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 (like the former fourth tier Tercera División), corresponding to the autonomous communities of Spain (due to its size, Andalusia is divided into two groups, East and West; Ceuta is allocated to West Andalusia, while Melilla is allocated to the East), 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.
GroupRegionRelegation1GaliciaPreferente Futgal2AsturiasPrimera Asturfútbol3CantabriaRegional Preferente4Basque CountryDivisión de Honor5Catalonia and AndorraLliga Elit6Valencian CommunityLliga Comunitat7Community of MadridPrimera División Autonómica8Castile and LeónPrimera Regional9División de Honor – Group 2MelillaPrimera Autonómica10División de Honor – Group 1CeutaRegional Preferente11Balearic IslandsDivisión de Honor12Canary IslandsInterinsular Preferente13Region of MurciaPreferente Autonómica14ExtremaduraPrimera División Extremeña15NavarrePrimera Autonómica16La RiojaRegional Preferente17AragonRegional Preferente18Castile-La ManchaPrimera Autonómica Preferente
Teams The member clubs of the Tercera Federación for the 2026–27 season are listed below.
GroupTeamsGroup 1Group 2Group 3Group 4Group 5Group 6Group 7Group 8Group 9Group 10Group 11Group 12Group 13Group 14Group 15Group 16Group 17Group 18
Winners and promotions All group champions are promoted to Segunda Federación. Administrative promotions not included in this table. Season IX IIXI IIIXII IVXIII VXIV VIXV VIIXVI VIIIXVII IXXVIII2021–22 Polvorín Oviedo Vetusta Gimnástica Torrelavega Alavés B Manresa Valencia Mestalla Atlético Madrid B Guijuelo Juventud Torremolinos Recreativo Mallorca B Atlético Paso Yeclano Diocesano Atlético Cirbonero Arnedo Deportivo Aragón GuadalajaraOther promoted teams: Ourense CF (I), Beasain (IV), Olot (V), Atlético Saguntino (VI), Alcorcón B (VII), Utrera (X), Cartagena B (XIII), Alfaro (XVI), Utebo (XVII)2022–23 Deportivo Fabril Covadonga Cayón Barakaldo Europa Orihuela Ursaria Arandina Marbella Atlético Antoniano Andratx Mensajero Águilas Llerenense Egüés Náxara Robres ManchegoOther promoted teams: Racing Villalbés (I), Sant Andreu (V), Torrent (VI), Getafe B (VII), El Palo (IX), Penya Independent (XI), San Fernando (XII), La Unión Atlético (XIII), Illescas (XVIII) 2023–24 Bergantiños Llanera Escobedo Vitoria Olot Elche Ilicitano Real Madrid C Real Ávila Juventud Torremolinos Xerez Ibiza Islas Pitiusas Tenerife B Minera Don Benito Subiza UD Logroñés B Ejea ConquenseOther promoted teams: Laredo (III), Moscardó (VII), Salamanca (VIII), Almería B (IX), Xerez Deportivo (X), Mallorca B (XI), Unión Sur Yaiza (XII), Coria (XIV), Anguiano (XVI)2024–25 UD Ourense Oviedo Vetusta Sámano Basconia Reus FCR Castellón B Alcalá Atlético Astorga Atlético Malagueño Puente Genil Poblense Las Palmas Atlético Lorca Deportiva Extremadura Mutilvera Náxara Ebro Quintanar del ReyOther promoted teams: Sarriana (I), Lealtad (II), Beasain (IV), Girona B (V), Rayo Vallecano B (VII), Burgos Promesas (VIII), Jaén (IX), Porreres (XI), Socuéllamos (XVIII), Atlètic Lleida ()2025–26 Arosa Llanera Gimnástica Torrelavega Portugalete Manresa Castellonense Atlético Madrid C Atlético Tordesillas Mijas-Las Lagunas Ciudad de Lucena Mallorca B Atlético Paso Cieza Don Benito Peña Sport UD Logroñés B Calamocha Calvo SoteloOther promoted teams: Compostela (I), La Nucía (VI), Atlético Central (X), Peña Deportiva (XI), Tamaraceite (XII), Murcia Imperial (XIII), Badajoz (XIV), Arnedo (XVI), Atlético Albacete (XVIII)
References
External links Official RFEF Site Group for Spanish Football Statistics Compilation Map of Regions used in 2000-01