One step further: K League 1 U22 mandatory participation abolished, allowed unlimited foreign ownership...a resolution of the board of directors of the Professional Federation
Oct 30, 2025
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The Korean Professional Football Federation has decided to abolish the controversial U-22 (under 22) mandatory participation rule only for K League 1. It also decided to allow unlimited foreign players. The Professional Federation held its fifth board meeting in 2025 on the 30th and decided on agendas such as revising the mandatory U-22 participation system and revising the foreign player system.
The mandatory U-22 participation system will be eased from the 2026 season. K League 1 can replace five players during the game regardless of whether U-22 players participate or not. However, the rule that two or more U-22 players must be included in the roster (20 entries) is maintained. If there is only one U-22 player on the list, the entry will be reduced to 19 and if there is no one, the entry will be reduced to 18.
The Professional Federation considered securing opportunities for players over the age of 22 as the limit on foreign players was abolished from the 2026 season and the number of foreign players in K League 1 increased from four to five. The revision is expected to improve the level of K League 1 games and product value."
The mandatory participation system for K League 2 will also be eased by the existing K League 1 method. If the U-22 player does not play at all, three players can be replaced, four can be replaced if one player starts and there is no additional replacement, four can be replaced if two or more players are replaced without starting, and five can be replaced if two or more players start or one or more players are replaced after one.
Starting in the 2026 season, the limit on foreign players in the K-League will also be abolished. The number of foreign players in the K League can be registered without restrictions in line with international trends.
Of course, there are rules for participation. The number of foreign players in K League 1 will increase from four to five. Entry registration and participation in individual games can be made up to 15 players in the K League and up to four players in the K League 2.
The Professional Federation "This decision is aimed at strengthening the international competitiveness of the K-League in line with the trend of expanding foreign player ownership in the Asian Champions League (ACL) and neighboring leagues." It is also a plan to promote flexibility and diversity in recruiting foreign players and to increase the number of foreign players in the top league, K League 1, to enhance performance and marketability."
This season's K-League promotion playoff (PO) schedule has also been confirmed. The promotion PO will be held between 11th place in the K League 1 and 2nd place in the K League 2 (elevation PO1), 10th place in the K League 1 and the winner of the K League 2 PO (elevation PO2).
The first round of the promotion PO1 will be held on December 3, the second round will be held on December 7, the first round of the promotion PO2 will be held on December 4, and the second round will be held on December 7 (Sun). A maximum of five foreign players may be registered in the list of participants, and up to four players may participate in the competition. If the overtime is played, one replacement will be added and one replacement will be added.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
