1990 Soviet First League was part of the Soviet football competition in the second league division. With the ongoing fall of the Soviet Union some clubs left the Soviet competitions and the league was reduced.

Teams

Promoted teams

Relegated teams

Renamed teams

Withdrawn teams

Prior to the start of the season all Georgian clubs (with the exception of Dinamo Sukhumi, a majority-Russian club from Abkhazia) withdrew from Soviet competitions. This included two First League clubs, FC Torpedo Kutaisi and FC Dinamo Batumi. Because of that the league was reduced to 20 as compared to the previous season of 22 participants.

Locations

League standings

Notes:

Promotion/relegation play-off

(13th team of the Top League and 4th team of the First League) Lokomotiv Moscow won the promotion on 3–2 aggregate

Top scorers

Number of teams by union republic