The third tier of the Bolivian football league system consists of nine regional leagues (one for each department); the number of participants varies depending
on the department. It usually has between 8 and 12 teams. The winner and the runner-up of each league compete in the Copa Simón Bolívar, with the winner of such a tournament gaining promotion to the 1st Division, and the runner-up playing a play-off match with the last two placed teams in the First Division. Until 1976, all 8 regional championships (Pando didn't have an organized tournament at the time) were the top division of the national football pyramid, with the winner of the Copa Simón Bolívar being crowned as national champion.
The oldest regional championship is the one played in La Paz. It started in 1914 and it was considered for many years as the top Bolivian league, especially when it turned into a semi-professional tournament in 1950 and started to include teams from Oruro and Cochabamba.
Copa Simón Bolívar
The tournament started in 1960. Initially, only champions from La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro and Santa Cruz participated. In later years, teams from other associations joined the cup, and the tournament eventually also had runners-up participating.
Until 1976, with the lack of a nationwide league, the cup determined the national champion and representative teams for the Copa Libertadores. With the creation of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano, the Bolivian FA stopped organizing the tournament.
In 1989, the tournament was resurrected, with the same format of both champions and runners-up from each association, but this time each regional league was the second tier on the football pyramid so the champion was supposed to be awarded a place in the professional league. Previously, the last placed team in the 1st division was replaced by the regional champion of its department. However, that practice was kept until 1993 when finally the champion was awarded a spot in the top league.
The competition format changes frequently. In 2008, the teams were divided into three groups of six teams, to save costs. Geographically close teams were teamed up and played on a home-away round-robin basis, with group 1 consisting of teams from La Paz, Oruro and Cochabamba; group 2 of teams from Potosí, Chuquisaca and Tarija, and group 3 of teams from Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando. The top two placed teams advanced to the next round, now playing play-offs on home-away basis, the three winners and the best loser advanced to the semifinals and then the final.
Liga Nacional B
It was announced by LFPB that, due to the change of football in First Division, Copa Simon Bolivar would be replaced by Liga Nacional B which consists of thirteen clubs, the champions from each department except for Tarija which would have two clubs (Champions and runner-up), the last two relegated teams from First division and the winners of Torneo Nacional Provincial. La Paz Football Association and Oruro Football Association Championship were against this change, however the National Football Association and Bolivian Football Federation approved this change in Bolivian Football.
Beni Football Association Championship SeasonChampionRunner-up 1989 Primero de Mayo Naval Mamoré 1990 Primero de Mayo Naval Mamoré 1991 Universitario Primero de Mayo 1992 Universitario Bolívar 1993 Atlético Pompeya Ferrocarril San Antonio 1994 Bolívar Universitario 1995 Universitario Ingenieros 1996 Universitario Huracán Tupiza 1997 Atlético Pompeya Universitario 1998 Atlético Pompeya Universitario 1999 Atlético Pompeya Universitario 2000 Huracán Tupiza Proyecto San José La Palmera 2001 Primero de Mayo Universitario 2002 Primero de Mayo Universitario 2003 Primero de Mayo Universitario 2004 Primero de Mayo Universitario 2005 Universitario Real Mamoré 2006 Real Mamoré Proyecto San José La Palmera 2007 Universitario Primero de Mayo 2008 Primero de Mayo Universitario 2009 