Soviet Union football league system

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Soviet Union football league system changed many times following the introduction of national league competitions in 1936.

1990

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Supreme League
Vysshaya Liga
13-16 teams

Decrease 0-1
2 First League
Pervaya Liga
20-22 teams
Increase 3
Decrease 1
3 Second League
Vtoraya Liga
West
Center
East
4 Lower Second League
Nisshaya Vtoraya Liga
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
Zone 10

1971-1990

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Supreme League
Vysshaya Liga
16-18 teams

Decrease 2
2 Soviet First League
Pervaya Liga
22 teams
Increase 2
Decrease 3
3 Second League
Vtoraya Liga
Increase 3
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
(1972-73, 1980-90)
Zone 8
(1980-90)
Zone 9
(1980-90)

1970

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Supreme Group A
Vysshaya Gruppa A
16-18 teams

Decrease 2
2 First Group A
Pervaya Grouppa A
22 teams
Increase 2
Decrease 3
3 Second Group A
Vtoraya Gruppa A
Increase 3
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
4 Class B
Klass B
Increase 3
Zone 1
(Russia)
Zone 2
(Russia)
Zone 3
(Russia)
Zone 4
(Russia)
Zone 5
(Ukraine)
Zone 6
(Ukraine)
Zone 7
(Kazakhstan)
Zone 8
(Middle Asia)

1963-1969

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 First Group A
Pervaya Gruppa A
16-18 teams

Decrease 2
2 Second Group A
Vtoraya Grouppa A
Increase 2
Decrease 3
Subgroup 1
Subgroup 2
Subgroup 3
Subgroup 4
3 Class B
Klass B
Increase 3
Russian SFSR Ukrainian SSR Union republics
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 1
Zone 2

1960-1962

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Class A
Klass A
16-18 teams

Decrease 2
2 Class B
Klass B
Increase 2
Decrease 3
Zone 1 (Russia)
Zone 2 (Russia)
Zone 3 (Russia)
Zone 4 (Russia)
Zone 5 (Russia)
Zone 1 (Union republics)
Zone 2 (Union republics)
Zone 1 (Ukraine)
Zone 2 (Ukraine)
Zone 6 (Russia) (Zone 3 Ukraine)
1961 (1962)

1953-1959

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Class A
Klass A
12-13 teams

Decrease 2
2 Class B
Klass B
Increase 2
Decrease 3
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
(1953-54, 1957-59)
Zone 4
(1957-59)
Zone 5
(1958-59)
Zone 6
(1958-59)
Zone 7
(1959)

1950-1952

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Class A
Klass A
15-19 teams

Decrease 2
2 Class B
Klass B
14-18 teams
Increase 2
Decrease 3

1947-1949

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 First Group
Pervaya Gruppa
13-18 teams

Decrease 2
2 Second Group
Vtoraya Gruppa
Increase 2
Decrease 3
Zone 1 (Russia)
Zone 2 (Russia)
Trans-Caucasus
Zone 3 (Russia) (1949)
Middle-Asia
Zone 4 (Russia) (1949)
Central Zone
Ukraine

1945-1946

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 First Group
Pervaya Gruppa
12 teams

Decrease 2
2 Second Group
Vtoraya Gruppa
18 teams (1945)
Increase 2
Decrease 3
Southern subgroup
13 teams (1946)
Eastern Subgroup
13 teams (1946)
3 Third Group
Tretia Gruppa
(1946)
Increase 2
Decrease 3
North-Caucasus Zone (Russia)
Center Zone (Russia)
Low-Volga Zone (Russia)
Volga Zone (Russia)
Ural Zone (Russia)
Sibir Zone (Russia)
Far-eastern Zone (Russia)
Western Zone
Trans-Caucasus Zone
Middle Asia Zone
Center Zone (Ukraine)
East Zone (Ukraine)
South Zone (Ukraine)
West Zone (Ukraine)

1936-1941

Initially, for the Spring championship of 1936 there were only seven teams participating in the top group, while for the Fall championship amount of participants was increased to eight. A similar case scenario took place in the second group as for the spring championship saw some withdrawals. In the third group the number of participants was unchanged at eight for both parts of 1936 season. At same time in the fourth group initially there were five teams for the spring half and six for the autumn.

In 1937 the number of participants continue to grow. Some reshuffling took place between groups A and B, although initially both consisted of eight teams. Groups V and G increased their team pools to 10 and 12 participants, respectively. Also for the 1937 there was introduced the Group D with two subgroups.

In 1938 all of groups were merged into one big super league of 26 teams.

In 1939 and 1940 season Group A consisted of 14 teams. There also was a revival of Group B with 23 teams at first and then reduced to 14 as well.

In 1941 season there was only Group A championship which was heavily adjusted to 15 teams.

Level League(s)/Division(s) P/R
1 Group A
Gruppa A
7-26 teams

2 Group B
Gruppa B
7-23 teams (1936-37, 1939-40)
Increase
Decrease
3 Group V
Gruppa V
8-10 teams (1936-37)
4 Group G
Gruppa G
5-12 teams (1936-37)
5 Group D
Gruppa D
11 teams (1937)
Group D (Cities of the East)
Gruppa D (Goroda Vostoka)
9 teams (1937)