Cambodian Premier League

History

Origins

The first domestic football national championship in Cambodia was first established in 1982 during the People's Republic of Kampuchea years. The competing clubs were primarily based on the Soviet model of official amateur teams formed by ministries, the police, army and other state owned enterprises.

In the 2000s, the Cambodian League or C-League was brought about and was rebranded as the Metfone Cambodian League or Metfone C-League at the start of the 2005 season, courtesy of corporate sponsorship of the league's name. Over the course of the following years, the standard of professionalism would change with clubs being formed and clubs being sponsored by corporate entities. In 2018, it was announced that all clubs participating in the league would be required to have access to their own stadium before the start of the 2019 season. This was an attempt by the Football Federation of Cambodia to help further modernize football in Cambodia. In past seasons, many of the league's clubs have shared the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium or the Old Stadium. Since its inception as an official professional league in 2005, a total of 36 clubs have competed. 6 clubs have been crowned champions, with Phnom Penh Crown winning the title a record 8 times.

Cambodian Premier League

In October 2021, Satoshi Saito, the former international marketer for FC Barcelona of La Liga, was announced as the CEO of the Cambodian Football League Company (CFLC) which would take over the Metfone C-League's administrative and financial duties and establish the league as Cambodian Premier League starting with the 2022 season.

The Cambodia Classic Match

The Cambodia Classic Match is given to the rivalry between Phnom Penh Crown and Boeung Ket. On February 6, 2012, both teams met for the first time.

First invincible

Boeung Ket won the 2020 league season by head-to-head record against 2019 league season champion, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng, despite remaining unbeaten the whole season, setting up a record in the Cambodian League.

Sponsorship

The Cambodian Premier League does not have a title sponsor; however, it is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations.

The current tournament is sponsored by:

• Molten Corporation
• Metfone
• Krud Beer
• Indomie
• Sprite

Clubs

2025–26 season

The 2023–24 Cambodian Premier League season has welcomed fresh teams and faces, with Prey Veng and ISI Dangkor Senchey joining the league. These teams met the demanding national club license requirements, joining stalwarts like Phnom Penh Crown and Visakha. Despite being the 2022 Cambodian League 2 champions, Electricite du Cambodge did not join the top tier this season because it did not meet the comprehensive licensing criteria. Prey Veng and ISI Dangkor Senchey have expressed their readiness for the league, with ISI Dangkor Senchey notably announcing seven new signings.

The 2024–25 Cambodian Premier League season welcomed Life and MOI Kompong Dewa FA to the league.

Former clubs

Championship history

Cambodian League (1982–2004)

• 1982: Ministry of Commerce
• 1983: Ministry of Commerce
• 1984: Ministry of Commerce
• 1985: Ministry of Defense
• 1986: Ministry of Defense
• 1987: Ministry of Health
• 1988: Kampong Cham
• 1989: Ministry of Transports
• 1990: Ministry of Transports
• 1991: Dept. of Municipal Constructions
• 1992: Dept. of Municipal Constructions
• 1993: Ministry of Defense
• 1994: Civil Aviation
• 1995: Civil Aviation
• 1996: Body Guards Club
• 1997: Body Guards Club
• 1998: Royal Dolphins
• 1999: Royal Dolphins
• 2000: National Police Commissary
• 2001: Not held
• 2002: Samart United
• 2003: Not held
• 2004: Naga Corp

Titles by club

Source: rsssf.org

Awards

Prize money

Source:

Coach of the season

Top scorer of the season

Player of the season

Goalkeeper of the season

Records

All-time hat-tricks

All-time clean sheets

AFC ranking

! colspan="8" | Club points ! rowspan="2" | Total ! colspan="3" | 2026–27 Competition |- !2024–25 !2023–24|| data-sort-type="number" |Mvmt || Region !2016 (×0.3) !2017 (×0.4) !2018 (×0.5) !2019 (×0.6) !2021 (×0.7) !2022 (×0.8) !2023–24 (×0.9) !2024–25 (×1.0) !ACL Elite !ACL Two !Challenge |- |20 |20 || — || W 11 || align="left" | TKM Turkmenistan (L, C) |2.000 |4.483 |7.583 |5.267 |3.125 |2.640 |3.463 |7.450 |24.211 |0 |0+1

References

References

1. (October 18, 2021). "New company formed to develop the C- League".
2. (January 27, 2022). "New Cambodian Premier League set to revolutionise football in the country".
3. (March 7, 2019). "New C-League season details revealed".
4. (November 22, 2021). "Phnom Penh Crown wins 2021 Metfone Cambodian League title".
5. (January 22, 2022). "New Cambodian Premier League set to revolutionise football in the country".
6. (March 16, 2019). "Phnom Penh Crown beaten at home in the Cambodian Classic Match".
7. (October 25, 2020). "Last-minute goal lifts Boeung Ket to Cambodian League title - Khmer Times".
8. (July 2021). "Cambodian League to resume this weekend - Khmer Times".
9. "Boeung Ket size up Naga {{!}} Phnom Penh Post".
10. (24 June 2022). "Metfone Extends Sponsorship for Cambodia's top flight football league".
11. (16 January 2022). "CPL CEO: 'We will turn Cambodia into a regional football powerhouse' - Khmer Times".
12. "Cambodian Premier League welcomes new teams to playing field | Phnom Penh Post".
13. "Cambodia - List of Champions".
14. (7 July 2025). "CPL Rules and Regulations 2024-25". Cambodian Premier League.
15. (18 May 2025). "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2025". FootyRankings.