Veikkausliiga 2026 Season Outlook: Will KuPS Claim the Title Again or Can HJK Make a Comeback?

All 12 clubs will kick off their campaigns on Saturday, 4th April, embarking on the first of 22 rounds in the regular season. Following this, the league will be split into two groups for an additional 10 rounds, determining the champions, European qualifications, and relegation in the autumn months.

This weekend’s opening matches were almost postponed due to a pay dispute regarding referees, but thankfully an agreement was reached just three days prior to the first whistle.

Will the title duopoly persist?

Last season witnessed KuPS clinching their second consecutive title and third in seven seasons. Coach Jarkko Wiss made the title defence appear seamless after succeeding Jani Honkavaara, but the reality was quite different. The Kuopio outfit finished fourth in the regular season and required seven victories from their last 10 games, coupled with slips from rival teams, to secure the championship by a six-point margin.

A repeat of such a performance early in the season will likely fall short of winning a third title, especially considering a UEFA Conference League campaign that extended into the winter, resulting in a condensed preseason this year. Title defence experience will be crucial, and retaining Otto Ruoppi on loan after his transfer to Mainz will certainly be an asset, but KuPS will be facing fierce competition in 2026.

On the other hand, HJK, the only other team to have triumphed in the Veikkausliiga over the past decade, are looking to move past disappointing seasons in 2024 and 2025. While the Helsinki side secured the Suomen Cup, the return of Teemu Pukki did not have the desired effect. A dismal run in the Championship Group resulted in a fifth-place finish, narrowly avoiding failure to qualify for European competition due to their cup victory.

Former Ilves manager Joonas Rantanen now leads the side, still benefiting from Pukki’s remarkable 28 goals alongside Alex Ring, with the defensive unit strengthened by the signing of Till Cissokho.

Challengers for the title

If someone other than KuPS or HJK is to break their winning streak for the first time since 2016, Inter Turku, who have been runners-up three times during this stretch, are well-placed and eager to prove themselves. They led the league at the halfway point, but a late-season slump left them starting the Championship Group just a point ahead, devoid of momentum.

The loss of key players Dimitri Legbo, Florian Krebs, and Axel Kouame will be significant, though winning the Liiga Cup during the preseason provided a strong confidence boost.

Finishing third last season, Ilves has every chance of contending again, with former assistant coach Joni Lehtonen stepping up to replace Rantanen. The Lynx will depend on veteran Roope Riski for goals, but they need to navigate the season without Oiva Jukkola, who has transferred to Kairat Almaty.

SJK will also be counting on their centre-forward for another prolific season, with Kasper Paananen having bagged 18 goals to claim the golden boot. The Seinajoki team has retained most of their key players and primarily recruited locally, which could prove advantageous without the distraction of European football.

The rest of the league

Gnistan had a sixth-place finish in 2025, effectively making them the epitome of “making up the numbers,” as they ended up 16 points adrift from their noisy neighbours, HJK, despite their victory over them. Another top-six appearance may again be their limit this year.

Jaro narrowly missed out on the Championship Group last season and will aim for a top-six finish. This pursuit will be challenging after the departure of Kerfala Cissoko, who was the joint-second highest scorer despite having played fewer matches than others in the race for the golden boot. However, Rudi Vikstrom’s seven goals in five games during the Liiga Cup are a promising sign.

Similarly, VPS found themselves in the same position, unable to build momentum in the Relegation Group, though they were comfortably away from the relegation zone. Nevertheless, the losses of Maissa Fall and Prosper Ahiabu could leave them exposed this season.

AC Oulu have initiated 2026 positively, reaching the final of the Liiga Cup, maintaining the good form displayed alongside Mariehamn, both of whom distanced themselves from relegation woes towards the end of the previous season. Both teams will be looking for a more straightforward campaign this year.

For the newly promoted sides, Lahti and TPS, the primary objective will be survival. Lahti, the champions of the second tier, have made strides in the free agent market by bringing in Yohan Cassubie and Romaric Yapi to bolster their defence, while playoff victors TPS have secured centre-forward Theodoros Tsirigotis on loan from Gornik Zabrze.

The opening weekend fixtures

The defending champions will be competing in one of two opening-day matches featuring teams that finished in last season’s Championship Group, while both newcomers will be keen to collect their inaugural points.

All times CEST

Saturday, 4th April

12:00: Inter Turku vs VPS

14:00: HJK vs SJK

16:00: Ilves vs KuPS

16:00: Jaro vs Lahti

16:00: Mariehamn vs TPS

18:00: Gnistan vs AC Oulu