Uzbekistan Super League May Switch to Autumn-Spring System from 2028/29
Sport
The Professional Football League of Uzbekistan is considering switching the Super League to an autumn-spring schedule from the 2028/29 season. A working plan for the proposed calendar change has already been presented to participants of the General Assembly.
Under the proposal, the season would begin in August and end in May of the following year. The preliminary schedule sets the Uzbekistan Cup from March 1 to May 31, 2028. The summer transfer window would run from July 1 to September 9, followed by the first half of the Super League season from August 18 to December 24.
The winter transfer window is proposed for January 2 to February 13, 2029. The second half of the league season would then take place from February 23 to May 31. The proposed calendar would therefore split the championship across two calendar years.
Since the establishment of the Super League, formerly known as the Higher League, in 1992, Uzbekistan’s top-flight championship has always followed a spring-autumn schedule. If approved, the 2028/29 campaign would become the first season in the history of the national championship to use an autumn-spring format.
The PFL has not yet announced official reasons for the proposed change. The plan is also being considered in the context of the Asian Football Confederation’s club competition calendar. The AFC moved its club competitions to an autumn-spring system, while a three-tier structure has been in place since the 2024/25 season: the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League.
According to the source material, the different calendars can create long gaps between the end of Uzbekistan’s domestic championship and the start of its clubs’ participation in AFC competitions. The source cites Neftchi as an example: after winning the Uzbek championship in November 2025, the club played its first AFC Champions League match on September 14, 2026.
No final decision has yet been made. According to the PFL, the change will be decided in coordination with the clubs, the Uzbekistan Football Association, representatives of the football community and other relevant organisations.
The winter transfer window is proposed for January 2 to February 13, 2029. The second half of the league season would then take place from February 23 to May 31. The proposed calendar would therefore split the championship across two calendar years.
Since the establishment of the Super League, formerly known as the Higher League, in 1992, Uzbekistan’s top-flight championship has always followed a spring-autumn schedule. If approved, the 2028/29 campaign would become the first season in the history of the national championship to use an autumn-spring format.
The PFL has not yet announced official reasons for the proposed change. The plan is also being considered in the context of the Asian Football Confederation’s club competition calendar. The AFC moved its club competitions to an autumn-spring system, while a three-tier structure has been in place since the 2024/25 season: the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League.
According to the source material, the different calendars can create long gaps between the end of Uzbekistan’s domestic championship and the start of its clubs’ participation in AFC competitions. The source cites Neftchi as an example: after winning the Uzbek championship in November 2025, the club played its first AFC Champions League match on September 14, 2026.
No final decision has yet been made. According to the PFL, the change will be decided in coordination with the clubs, the Uzbekistan Football Association, representatives of the football community and other relevant organisations.
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