock F.C.	01.01	Contract with Levadia ended. Signed a 1.5 year contract with Kilmarnock.	[4]
Vlasiy Sinyavskiy	DF	29	Bohemians 1905	FC Baník Ostrava	06.01	Signed a 2 year contract with Banik.	[5]
Aleksandr Šapovalov	FW	22	Niki Volos F.C.	Egaleo F.C.	16.01	Signed a 0.5 year contract with Egaleo.	[6]
Erko Jonne Tõugjas	DF	22	Tallinna FC Flora	Halmstads BK	01.01	Signed a 3 year contract with Halmstads.	[7]
Alex Matthias Tamm	FW	24	NK Olimpija Ljubljana	Livingston F.C.	08.01	Signed a 0.5 year loan deal with Livingston.	[8]
Georgi Tunjov	MF	24	AC Ospitaletto Franciacorta	Aurora Pro Patria 1919	22.01	Signed a 0.5 year contract with Egaleo.	[9]

Foreign signings

Listed are all foreign players that have joined or left a team participating in the 2026 Meistriliiga.

Name	Pos.	Age	From	To	Date	Notes	Ref
Momodou Jobareth	FW	19	Real de Banjul FC	Paide Linnameeskond	19.01	Signed a 4 year deal with Paide.	[10]
Pa Modou Sohna	MF	25	BST Galaxy FC	Paide Linnameeskond	19.01	Signed a contract with Paide.	[10]

Managerial changes

Listed are all clubs, who play in the top divisions (Meistriliiga, Esiliiga, Esiliiga B), and national teams who changed managers after the end of the 2025 season.

Team	Division	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Incoming manager	Date of appointment
Tallinna FCI Levadia	Meistriliiga	Curro Torres	Mutual consent	6 December 2025 [11]	Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko	6 December 2025 [12]
Tartu JK Tammeka		Siim Valtna (caretaker)		18 December 2025 [13]	Karel Voolaid	18 December 2025 [14]
JK Tallinna Kalev	Esiliiga	Alo Bärengrub		22 December 2025 [15]	Ivan Stojković	22 December 2025 [16]
Tartu JK Welco		Jaanus Reitel		22 December 2025 [17]	Alo Bärengrub	22 December 2025 [15]

Futsal

The 2026 futsal calendar is highlighted by the conclusion of the 2025–26 Saalijalgpalli Meistriliiga in the spring and the start of the subsequent season in the autumn. A major focal point for the year is Estonia's hosting of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028 preliminary round qualifiers in April, providing the national team with a significant home-court advantage on the international stage.

National team

Estonia   v   Norway

24 January Friendly	Estonia	4–5	Norway	Sillamäe, Estonia
16:00	Vnukov 5', 34' Desjatski 22' Rubel 39'	Report	1' Holter 14' Moen 23' Ajer 32' Schjetne 35' Løkken	Stadium: Sillamäe sports complex Kalev Attendance: 501 Referee: Jagnar Jakobson (Estonia)

Estonia   v   Norway

25 January Friendly	Estonia	2–2	Norway	Tallinn, Estonia
15:00	Bažkov 32' Savikink 39'	Report	3' Løkken 5' Moen	Stadium: Sõle sports center Attendance: 173 Referee: Vilde Stenseth (Norway)

Saalijalgpalli Meistriliiga

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Tallinna FC Bunker Partner	10	9	1	0	70	22	+48	28	Championship play-off quarterfinal
2	Tartu Ravens Futsal	10	5	2	3	51	45	+6	17
3	Saku Sporting	10	5	2	3	47	38	+9	17
4	Narva United FC	10	5	1	4	61	36	+25	16
5	Tallinna FC Qarabag	10	4	3	3	48	46	+2	15
6	Silla FC Phoenix	10	5	0	5	56	44	+12	15
7	Rummu Dünamo	11	3	1	7	45	77	−32	10	Relegation play-offs
8	Tartu FC Inter	11	0	0	11	25	95	−70	0	Relegation

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: EJL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Less matches awarded against; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Draw. ^[18]

Beach soccer

The 2026 beach soccer season is concentrated in the summer months, primarily through the Läänemere rannajalgpalliliiga (Baltic Beach Soccer League). The Estonia national beach soccer team is scheduled to compete in the Euro Beach Soccer League, continuing its push to remain among the top-tier nations in the European beach soccer rankings.

References

1. "Eesti 2026. a jalgpalli meistrivõistluste A. Le Coq Premium liiga ja Esiliigade juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
2. "Kuhjaga kogemusi! Flora lõi käed Ilja Antonoviga". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
3. "Marten-Chris Paalberg rejoint l'ASSE". asse.fr (in French). 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
4. "Ametlik: Eesti koondise äärekaitsja karjäär jätkub Šotimaal!". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 16 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
5. "Uued noodid! Vlasi Sinjavski vahetaski Tšehhis taas klubi". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 6 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
6. "Šapovalov liitus Kreeka klubiga, kes mängis sajandi alguses Euroopa liiga põhiturniiril". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 16 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
7. "Välismaale minek! Tõugjas lõi käed Rootsi kõrgliigaklubiga". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 November 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
8. "Ametlik: Alex Matthias Tamm siirdub Šotimaa kõrgliigasse". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 8 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
9. "Mänguaega otsiv Tunjov leidis kolme kuu järel Itaaliast järgmise tööandja". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
10. "Ametlik: Paide Linnameeskonnaga liitusid Gambia passiga ääreründaja ja poolkaitsja". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
11. "Ametlik! Curro Torres ei jätka Levadias". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 5 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
12. "Ametlik: Levadia nimetas uueks peatreeneriks Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 6 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
13. "Tammeka otsib uut peatreenerit, Valtna naaseb senisesse ametisse". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 11 November 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
14. "Tammeka peatreeneriks saab endine Eesti koondise loots Karel Voolaid". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 18 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
15. "Kalevist Welcosse kolinud Bärengrub: siht on tõusta suurte poiste sekka". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
16. "Tagasi tüüri juures! Kalevi uueks peatreeneriks nimetati Stojkovic". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
17. "Reiteli jaoks jääb tänavune hooaeg Welcos viimaseks". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 24 October 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
18. "Eesti 2025/26. a saalijalgpalli meistrivõistluste juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2026.