Universitario Primero de Mayo 2010 Primero de Mayo Atlético Marbán 2011 Universitario Primero de Mayo 2011–12 Universitario Proyecto San José La Palmera 2012–13 Proyecto San José La Palmera Universitario 2013–14 Universitario Deportivo Kivón 2014–15 Universitario Deportivo Kivón 2015–16 Universitario Deportivo Kivón 2016–17 Universitario San Lorenzo 2017 II Deportivo Kivón 2018 I Libertad Gran Mamoré 2018 II Deportivo Kivón Universitario 2019 Real Kateri Deportivo Kivón 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 I Libertad Gran Mamoré Deportivo Kivón 2021 II Libertad Gran Mamoré Alianza Beni 2023 Universitario Germán Busch
Chuquisaca Football Association Championship SeasonChampionRunner-up1989Independiente Petrolero (1)Fancesa1990Universitario (1)Stormers1991Universitario (2)Fancesa1992Universitario (3)Fancesa1993Universitario (4)Stormers1994Universitario (5)Stormers1995Universitario (6)Real IPTK1996Universitario (7)Fancesa1997Fancesa (1)Junín1998Stormers (1)Juver Sucrense1999Fancesa (2)Guaraní de Sucre2000Stormers (2)Guaraní de Sucre2001Guaraní de Sucre (1)Fancesa2002Fancesa (3)Guaraní de Sucre2003Fancesa (4)Stormers2004Universitario (8)Independiente Petrolero 2005 Universitario (9) Fancesa 2006 Fancesa (5) Independiente Petrolero 2007 Fancesa (6) Independiente Petrolero 2008 Fancesa (7) Independiente Petrolero 2009 Fancesa (8) Independiente Petrolero 2010 Independiente Petrolero (2) Fancesa 2011 Flamengo de Sucre (1) Guaraní de Sucre2011–12Flamengo de Sucre (2)Fancesa2012–13Fancesa (9)Flamengo de Sucre2013–14Fancesa (10)Stormers2014–15Fancesa (11)Guaraní de Sucre2015–16Fancesa (12)Stormers2016–17Atlético Sucre (1)Flamengo de Sucre2017Independiente Petrolero (3)Deportivo Alemán2018Independiente Petrolero (4)Stormers2019 IIndependiente Petrolero (5)Fancesa2019 IIIndependiente Petrolero (6)Fancesa 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Universitario (10)Fancesa2022Mojocoya (1)Stormers2023Atlético Sucre (1)Fancesa
Cochabamba Football Association Championship SeasonChampionRunner-up1989Petrolero (1)Enrique Happ1990Petrolero (2)Litoral1991San Pedro (1)Enrique Happ1992Metalsan (1)Enrique Happ1993Enrique Happ (1)Universitario1994Aurora (1)Universitario1995Aurora (2)San Pedro1996Aurora (3)Universitario1997Aurora (4)Universitario1998Aurora (5)Enrique Happ1999Aurora (6)Universitario2000Aurora (7)Cala Cala2001Aurora (8)Independiente de Quillacollo2002Aurora (9)Independiente de Quillacollo2003Independiente de Quillacollo (1)Esparta2004Independiente de Quillacollo (2)Esparta2005Independiente de Quillacollo (3)Esparta2006Esparta (1)Aurora 2007 Universitario (1) Real Cochabamba 2008 Enrique Happ (2) Nueva Cliza 2009 Universitario (2) Enrique Happ 2010 Enrique Happ (3) Bata 2011 Jorge Wilstermann (1) Enrique Happ2011–12Jorge Wilstermann (2)Universitario2012–13Municipal Tiquipaya (1)Universitario2013–14Enrique Happ (4)Nueva Cliza2014–15Aurora (10)Arauco Prado2015–16Municipal Tiquipaya (2)Aurora2016–17Aurora (11)Enrique Happ2018Bata (1)Enrique Happ2019 IArauco Prado (1)Atlético Palmaflor2019 IICochabamba FC (1)Municipal Tiquipaya 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021San Antonio Bulo Bulo (1)Nueva Cliza2022San Antonio Bulo Bulo (2)Enrique Happ2023Pasión Celeste (1)Municipal Tiquipaya
La Paz Football Association Championships Ed.SeasonChampionRunner-upAmateur era 1914 The Strongest Colegio Militar 1915 Colegio Militar The Strongest 1916 The Strongest Workmen 1917 The Strongest New Fighters 1918–1921 No tournament 1922 The Strongest Universitario 1923 The Strongest Universitario 1924 The Strongest Universitario 1925 The Strongest Universitario 1926 No tournament 1927 Nimbles Sport Bolívar 1928 Colegio Militar Universitario 1929 Universitario The Strongest 1930 The Strongest Bolívar 1931 Nimbles Sport Huracán 1932 Bolívar The Strongest 1933–1934 No championship held due to the Chaco War 1935 The Strongest Ayacucho 1936 Ayacucho San Calixto 1937 Bolívar Atlético Alianza 1938 The Strongest Bolívar 1939 Bolívar Atlético