The first league format competition in the second level of Finnish football was called Suomensarja, which was founded in 1936.

In the autumn of 1969, the Finnish football underwent a league system reform, and the Suomensarja was renamed II divisioona, or 2nd Division, with regional sections.

It was also reported that it is expected be a five-year long period, after which the top-tier Veikkausliiga could be expanded to consist 16 teams, but this claim has not been confirmed.

In the late August 2022, Finnish FA announced the creation of a new nation-wide league, contested with 10 teams, planned to be located between current Ykkönen and Kakkonen.

[5][6] Later in October it was confirmed that the new second-tier league will be named Ykkösliiga, and the FA simultaneously announced the specific rules on how the new level is formed and which clubs will gain the position in it.

All the previous third-tier levels in Finland had been divided to geographical groups based on locations of the clubs.