Avausottelu

Avausottelu is a Finnish term referring to the opening match of a sports season or tournament. It denotes the first official competitive game played after a break or pre-season, and is used in Finnish sports journalism and by fans. The word combines avaus (opening, start) and ottelu (match).

The concept is most common in team ball and ice sports, such as football and ice hockey, but can be used for any sport with a defined season or tournament. In practice, ava­usottelu may be scheduled to generate media attention and fan engagement, sometimes with ceremonial elements like a kickoff event, promotions, or special programming. The specific pairing of teams in the opening match varies by league and season; it may feature a defending champion, a local derby, or a marquee home game, but there is no universal rule.

Significance of the opening match lies in starting the competitive campaign and setting early momentum. However, the result of the avausottelu does not reliably predict the season’s ultimate outcome. The term distinguishes official season fixtures from pre-season friendlies, which are not considered part of the competitive campaign. In national leagues and cups, such as Veikkausliiga in football or Liiga in hockey, the season’s first competitive game is commonly referred to as the avausottelu in media coverage.

See also: season opener, opening game.