Jamaica Premier League
The Jamaica Premier League (JPL) is the top tier of professional club football in Jamaica — the proving ground for many of the players who go on to wear the Reggae Boyz shirt.
Founded
1973 (as the Kingston Major League)
Tier
Top division of Jamaican club football
Season
Late August – May
Most titles
Portmore United (7)
History
The league kicked off on 22 September 1973 as the Kingston Major League, with Santos F.C. crowned the first champions. It has since grown into the national top flight, with more than a dozen clubs lifting the title across the decades.
How the league works
The regular season runs from late August to May and is contested as a single-table round robin — each club plays three rounds, for 39 matches apiece. The top six then enter the playoffs: the top two go straight to the semi-finals, while third through sixth play two-legged quarter-finals. Quarter-finals and semi-finals are home-and-away on aggregate; the final and third-place match are single games.
The biggest clubs
Portmore Unitedis the competition's most decorated side with seven league titles. In recent seasons Cavalierhave emerged as a powerhouse, becoming the first club since 2019 to win back-to-back titles. Clubs like Arnett Gardens, Harbour View and Waterhouse remain among the league's traditional heavyweights.
Most titles (roll of honour)
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Portmore United | 7 |
| Harbour View | 5 |
| Tivoli Gardens | 5 |
| Arnett Gardens | 5 |
| Santos | 5 |
| Montego Bay United | 4 |
| Cavalier | 4 |
| Boys' Town | 3 |
| FC Reno | 3 |
| Waterhouse | 2 |
| Wadadah | 2 |
| Violet Kickers | 2 |
| Mount Pleasant | 1 |
| Jamaica Defence Force | 1 |
Recent champions
Champions and standings change each season — for live tables and current results, follow our match tracker. Records summarised from public sources as of June 2026.