Championnat National


The Championnat National, 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 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.

History

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 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.
On 16 January 2025, during a press conference, Philippe Diallo announced the creation of a professional Ligue 3 from the 2026–27 season.

Competition format

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 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 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 three lowest placed teams are relegated to the Championnat National 2 and the three winners of the three groups from Championnat National 2 are promoted in their place until last season.

Current clubs

''For the 2025–26 season.''

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationVenueCapacity
AubagneStade de Lattre-de-Tassigny1,000
Boulogne-sur-MerStade de la Libération9,534
Bourg-en-BresseStade Marcel-Verchère11,400
CaenStade Michel d'Ornano21,215
Concarneau5,800
DijonStade Gaston Gérard15,995
Fleury-MérogisStade Auguste Gentelet2,000
Le Puy-en-VelayStade Charles Massot4,800
MartiguesStade Francis Turcan8,290
OrléansStade de la Source7,000
Paris Stade Pelé1,000
RouenStade Robert Diochon8,372
RouenStade Robert Diochon8,372
MontbéliardStade Auguste Bonal20,005
Saint-BrieucStade Fred-Aubert11,000
ValenciennesStade du Hainaut25,172
VersaillesStade de Montbauron7,545
Villefranche-sur-SaôneStade Armand Chouffet3,500

Championnat National table of honours

SeasonGroup A WinnerGroup B WinnerOther promoted teams
1993–94En Avant de GuingampLB ChâteaurouxAmiens SC and Perpignan FC
1994–95FC LorientSAS ÉpinalStade Poitevin and CS Louhans-Cuiseaux
1995–96Stade BriochinSporting Toulon VarAssociation Troyes AC and AS Beauvais Oise
1996–97ES WasquehalNîmes Olympique
SeasonChampionsRunner upThird place
1997–98AC AjaccioCS Sedan ArdennesUS Créteil-Lusitanos
1998–99CS Louhans-CuiseauxUS Créteil-LusitanosGazélec Ajaccio
1999–2000AS Beauvais OiseFC MartiguesAngers SCO
2000–01Grenoble Foot 38Amiens SCFC Istres
2001–02Clermont FootStade de ReimsASOA Valence and Toulouse FC
2002–03Besançon Racing ClubAngers SCOFC Rouen
2003–04Stade de ReimsStade Brestois 29Dijon FCO
2004–05Valenciennes FCASOA Valence FC Sète 34
2005–06Chamois NiortaisTours FCFC Libourne-Saint-Seurin
2006–07Clermont Foot US BoulogneAngers SCO
2007–08Vannes OCTours FCNîmes Olympique
2008–09FC IstresStade LavalloisAC Arles
2009–10Evian Thonon GaillardStade de ReimsES Troyes AC
2010–11SC BastiaAmiens SCEn Avant de Guingamp
2011–12Nîmes Olympique Chamois NiortaisGazélec Ajaccio
2012–13US Créteil-LusitanosFC MetzCA Bastia
2013–14US OrléansUS LuzenacGazélec Ajaccio
2014–15Red StarParis FCFC Bourg-Péronnas
2015–16StrasbourgOrléansAmiens
2016–17ChâteaurouxQuevillyParis FC
2017–18Red Star BéziersGrenoble
2018–19RodezChamblyLe Mans
2019–20PauUSL DunkerqueUS Boulogne
2020–21SC Bastia Quevilly-RouenVillefranche
2021–22LavalAnnecyVillefranche
2022–23ConcarneauDunkerqueRed Star
2023–24Red Star MartiguesChamois Niortais
2024–25NancyLe MansUS Boulogne
2025–26TBDTBDTBD