The –PrimeraDivisió2022–23 Primera División de El Salvador, also known as the Liga Pepsi, is the 24th season and 46th and 47th Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. C.D. FAS and TBD are the defending champions of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments respectively. The league will consist of 12 teams. There will be two seasons conducted under identical rules, with each team playing a home and away game against the other clubs for a total of 22 games per tournament. At the end of each half-season tournament, the top six teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs.
The champions of Apertura or Clausura with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF League. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF League. Should the final of both tournaments features the same two teams, the semi-finalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF League.
Teams
Promotion and relegation
A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2021–22 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2021–22 Segunda División.
Dragon was promoted to the Primera División in June 2022 after defeating A.D. Municipal in a playoff match by a score of 0-0.
C.D. Municipal Limeño was relegated to the 2022–23 Segunda División.
Stadiums and locations
Notable events
Notable death from Apertura 2022 season and 2023 Clausura season
The following people associated with the Primera Division have died between the middle of 2022 and middle of 2023.
Saul Lorenzo Rivero (Uruguayan ex coach of FAS, Aguila, Isidro Metapan) Nahún Corro Bazan (Mexican, ex Aguila player) Kiril Dojcinovski (Macedonian ex coach of LA Firpo, Limeno) Romeo Blanco (ex Alianza and Atletico Marte) Italo Maldonado (ex ANTEL player) Julio César Madrid (ex Dragon player) Raúl Corcio Zavaleta (ex Aguila, Santa Anita, Aguila, Sonsonate, Atletico Marte, Limeno) Genaro Sermeño (Ex FAS player) Remberto Santillana (Ex FAS, Once Lobos and Metapan FC coach) Antonio “Chueño” Landaverde (Ex FAS player) Francisco Osorto (ex Santiagueno, Limeno player) José Angel Guerra "Gallito Guerra" (ex Platense player) Ricardo Gambeta Sosa (ex Dragon, ADLER, Fuerte Aguilares and Juventud Olimpica player) Nestor Matamala (ex Chilean coach, CD Aguila coach)
Change of ownership
On 15 April 2022, FAS announced that they had been acquired by American ownership group AMG Sports
FESFUT removal and Games suspensions
On the 20th of July, The Governmental National Sports Institute (INDES) in association with the Attorney general raided Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) in relation to money laundering and fraudulent administration. INDES issued an administrative resolution ordering the dismissal of FESFUT directors and the creation of a Normalizing Commission.
As a result of this internal crisis, All three main divisions games from round 2 to 4 were suspended due to referees not showing up.
FIFA said that it could suspend El Salvador if its state-led sports institute removes the heads of the Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) in favor of hand-picked officials, according to a letter shared by the federation online.
After a month and a half and with the imposition of a FIFA Regulation Committee in the FESFUT, plus the delivery of credentials by INDES, the first division (as well as the second and third) obtained the green light to be able to resume their tournament, which was interrupted after a disputed date.
The Primera Division announced August 31, 2022, that the season will resume the Apertura 2022 tournament on September 17, 2022.
New main sponsor for the league
Instituto Nacional de los Deportes (INDES) signed a five year contract with Primera División de El Salvador for five year, worth 7 millions USD (1.4 million per year). The league will be named as Liga INDES Apertura / Clausura”.
Estadio Cuscatlan Tragedy
On the 25th May 2023, during the quarter final game between Alianza and FAS an incident occurred which resulted in a crowd crush of fans in the stadium.
According to reports, fans had been sold fake tickets for the game and angry fans attempted to pull down the barricades at the stadiums at the entrance. Twelve people were killed and dozens of others injured.