The Macedonian top flight has a strange calendar this season. After the first round of the new 2026/2027 season was played last weekend, the next one has a break.

photo by Fk Bregalnica Shtip: moment of the Round 1 match against Vardar

It is unlikely that any other European country has a calendar like this, where after one round there is a break, and the players return to the field after two weeks. But that is exactly the calendar for the Macedonian First League.

The reason for this is that this weekend is the big holiday Ilinden, and 2 August falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a non-working day. For the past 12 years, the season has usually started on the first or second weekend after Ilinden, but now the FFM has decided to start in late July, and because despite the reduced league of 10 clubs, a four-round system with a total of 36 rounds is played.

The last time first-league football was played at Ilinden was in 2014, when in the first round, on 2 August, Renova and Teteks opened the season by playing a goalless draw.

The reason for the break is the lack of policeman, whose presence is mandatory at the stadiums, especially since the 2nd round of the season has the big derby between Vardar and Shkëndija in Skopje, a match that is high-risk.

Due to the Ilinden celebration in Krushevo, police forces have been mobilized for that event, and on top of that, it’s the summer holiday season, hence the calendar with a hole right after the start.

By the way, let’s note that even when the FFM announced the calendar in June, it was known that there would be no football on Ilinden weekend.

The teams will use the break for friendly matches.

The top flight teams return to the green fields on 7, 8 and 9 August (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).