About Latvian Championship

The Latvian Higher League was established in 1922 following Latvia’s independence, becoming the top football competition in the country during the interwar period. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the league developed steadily, with clubs such as RFK Riga and Olimpija Liepāja dominating the championship and helping raise the standard of Latvian football. The competition reflected a relatively stable and independent sporting environment, closely tied to the young nation-state.

This period came to an end with the geopolitical upheavals of World War II. After the Soviet occupation in 1940, the traditional Latvian championship structure was disrupted, and football became integrated into the Soviet system. However, during the German occupation (1941–1944), attempts were made to restore the pre-war league format, and championships were again organized with many former clubs returning, though under difficult conditions.

The final wartime season in 1944 was not completed due to the advancing Red Army and the collapse of German control in the region. This effectively ended the interwar tradition of the Latvian Higher League, as post-war football in Latvia became fully incorporated into the Soviet sports structure for decades to follow.