Eight teams compete for the championship title in the RAPL main event from August 27th to October 2nd. These eight teams represent the rich diversity and deep passion for football across eight regions and 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

The eight RAPL teams are managed by one international coach and one Afghan assistant coach.  This year, the five coaches from Tajikistan and one coach from Uzbekistan with AFF representatives traveled to the centers of each region to recruit the best players in their respective teams' squads through regional tournaments that took place from  April to June.  

Afterwards, the  RAPL Draw Ceremony  took place on August 6th. The eight teams were divided in two groups, Group A: Oqaban Hindukosh, De Spinghar Bazan, Mawjhai Amu, and De Abasin Sape and Group B: Shaheen Asmayee, De Maiwand Atalan, Toofan Harirod, and Simorgh Alborz.

We will witness 12 matches during group play and then the top two team from each group will move forward to the semi-finals. With each team playing one home and one away match, the two with the best aggregate scores will face each other in the final. The ones failed to make it to the final will go head-to-head for the third place in the league.

This season, the opening ceremony will take place on August 27th and Shaheen Asmayee will face Simorgh Alborz in the opening match. This is the first time that the two old rivals will play each other in group play. Shaheen defeated Simorgh in the 2013 final run for the title and Simorgh with a fierce line of attack took revenge in the 2015 Nawroz Tournament Cup's final with a 4-5 win in a penalty shootout.

All of the group stage matches will start at 4:00 pm this season. The matches will broadcast live on TOLO TV,Lemar TV ,Arman FM ,and Arakozai FM.  It will also be watchable on the RAPL YouTube page (www.youtube.com/afghanpremierleague).