The Veikkausliiga 2002 was the 13th season of the top Finnish division in men's football under this name and the 72nd season since its introduction in 1930. The defending champions were Tampere United . This year, however, record champions HJK Helsinki won the championship.
Initially, all twelve teams met twice in the main round. After that, the first eight teams in the championship round determined the champions, while the last four teams played off the two relegated teams together with the two first-placed Ykkönen. In these rounds, only the first half of the season was played, so there were a total of seven game days and the points from the main round were taken over in the championship round. No points were transferred to the relegation round. This system meant that a total of 14 teams play in the Veikkausliiga in the following season.
The four worst teams of the Veikkausliiga and the four best teams of the I divisioona took part in the relegation round. They received bonus points as follows: The ninth placed Veikkausliiga received three points, the tenth placed 2, the eleventh placed and the two winners of the Ykkönen each received one point.