Tercera Federación


Tercera Federación, previously known as Tercera RFEF, is the fifth tier of the Spanish football league system. It is below the La Liga, Segunda División, and its fellow semi-professional divisions Primera Federación and Segunda Federación. It was founded in 1929 as the third tier, and dropped down to the fourth and fifth tiers in 1977 and 2021, respectively.

History

On 6 May 2020, the RFEF announced the creation of a new, two-group, 40-team third division called Primera División RFEF, which caused the former third and fourth divisions, Segunda División B and Tercera División, respectively, to drop down a level and change into Segunda División RFEF and Tercera División RFEF; the changes were made effective for the 2021–22 campaign.
In July 2022, the division was renamed Tercera Federación.

Current format

The Tercera Federación features 18 regional groups, corresponding to the autonomous communities of Spain, where each group is administered by a regional football federation. At the end of the season the first four teams in each group qualify for promotion play-offs to decide which teams are promoted to Segunda Federación. At least the three teams finishing bottom of each group may be relegated to the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol. However the number of teams relegated can vary. The eighteen group champions also qualify for the following season's Copa del Rey. However reserve teams are ineligible. Along with teams from Segunda Federación, the remaining teams from the division compete in the Copa Federación.
GroupRegionRelegation
1GaliciaPreferente Futgal
2AsturiasPrimera Asturfútbol
3CantabriaRegional Preferente
4Basque CountryDivisión de Honor
5Catalonia and AndorraLliga Elit
6Valencian CommunityLliga Comunitat
7Community of MadridPrimera División Autonómica
8Castile and LeónPrimera Regional
9División de Honor – Group 2
9MelillaPrimera Autonómica
10División de Honor – Group 1
10CeutaRegional Preferente
11Balearic IslandsDivisión de Honor
12Canary IslandsInterinsular Preferente
13Region of MurciaPreferente Autonómica
14ExtremaduraPrimera División Extremeña
15NavarrePrimera Autonómica
16La RiojaRegional Preferente
17AragonRegional Preferente
18Castile-La ManchaPrimera Autonómica Preferente

Teams

The member clubs of the Tercera Federación for the 2025–26 season are listed below.
GroupTeams
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
Group 10
Group 11
Group 12
Group 13
Group 14
Group 15
Group 16
Group 17
Group 18

Winners and promotions

All group champions are promoted to Segunda Federación. Administrative promotions not included in this table.