The dieci Challenge League: heading into half-time at full tilt.
When I think of football, my hand automatically reaches for the scar on my forehead. It’s small, but it’s been there for over 15 years. A souvenir from Old Trafford, from the night Manchester United took on Manchester City and won. There was a fan behind me in the stands, beside himself with joy. He cheered, jumped, clung onto my hat. A little too tightly. It didn’t hurt, but it did leave a scar.
Was I angry with him? Not for a second. Because I got it.
Football literally puts you under its spell. It’s more than just a hobby; football is a feeling – and that’s as true in Manchester as it is in Brügglifeld. The dieci Challenge League also revolves around football, a game that’s created by players, clubs and the fans in the stands. The rules are clear: ten teams, 36 games, four duels against each opponent. The team in the top spot is promoted. The second-ranked team gets a place in the play-offs. And the bottom team is relegated to the Promotion League.
FC Aarau’s long journey
We’re currently in the winter break and can look back on an intense first half of the season. As soon as the contest kicked off on 25 July 2025, it was clear that Aarau had got their second wind. In the previous season, promotion seemed to be within FC Aarau’s grasp until the 28th day of play, when FC Thun squeaked past them. Luck continued to evade the Aargau squad in the play-offs against GC: the 0–4 defeat in the first leg brought them crashing back down to earth.
Vaduz takes the top spot
Aarau is once again engaged in a neck-and-neck contest this season. With only three points between them, FC Aarau and – this time – FC Vaduz have broken away from the rest of the contenders. The tussle came to a head just before Christmas: in a direct clash, the Liechtenstein team defended their lead in the championship with a 3–2 win at home.
Clear favourites – but nothing’s for certain
After 18 rounds, Vaduz is in pole position with 45 points, followed by Aarau with 42. And then there’s already a gap: you’ve got Yverdon with 33 points, Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy with 29, Xamax with 25, Rapperswil-Jona with 19 and AC-Bellinzona currently bringing up the rear. That said, the main sponsor dieci has its fingers crossed for all the clubs.
A break, not a stop
We won’t hear the starting whistle again until 23 January 2026. For the clubs, this isn’t a holiday, but a time for making decisions: who’s fit? Who’s unable to play? Which players make the difference when it counts? And for the fans, this is when they realise how much they miss this league. It’s no coincidence that over 400,000 tickets are sold each season.
Spectating is hungry work
Around CHF 5.2 million is spent on food and drink at Challenge League matches alone. And if that didn’t include a few pizzas, that would probably be the biggest disappointment of the season. The dieci team shares in the excitement, too – from their delivery vehicles, in front of the pizza ovens and from their offices. Enjoy the second half of the season – ideally with a warm pizza box in your hand.
