French football league system

The French football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.^[1]^[2]^[3] Below that are a number of leagues run by the Fédération Française de Football. At level 3 is the semi-professional Championnat National.^[4] Below that is the amateur Championnat de France amateur (level 4), which is divided into four parallel regional divisions, followed by the Championnat de France amateur 2 (level 5), which is divided into eight parallel regional divisions. Underneath that are many more regional leagues and divisions.^[5]^[6] 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.

1 Men
2 Women
- 2.1 National leagues
3 References
4 External links

Men

National Leagues

Level	League(s)/Division(s)
1	Ligue 1 20 clubs
2	Ligue 2 20 clubs
3	National 20 clubs
4	CFA groupe A 18 clubs		CFA groupe B 18 clubs		CFA groupe C 18 clubs		CFA groupe D 18 clubs
5	CFA2 groupe A 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe B 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe C 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe D 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe E 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe F 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe G 16 clubs	CFA2 groupe H 18 clubs
6	Alsace Honneur Aquitaine Honneur Atlantique Honneur Auvergne Honneur Lower Normandy Honneur Burgundy Honneur Brittany Honneur Centre Honneur Centre-Ouest Honneur Champagne-Ardennes Honneur Corsica Honneur Franche-Comté Honneur Languedoc-Roussillon Honneur Lorraine Honneur Maine Honneur Provence Honneur Midi-Pyrénées Honneur Nord-Pas-de-Calais Honneur Upper Normandy Honneur Paris Honneur Picardy Honneur Rhône-Alpes Honneur
7	Aquitaine DSR Atlantique DRS Auvergne DHR Lower Normandy DSR Burgundy PH Brittany DSE Centre DHR Centre-Ouest DHR Champagne-Ardennes DHR Corsica PHA Franche-Comté LR2 Languedoc-Roussillon DHR Lorraine DHR Maine DSR Provence DHR Midi-Pyrénées DHR Nord-Pas-de-Calais DHR Upper Normandy DHR Paris DSR Picardy PH Rhône-Alpes HRL
8	Aquitaine DHR Atlantique DRH Auvergne PHR Lower Normandy DHR Burgundy PL Brittany DSR Centre PH Centre-Ouest PH Champagne-Ardennes PL Corsica PHB Franche-Comté LR3 Lorraine PH Maine DRH Midi-Pyrénées PH Nord-Pas-de-Calais PH Upper Normandy PH Paris DHR Picardy PI Rhône-Alpes PHR
9	Aquitaine PH Atlantique PH Lower Normandy PH Brittany DRH Centre PL Centre-Ouest PL Corsica PHC1 Lorraine PHR Maine PH Midi-Pyrénées PL Nord-Pas-de-Calais PHR Paris PH
10	Aquitaine PL Brittany PH Corsica PHC2 Nord-Pas-de-Calais Régionale
11	Championnat de district level 1 (all Departments)
12	Championnat de district level 2 (all Departments)
13	Championnat de district level 3 (all Departments)
14	Championnat de district level 4 (all Departments except district of Finistère-nord)
15	Championnat de district level 5
16	Championnat de district level 6 (only Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Loire-Atlantique, Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme)

