French football league system


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, which is divided into four parallel regional divisions, followed by the Championnat National 3, 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.

Men (Since 2024)

National leagues

Starting in 2017–18 there were changes at levels 3 and 4 and level 5.

Regional leagues

As of the 2022–23 season, this is the structure of the amateur regional leagues, operating directly below the national leagues.
LeaguesLevel 6Level 7Level 8Level 9
Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Bourgogne-Franche-ComtéRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
BretagneRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Centre-Val de LoireRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
CorsicaRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3Régional 4
Grand EstRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Hauts-de-FranceRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
MéditerranéeRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
NormandyRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Nouvelle AquitaineRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
OccitanieRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Paris Île-de-FranceRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Pays de la LoireRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3

Departmental leagues

As of the 2019–20 season, this is the structure of the amateur departmental leagues, operating at various levels below the regional leagues.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region

Bretagne region

Centre-Val de Loire region

Corsica region

There are no district divisions in Corsica. The system in Corsica goes up to Régional 4.

Grand Est region

Hauts-de-France region

Provence Alpes-Cote d'Azur Region (Méditérranée Region)

Normandy region

Nouvelle Aquitaine region

Occitanie region

Paris Île-de-France region

Clubs in the arrondissements of Paris are divided between the three surrounding suburban districts. The District of Hauts-de-Seine includes 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th, the District of Seine-Saint-Denis has the 9th, 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 20th and the District of Val-de-Marne includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th and 13th.
Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Level 14
EssonneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5
Hauts-de-SeineDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6
Seine-et-MarneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Seine-Saint-DenisDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5
Val d'OiseDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Val-de-MarneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
YvelinesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6

Pays de la Loire region

Men (National leagues only) (2017-2024)

National leagues

Starting in 2017–18 there were changes at Levels 3 and 4 and Level 5.

Men (pre-2017)

National leagues

The 2016–17 season was the last of the former league structure. From 2017–18 there were changes at Levels 3 and 4 and Level 5.

Regional leagues

For the 2016–17 season, this was the structure of the regional leagues, operating directly below the national leagues. Despite the varying names given some regions, level 6 leagues are generically referred to as Division d'Honneur or DH.

Departmental leagues

For the 2016–17 season, this was the structure of the departmental leagues, operating at various levels below the regional leagues.
;League of Alsace
Officially, the League of Alsace does not include departmental districts. The organization of the championships, with a single DH and departmental groups at lower levels wrongly conveys the impression that there is a district of Haut-Rhin and a district of Bas-Rhin. Below level 13 is a separate "B" league structure for reserve and other secondary teams. Teams from these divisions can be promoted to level 13 and higher, but first teams from level 13 are not relegated.
;League of Aquitaine
;Atlantique League
;League of Auvergne
;League of Basse-Normandie
;League of Bourgogne
;League of Bretagne
;League of Centre-Val de Loire
;League of Centre-Ouest
;League of Champagne-Ardenne
;League of Corsica
There is no district championship in Corsica.
;League of Franche-Comté
;League of Languedoc-Roussillon
;League of Lorraine
;League of Maine
;League of Provence Alpes-Cote d'Azur
;League of Midi-Pyrénées
;League of Nord Pas-de-Calais
;League of Haute-Normandie
;League of Paris Île-de-France
Clubs in the arrondissements of Paris are divided between the three surrounding suburban districts. The District of Hauts-de-Seine includes 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th, the District of Seine-Saint-Denis has the 9th, 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 20th and the District of Val-de-Marne includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th and 13th.
;League of Picardy
;League of Rhône-Alpes

Women

National leagues

From 2023–24 onwards :