The French football league system , also known as the French football pyramid , is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France and Monaco , and includes one Spanish side. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel , which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1 , Ligue 2 . Below that are a number of leagues run by the Fédération Française de Football . At level 3 is the semi-professional Championnat National . Below that is the Championnat National 2 (level 4), which is divided into four parallel regional divisions, followed by the Championnat National 3 (level 5), which is divided into eleven parallel regional divisions. Underneath that are many more regional and departmental leagues and divisions. Clubs finishing the season at or near the top of their division may be eligible for promotion to a higher division. Similarly, clubs finishing at or near the bottom of their division may be relegated to a lower division.
7-695: The Championnat National (English: French National Championship ), commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3 , is the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 . Contested by 18 clubs, the Championnat National operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Ligue 2 and the Championnat National 2 , the fourth division of French football . Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 34 games each, totalling 306 games in
14-402: A win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head points, then goal difference , and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion and promoted to Ligue 2. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy
21-440: Is annually composed of professional and semi-professional clubs or amateur clubs. The matches in the league attract on average between 2,500 and 6,000 spectators per match. There are 18 clubs in the Championnat National. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for
28-472: The 2022–23 season, this is the structure of the amateur regional leagues, operating directly below the national leagues. As of the 2019–20 season, this is the structure of the amateur departmental leagues, operating at various levels below the regional leagues. There are no district divisions in Corsica. The system in Corsica goes up to Régional 4. Clubs in the arrondissements of Paris are divided between
35-811: The 2024–25 season. French football league system Starting in 2017–18 there were changes at levels 3 and 4 (in name only) and level 5 (significant restructuring and rename). Level 1 Ligue 1 18 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation play-off spot 2 Ligue 2 18 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion play-off spot ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation play-off spot 3 National 18 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion play-off spot ↓ 3 relegation spots 4 National 2 48 clubs divided into 3 groups ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 10 relegation spots (for 2024–25 season) 5 National 3 140 clubs divided into 10 groups (for 2024–25 season) = 14x10 112 clubs divided into 8 groups (from 2025–26 season onwards) = 14x8 As of
42-409: The same position. If there is a tie for the championship or for relegation, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The first and second place finisher are also promoted to the second division, while the six lowest placed teams are relegated to the Championnat National 2 and the four winners of the four groups from Championnat National 2 are promoted in their place until 2023–24 season. For
49-505: The season. Most games are played on Fridays and Saturdays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January. The National was founded in 1993 by the French Football Federation and served as a base league for clubs on the brink of becoming professional or falling to the amateur levels. The league
#728271