Puerto Plata.- With its sights set on its second crown, Atlántico Fútbol Club is preparing with determination to face the 2025-2026 season of the Dominican Republic Football League (LDF), establishing itself as one of the most solid and competitive institutions in the country.
Known as “The Blue Machine”, the Puerto Plata team, the only champion outside Santo Domingo and Santiago, is betting heavily on returning to the top, after conquering its first title in 2017 and having debuted strongly in 2015, reaching the final in its debut year.
The management has made a series of strategic moves with the aim of strengthening the squad and raising the competitive level. In that sense, they have signed the Chilean coach Elvis Aliaga, who brings international experience and a modern approach to the blue bench.
Regarding players, the club has renewed contracts with several of its young prospects: Julian Zayas, Jerson Infante, Mathews Jair Tejeda, and David Fuentes, and has added to its midfield the outstanding Adrián Salcedo, as well as the Panamanian midfielder Boris Morales, one of the most striking reinforcements so far.
The team has developed an intense pre-season, focused on physical strengthening and tactical cohesion, in search of a dominant playing style that allows it to compete with guarantees from the first match.
Start of Season and New Format:
Atlántico’s official debut will be this Saturday, August 9th at 4:00 PM against Delfines del Este, at the Leonel Plácido Stadium in Puerto Plata.
This new tournament will mark a milestone for the LDF, as for the first time its calendar will align with that of international leagues, starting on August 8, 2025 and concluding in May 2026.
The championship will have a regular phase of 18 matchdays, in which each team will play 9 home games and 9 away games. The top six will advance to the Liguilla, which will consist of 15 dates, with everyone facing each other three times. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, and from there, to the grand final of the LDF.
