Peruvian Liga 1

Liga 1, officially known as the Primera División del Perú, is the top professional football league in Peru. Founded in 1912, it is one of South America’s oldest leagues and home to historic clubs such as Alianza Lima, Universitario, and Sporting Cristal.

History and facts

The league's first edition was held in 1912, with Lima-based teams participating. Over the decades, Liga 1 expanded to include clubs from all regions of Peru.

The season is typically divided into Torneo Apertura and Torneo Clausura, with a final playoff to determine the national champion.

Peru’s biggest rivalry is the Clásico del Fútbol Peruano, played between Alianza Lima and Universitario.

League system

Liga 1 is the top tier, with relegation to Liga 2 and promotion for clubs that perform best in the second division.

Table 1. Peruvian football tiers

League	Tier
Liga 1	1
Liga 2	2
Copa Perú	3

The Copa Perú serves as a massive nationwide tournament with over 20,000 participating teams.

Stats

Teams with most titles

Table 2. Clubs with most Liga 1 titles

Club	Titles
Universitario	26
Alianza Lima	25
Sporting Cristal	20
Melgar	2
Cienciano	1
Juan Aurich	1

Universitario, Alianza Lima, and Sporting Cristal form Peru’s historic "Big Three".

Teams with most league participation

Table 3. Clubs with most Liga 1 seasons

Club	Seasons
Alianza Lima	100+
Universitario	95+
Sporting Cristal	65+
Melgar	50+
Cienciano	40+

Alianza Lima has participated in almost every season since the league’s creation.

Audience

Stadium capacities

Table 4. Major stadiums in Peru

Team	Stadium	Capacity
Universitario	Estadio Monumental	80,093
Alianza Lima	Estadio Alejandro Villanueva (Matute)	33,938
Sporting Cristal	Estadio Alberto Gallardo	18,000
Melgar	Estadio UNSA	40,000
Cienciano	Estadio Garcilaso de la Vega	42,000

Players

Top goalscorers

• Teófilo Cubillas — Peru legend
• Paolo Guerrero — iconic Peruvian striker
• Jefferson Farfán — Alianza Lima hero
• Claudio Pizarro — world-class striker from Lima
• Juan Cominges

Liga 1 timeline

1912 The first official Peruvian league season begins.

1951 Peru adopts professionalism in football.

1997 Apertura/Clausura format introduced.

2019 Liga 1 brand officially launched.

2020 Season adapted due to COVID-19; centralized matches played in Lima.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Primera_División
https://liga1.com.pe
https://www.rsssf.org