Verdes celebrate winning the PLB 2025-2026 Opening Championship on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Edmund Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo del Carmen. Photo Credit: Verdes FC/Wilton Ixtecoc
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The 2025–2026 Premier League of Belize (PLB) Closing Championship officially begins on Saturday, January 17, launching a new chapter in Belize’s top‑flight football calendar.
Belmopan Derby Opens the Tournament
The opening match features a Belmopan City showdown as Belmopan FC hosts Napoles FC at 7:30 p.m. at the FFB Stadium. The clash brings together two of the capital’s three PLB clubs and sets the tone for the new campaign.
Two Matches on Sunday, January 18
The action continues on Sunday with two simultaneous fixtures at 4:00 p.m.
At the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City, Port Loyola faces Wagiya SC in the first city home match of the tournament.
Up north at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk, national sub‑champions Progresso FC open their season against Capital Sport Club, who will compete under the Benque United FC franchise for this championship.
Champions Verdes Debut on January 24
Reigning champions Verdes FC do not play on opening weekend. Their first appearance comes on Saturday, January 24, when they host Wagiya at the Edmund Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo del Carmen.
Verdes enter the tournament as defending champions after edging Progresso 1–0 on aggregate in the 2025 Opening Championship Final — a series that ended 0–0 in the first leg and 1–0 in the second leg on December 13, 2025, at the Marshalleck Stadium.
Tournament Format and Key Dates
The Closing Championship will follow a double round‑robin regular season, concluding on April 26.
There will be a one‑week break on the weekend of March 28–29 as the Belize Men’s National Team participates in the FIFA international window from March 23–31.
The semifinals are scheduled for:
- First leg: May 2–3
- Second leg: May 9–10
The Final will be played over two weekends:
- First leg: May 16 or 17
- Second leg: May 23 or 24
(Final exact dates depend on the qualifying teams.)
With teams preparing for another intense campaign, the PLB’s 2025–2026 Closing Championship promises a competitive and compelling season of Belizean football.
The post Belmopan, Napoles open PLB 2025–2026 Closing Championship on Saturday, January 17 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Verdes celebrate winning the PLB 2025-2026 Opening Championship on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Edmund Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo del Carmen. Photo Credit: Verdes FC/Wilton Ixtecoc By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The 2025–2026 Premier League of Belize (PLB) Closing Championship officially begins on Saturday, January 17, launching a new chapter in Belize’s top‑flight football
The post Belmopan, Napoles open PLB 2025–2026 Closing Championship on Saturday, January 17 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
