Farewell to the K League 1 split: wide open race to say goodbye

The 2026 K League 1 season will be the last under the league’s 12-team format and Final A/Final B split. From 2027, the top tier expands to 14 clubs and shifts to a 39-match, three-round-robin schedule. With that in mind, the fight for the top six spots is unusually open. FC Seoul lead the table, but nine points separate Ulsan HD in second from FC Anyang in ninth, and five points separate Gangwon FC in fifth from The Violets. A rescheduled Round 22 Chuseok 0-0 between Gangwon and Incheon kept the race tight. Incentives include an extra AFC Champions League berth.