La Paz 1940 Bolívar The Strongest 1941 Bolívar Ferroviario 1942 Bolívar The Strongest 1943 The Strongest Bolívar 1944 Ferroviario The Strongest 1945 The Strongest Bolívar 1946 The Strongest Bolívar 1947 Lítoral Bolívar 1948 Lítoral Unión Maestranza 1949 Lítoral BolívarProfessional era 1950 Bolívar Litoral 1951 Always Ready Bolívar 1952 The Strongest Always Ready 1953 Bolívar Always Ready 1954 Lítoral The Strongest 1955 Chaco Petrolero Bolívar 1956 Bolívar Deportivo Municipal 1957 Always Ready Deportivo Municipal 1958 Deportivo Municipal The Strongest 1959 Always Ready Bolívar 1960 Deportivo Municipal Bolívar 1961 Deportivo Municipal The Strongest 1962 Chaco Petrolero The Strongest 1963 The Strongest Always Ready 1964 The Strongest Deportivo Municipal 1965 Deportivo Municipal The Strongest 1966 Bolívar 31 de Octubre 1967 Bolívar Always Ready 1968 Always Ready Bolívar 1969 Bolívar Deportivo Municipal 1970 The Strongest Deportivo Municipal 1971 The Strongest Deportivo Municipal 1972 Lítoral Deportivo Municipal 1973 Deportivo Municipal 31 de Octubre 1974 The Strongest Bolívar 1975 31 de Octubre Always Ready 1976 Bolívar The StrongestAmateur era 1977 31 de Octubre Litoral 1978 31 de Octubre 1 de Mayo 1979 No tournament 1980 Unión Maestranza Chaco Petrolero 1981 Chaco Petrolero Unión Maestranza 1982 Mariscal Braun Lítoral 1983 Lítoral Unión Maestranza 1984–1985 No tournament 1986 Always Ready Deportivo Municipal 1987 Chaco Petrolero Independiente Alas 1988 Mariscal Braun Chaco Petrolero 1989 Chaco Petrolero Unión Maestranza 1990 Chaco Petrolero Mariscal Braun 1991 Litoral Mariscal Braun 1992 Chaco Petrolero Mariscal Braun 1993 Always Ready Mariscal Braun 1994 Chaco Petrolero Always Ready 1995 Chaco Petrolero Deportivo Municipal 1996 La Paz Mariscal Braun 1997 La Paz Mariscal Santa Cruz 1998 Deportivo Municipal Mariscal Braun 1999 Mariscal Braun Litoral 2000 Iberoamericana Atlético González 2001 Litoral Chaco Petrolero 2002 La Paz Deportivo Zuraca 2003 La Paz Mariscal Braun 2004 Deportivo Zuraca ABB 2005 Mariscal Braun ABB 2006 Mariscal Braun Chaco Petrolero 2007 Mariscal Braun Ferroviario 2008 ABB Fraternidad Tigres 2009 Fraternidad Tigres 31 de Octubre 2010 Mariscal Braun ABB 2011 ABB Unión Maestranza 2011–12 Unión Maestranza ABB 2012–13 Unión Maestranza 31 de Octubre 2013–14 Unión Maestranza Ramiro Castillo 2014–15 Unión Maestranza Ramiro Castillo 2015–16 Ramiro Castillo Always Ready 2016–17 Ramiro Castillo Always Ready 2017–18 Always Ready Deportivo FATIC 2018–19 Deportivo FATIC Virgen de Chijipata 2020 Deportivo FATIC Chaco Petrolero 2021 Deportivo FATIC Unión Maestranza 2022 Deportivo FATIC Chaco Petrolero 2023 Deportivo FATIC Hiska Nacional
Oruro Football Association Championship SeasonChampionRunner-up 1989 Estudiantes Frontanilla Ferroviario 1990 Estudiantes Frontanilla Ferroviario 1991 Estudiantes Frontanilla ENAF 1992 Estudiantes Frontanilla MAFAL 1993 Estudiantes Frontanilla Ingenieros 1994 Ingenieros Estudiantes Frontanilla 1995 Oruro Royal Estudiantes Frontanilla 1996 Ingenieros Estudiantes Frontanilla 1997 Estudiantes Frontanilla Atlético La Joya 1998 Estudiantes Frontanilla Ingenieros 1999 Oruro Royal Ingenieros 2000 San José Ingenieros 2001 San José Ingenieros 2002 Ingenieros Atlético La Joya 2003 Ingenieros Oruro Royal 2004 Ingenieros Atlético La Joya 2005 Atlético La Joya Deportivo Huachacalla 2006 Deportivo Cristal Oruro Royal 2007 Deportivo Cristal Deportivo Huachacalla 2008 Deportivo Cristal Ingenieros 2009 Deportivo Cristal Oruro Royal 2010 31 de Octubre Oruro Royal 2011 Oruro Royal Huanuni 2011–12 Oruro Royal Huanuni 2012–13 Huanuni Oruro Royal 2013–14 Oruro Royal Huanuni 2014–15 Huanuni Oruro Royal 2015–16 Deportivo Escara Deportivo Kala 2016 Deportivo Kala Deportivo Escara 2017 Huanuni Sur-Car 2018 Huanuni Deportivo Escara 2019 Huanuni Sur-Car 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Deportivo Shalon Huanuni 2022 Huanuni CDT Real Oruro 2023 CDT Real Oruro Sur-Car
Pando Football Association Championship