How Paraguay's Primera División works: Apertura and Clausura
October 4, 2026 · 5 min
Paraguayan football does not crown one champion a year but two. The Primera División is split into the Apertura and the Clausura, and each one has its own champion. If you are new to the league, or want to know why two different clubs can celebrate in the same season, this guide explains it in a few minutes.
Twelve clubs in the top flight
In 2026 twelve clubs play in the Primera División: Olimpia, Cerro Porteño, Libertad, Guaraní, Nacional, Sportivo Luqueño, 2 de Mayo, Rubio Ñu, Sportivo Trinidense, Sportivo San Lorenzo, Recoleta and Sportivo Ameliano.
They are the traditional big clubs of Asunción plus clubs from the interior and the neighbourhoods that came up from the División Intermedia. The 2026 season started on 23 January and ends in late November.
Apertura and Clausura: two tournaments, two champions
Each tournament has 22 rounds. The twelve teams play each other twice, home and away, so every club meets every rival once at home and once away.
The Apertura is played in the first half of the year and the Clausura in the second. Each is a full championship with its own table, starting from zero.
No playoffs: the team with the most points wins
There are no play-offs or finals in Paraguay: the champion is the team with the most points after 22 rounds. A win is worth three points, a draw one and a defeat none.
If two teams finish level on points at the top, head-to-head results come first and then goal difference. If they are still level, an extra match decides the title.
How to follow it on golazoscore.com.py
On the Primera División de Paraguay page you will find every round live, the results, the standings updated by the minute and the top scorers. There are also profiles of the twelve clubs, with their history, stadium and titles.
If you also follow the level below, the División Intermedia has its own page with table, results and top scorers.
Looking for live scores? See live scores.
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