Regional Leagues

Leagues	Level VI	Level VII	Level VIII	Level IX	Level X
Alsace	Division Honneur
Aquitaine	Division Honneur	Division Supérieure Régionale	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Ligue
Atlantique	Division Honneur	Division Régionale Supérieure	Division Régionale Honneur	Promotion Honneur
Auvergne	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur Régionale
Lower Normandy	Division Honneur	Division Supérieure Régionale	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur
Burgundy	Honneur Ligue	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Ligue
Brittany	Division Honneur	Division Supérieure Élite	Division Supérieure Régionale	Division Régionale Honneur	Promotion Honneur
Centre	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Ligue
Centre-Ouest	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Ligue
Champagne-Ardenne	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Ligue
Corsica	Division Honneur	Promotion Honneur A	Promotion Honneur B	Promotion Honneur C1	Promotion Honneur C2
Franche-Comté	Division Honneur	Ligue Régionale 2	Ligue Régionale 3
Languedoc-Roussillon	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale
Lorraine	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Honneur Régionale
Maine	Division Honneur	Division Supérieure Régionale	Division Régionale Honneur	Promotion Honneur
Méditerranée	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale
Midi-Pyrénées	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Ligue
Nord-Pas-de-Calais	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Honneur Régionale	Promotion Ligue
Normandy	Division Honneur	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur
Paris Île-de-France	Division Honneur	Division Supérieure Régionale	Division Honneur Régionale	Promotion Honneur
Picardy	Division Honneur	Promotion Honneur	Promotion Interdistricts
Rhône-Alpes	Honneur Ligue	Honneur Régional Ligue	Promotion Honneur Régional

Departemental Districts

League of Alsace

Départemental districts	Level VII	Level VIII	Level IX	Level X	Level XI	Level XII
Bas-Rhin	Excellence	Promotion Excellence	Promotion	Division I	Division II	Division III
Haut-Rhin	Excellence	Promotion Excellence	Promotion	Division I	Division II	Division III

League of Aquitaine

Départemental districts	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV	Level XV
Bordeaux (Gironde)	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2
Dordogne-Périgord (Dordogne)	Division 1 Excellence	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2
Gironde-Altantique (Gironde)	Division 1	Honneur Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2
Gironde-Est (Gironde)	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2
Landes	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2	Division 3
Lot-et-Garonne	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
Pyrénées-Atlantiques	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2
Sauternais-et-Graves (Gironde)	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2

Atlantic League

Départemental districts	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV	Level XV
Loire-Atlantique	Division Supérieure	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2	Division 3
Maine-et-Loire	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2	Division 3
Vendée	Division 1	Promotion Division 1	Division 2	Promotion Division 2	Division 3

League of the Auvergne

Départemental districts	Level IX	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV
Allier	Élite	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
Cantal	Élite	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Haute-Loire	Élite	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
Puy-de-Dôme	Élite	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4

League of Lower Normandy

Départemental districts	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV
Calvados	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Manche	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5
Orne	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4

League of Burgundy

Départemental districts	Level IX	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII
Côte-d'Or	Promotion	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
Nièvre	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Pays Minier (Saône-et-Loire)	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Pays Saônois (Saône-et-Loire)	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Yonne	Promotion	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3

League of Brittany

Départemental districts	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV	Level XV
Côtes-d'Armor	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Challenge
Finistère-Nord (Finistère)	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
Finistère-Sud (Finistère)	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Ille-et-Vilaine	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5
Morbihan	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5

League of the Centre
League of Champagne-Ardenne
League of Corsica
League of Franche-Comté

Départemental districts	Level IX	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII
Doubs-Sud/Haut-Doubs	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5
Belfort-Montbéliard	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Jura	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Haute-Saône	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5

League of Guyana
League of Languedoc-Roussillon
League of Lorraine
League of Maine
League of the Mediterranean
League of Midi-Pyrénées
League of Nord Pas-de-Calais
League of Normandy
League of Paris Île-de-France

Départemental districts	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV	Level XV	Level XVI	Level XVII
Essonne	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5
Hauts-de-Seine	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5
Seine-et-Marne Nord (Seine-et-Marne)	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Seine-et-Marne Sud (Seine-et-Marne)	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Seine-Saint-Denis	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
Val d'Oise	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Val-de-Marne	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4
Yvelines	Excellence	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3	Division 4	Division 5	Division 6	Division 7

League of Picardy
League of Réunion
League of Rhône-Alpes

Départemental districts	Level IX	Level X	Level XI	Level XII	Level XIII	Level XIV
Ain	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division	4^emeDivision
Drôme-Ardèche	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division	4^emeDivision
Isère	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division	4^emeDivision
Loire	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division	4^emeDivision
Rhône	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division	4^emeDivision
Savoie	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division
Haute-Savoie et Pays Gex	Excellence	Promotion d'Excellence	1^ere Division	2^eme Division	3^eme Division	4^emeDivision

