The Finnish Veikkausliiga is the top professional football league in Finland and the highest level of the Finnish football pyramid. Sponsored by Veikkaus, the national betting agency, the league has grown in professionalism and quality since its establishment in 1990. The competition typically features 12 teams who play a triple round-robin format, resulting in 27 matches per season, running from spring to autumn. The champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League early rounds, while the runners-up enter the UEFA Conference League. The bottom team is relegated directly, with the second-from-bottom entering a playoff. The league is characterized by compact, tactical football and has a strong fan culture, particularly for clubs like HJK Helsinki, FC Inter Turku, and KuPS. It is a key exporter of talent to bigger European leagues. The main award is the championship trophy, with the league also awarding a Player of the Year and a top scorer (Jari Litmanen Prize) honor.