PETALING JAYA: The 2026-2027 Super League will feature 12 clubs, with the final spot yet to be decided.
Police have until July 15 to meet the remaining licensing requirements after being granted a licence with sanction by the Malaysia Football League (MFL).
The independent First Instance Body (FIB) will meet on July 16 to decide whether the club can retain their place in next season's competition.
Should Police fail to meet the requirements, A1 Semi-Pro League side Kelantan Red Warrior FC will replace them.
The 11 clubs confirmed for the new season are Johor Darul Ta'zim, Kuching City, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Sabah, Brunei, Melaka and Star City, which was formerly known as Immigration.
Although the league has been reduced from 13 teams to 12, MFL believes the move will strengthen the competition by ensuring only clubs with sound financial and organisational structures are allowed to compete.
"The participation of 12 clubs in the 2026-2027 season is expected to have a positive impact on the league ecosystem as only clubs that meet the licensing, financial and infrastructure requirements will be allowed to compete," MFL said.
"This will help ensure every match is more competitive and of a higher quality."
The football body added that reducing the number of teams lowers the risk of financially unprepared clubs taking part.
This aligns with the implementation of Financial Fair Play (FFP), which focuses on prudent financial management, consistent salary payments and long-term club sustainability.
The 2026-2027 Malaysian League season will kick off on Aug 21 with the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup.
The match features Super League champions Johor Darul Ta'zim and runners-up Kuching City in the Charity Shield at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
The FA Cup will run from Sept 1-2 until the final on Jan 16, 2027, while the Malaysia Cup is scheduled to begin on Jan 22-24, 2027, with the final set for May 30.
The MFL Challenge Cup will start on Feb 10-11, 2027, with the two-legged final to be played on April 11 and April 18, 2027.
