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Hrvatska Nogometna Liga

Hrvatska Nogometna Liga (HNL), službeno SuperSport Hrvatska nogometna liga, najviši je rang muškog klupskog nogometa u Hrvatskoj.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Hrvatska Nogometna Liga (HNL) is the top‑tier men’s professional football league in Croatia. Established in 1992, the league is organised by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) and currently consists of 10 clubs competing in a quadruple round‑robin system. Before 2022, it was known as the Prva hrvatska nogometna liga (1. HNL).

History

The league was officially launched in 1992, succeeding the Croatian club competition after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Since 2022, it has carried the sponsored name SuperSport Hrvatska nogometna liga.

Competition format

The HNL is contested by 10 clubs that play each other four times, for a total of 36 rounds per season. The last‑placed team is relegated to the Prva nogometna liga, while the champion of that lower division is promoted to the HNL.

European competitions

The league champion and other leading teams typically qualify for UEFA competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League. The exact allocation of places depends on UEFA’s coefficient and the season.

Organization

The competition is run by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) and is recognised as the top professional club competition in the Croatian football league system.

Key facts

  • HNL is the highest level of men’s club football in Croatia.
  • The league was founded in 1992 after the breakup of Yugoslavia.
  • It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS).
  • Ten clubs play a quadruple round‑robin format totalling 36 matches.
  • The champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, and other top clubs earn spots in European competitions.
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Canadian context

Kanadski čitatelji mogu je pratiti kao dio europskog klupskog nogometa i kao natjecanje čiji klubovi povremeno sudjeluju u UEFA-inim turnirima, koji su relevantni i za kanadske navijače koji prate međunarodni nogomet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Hrvatska Nogometna Liga?
The HNL is the highest Croatian men’s club football league, currently known as the SuperSport Hrvatska nogometna liga.
When was it founded?
The league’s official start dates to 1992.
How many clubs participate?
Ten clubs currently take part in the league.
Who governs the competition?
The competition is run by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS).
How does the competition format work?
Each club plays the others four times, resulting in 36 rounds per season.
What was the league called before 2022?
Before the name change, the league was known as the Prva hrvatska nogometna liga, or 1. HNL.

References

  1. Wikipedia (hr) — https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrvatska_nogometna_liga
    Supports: Naziv lige, rang, broj klubova, format, osnivanje i status HNL-a.
  2. Hrvatski nogometni savez / HNL.hr — https://hnl.hr/supersport-hnl/o-natjecanju/
    Supports: Službeni opis natjecanja, godina osnutka, broj klubova i četverokružni sustav.
  3. Wikipedia (en) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_Football_League
    Supports: Engleski sažetak statusa lige, sustav promocije/ispadanja i europska kvalifikacijska mjesta.