In a bold move signalling both ambition and reform, the Zimbabwe Football Association has formally submitted a proposal to the Premier Soccer League to increase the top-flight from 18 to 20 teams, effective from the 2026 season.
The proposal, dated 10 November 2025, emphasises four key pillars: alignment with international best practice, enhanced competitive balance and opportunities, increased commercial and broadcasting value, and support for developmental objectives.
“Pursuant to our mandate to develop, organize, and regulate football across all levels in the country, ZIFA wishes to formally propose the increase in the number of teams participating in the Premier Soccer League from eighteen (18) to twenty (20), effective from the 2026 season,” read part of the letter signed by General Secretary Yvonne Mapika Manwa.
Monday's issuance of the formal statement comes after what Zifa earlier described as massive consultations with key stakeholders who also include the country’s sport regulatory body, the Sports and Recreation Commission.
According to ZIFA, they are advocating for this expansion to provide more clubs from across the country an opportunity to participate at the highest level—thereby promoting inclusivity, talent identification, and broader regional representation.
The move is also framed as a commercial and broadcasting enhancement, allowing more fixtures to be packaged for sponsors and media, which in turn could boost the league’s financial sustainability.
“An increased number of fixtures enhances the league’s commercial appeal, offering more content for broadcasters, sponsors, and fans — thus contributing to the league’s financial sustainability and visibility,” added Manwa.
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The establishment of a new National First Division — functioning as a feeder to the PSL — is also proposed, with the objective of standardising competition across regions and improving the promotion and relegation system under a unified national framework.
The Zimbabwe PSL currently comprises 18 teams in a single group format, with relegation and promotion involving the lower divisions.
As of the latest standings, several clubs find themselves in the perilous relegation zone, and the proposed expansion comes at a time when survival in the top flight is increasingly competitive. As of 33 matches played, the bottom three–four positions are occupied by: Kwekwe United with 10 points and clearly anchoring the table.
Yadah FC hovers just above the automatic drop zone while Triangle United and GreenFuel FC, both in the mid-30s point bracket, also highlight their vulnerability.
With the proposed increase to 20 teams and the introduction of a structured National First Division, a couple of these clubs stand to gain immediate relief.
It is ZIFA’s argument that an expansion to 20 teams aligns the league structure with many international counterparts, offering a fuller calendar of fixtures and enhancing the appeal to broadcasters and sponsors.
On the developmental side, a dedicated National First Division would bridge the gap between grassroots or regional football and the elite level, improving talent pipelines and professional exposure for coaches and administrators alike.
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