Women

National leagues

Level	League(s)/Division(s)
1	Division 1 Féminine 12 clubs
2	Division 2 Féminine Groupe A (12 clubs)	Division 2 Féminine Groupe B (12 clubs)		Division 2 Féminine Groupe C (12 clubs)
3	Division 3 Féminine Groupe A (10 clubs)	Division 3 Féminine Groupe B (10 clubs)	Division 3 Féminine Groupe C (10 clubs)	Division 3 Féminine Groupe D (10 clubs)
4	Alsace Honneur Aquitaine Honneur Atlantique Honneur Auvergne Honneur Lower Normandy Honneur Burgundy Honneur Brittany Honneur Centre Honneur Centre-Ouest Honneur Champagne-Ardennes Honneur Corsica Honneur Franche-Comté Honneur Languedoc-Roussillon Honneur Lorraine Honneur Maine Honneur Provence Honneur Midi-Pyrénées Honneur Nord-Pas-de-Calais Honneur Upper Normandy Honneur Paris Honneur Picardy Honneur Rhône-Alpes Honneur

References

^ "LFP, Ligue 1, L1, Ligue 2, L2 et Coupe de le Ligue." (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://new.lfp.fr. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ "Ligue 1" (in French). French Football Federation. http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/liens/35816.shtml. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ "Ligue 2" (in French). French Football Federation. http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/liens/35817.shtml. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ "Championnat National" (in French). French Football Federation. http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/liens/35818.shtml. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ "Championnat de France amateur" (in French). French Football Federation. http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/liens/35820.shtml. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ "Championnat de France amateur 2" (in French). French Football Federation. http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/liens/35821.shtml. Retrieved 9 December 2010.

External links

Football in France

French Football Federation President: Nöel Le Graët

National team	France · France A' · History · Managers · All-time record · France–Italy football rivalry · France 98

Women's national teams	France · Youth

Youth national teams	U-21 · U-20 · U-19 · U-18 · U-17 · U-16 · Youth

Overseas national teams	French Guiana · Guadeloupe · Mayotte · Martinique · New Caledonia · Réunion · Saint-Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Unofficial national teams	Brittany · Corsica

League system	Ligue de Football Professionnel (Ligue 1 · Ligue 2) · National · CFA (4 groups) · CFA 2 (8 groups) · Regional · Departmental

Youth league system	U-19 (4 groups) · U-17 (6 groups)

Overseas leagues	Championnat National (French Guyana) · Championnat National (Martinique) · Division d’Honneur (Guadeloupe) · Division d’Honneur (Mayotte) · Division d’Honneur (New Caledonia) · Ligue des Antilles · Réunion Premier League · Saint-Martin Championships · Saint Pierre and Miquelon Championnat

Domestic cups	Coupe de France · Coupe de la Ligue · Trophée des champions

Women's domestic cups	Coupe de France Féminine

Youth domestic cups	Coupe Gambardella · Coupe Nationale (U-15 · U-13)

Overseas domestic cups	Coupe de Guadeloupe · Coupe de Guyane · Coupe de la Martinique · Coupe de Mayotte · Coupe de Noél · Coupe de la Réunion · Coupe de Polynésie · Coupe de l'Outre-Mer · New Caledonia Cup

Academies	Castelmaurou · Châteauroux · Clairefontaine · Liévin · Ploufragan · Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire · Vichy

Organizations	UNFP (Awards · Player of the Month) · DNCG · USFSA

Other	Coupe Charles Drago · Montaigu Tournament

List of Ligue 1 clubs · List of French football champions · List of French second division champions · List of French women's football champions · List of Coupe de France winners · All-time Ligue 1 table · Ligue 1 records · Foreign Ligue 1 players · List of clubs · List of venues