Liga Nusantara (English: Archipelago League) is the third-tier of the football competition system in Indonesia, organized by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI). The competition started in 2014 after PSSI merged the previous competitions, Liga Indonesia Second Division and Liga Indonesia Third Division. The competition was previously organized in two phases, with the provincial phase operated by PSSI Provincial Associations, where each province held its own regional competition, followed by the national phase operated by PSSI, where the top teams from each province competed at the national level.
Starting from the 2024–25 season, the competition is organized on a national level with teams divided into several groups based on geographical factors and is now operated by the I-League.
History The competition was established after Liga Indonesia Second Division and Liga Indonesia Third Division merged in 2014. Starting in 2015, the Liga Indonesia First Division was also merged with Liga Nusantara to become the third-tier level in Indonesian football system. Persatu Tuban won the competition's first season.
In 2017, Liga Nusantara was renamed to Liga 3, along with Indonesian Super League and Indonesian Premier Division which were renamed to Liga 1 and Liga 2, respectively.
In 2024, Liga 3 was renamed back to the Liga Nusantara, along with the establishment of Liga 4 as fourth-tier level. Liga Nusantara was elevated to a semi-professional level after previously being at the amateur level.
Format Old format Provincial phase Each province held a provincial phase, they were followed by amateur clubs without a limit of participants with different competition formats, the difference in the format was due to the different number of participants in each province. Furthermore, the teams that qualified from the provincial phase competed in national phase.
National phase A total of 80 teams entered this phase. First round: 80 teams were divided into sixteen groups of 5. Each group was played on a home tournament basis. Winner and runner-up of each group advanced to the second round. Second round: 32 teams which were the winners and runners-up from each group of the first round. They were divided into eight groups of 4 and each winner and runner-up advanced to the third round. Third round: 16 teams were divided into two groups. Each group was played on a home tournament basis. Same as previous round, the winner and runner-up of each group advanced to the fourth round. Fourth round: 8 teams were divided into two groups. The three best teams of each group were promoted to the Liga 2. The winner of each group also advanced to the final. Final: The 2 group winners from the fourth round played in the final match. The final was played as a single match.
New format 2024–25 season The league format was announced on 7 November 2024. There was no provincial or national phase. Instead, there were four rounds: Regular round: 16 teams were divided into two group of eight, with the round being played in a centralized format of double round-robin matches. The top three teams of each group qualified for the championship round, while the remaining teams qualified for the relegation play-offs. Relegation play-offs: 10 teams were divided into two groups of five teams, with the round being played in a centralized format of single round-robin matches. The bottom three teams of each group were relegated to the 2025–26 Liga 4. Championship round: 6 teams were divided into two groups of three teams, with the round being played in home-and-away round-robin matches. The group winners advanced to the final and promoted to the 2025–26 Liga 2. The group runners-up entered to the promotion play-off. Promotion play-off & Final: The play-off and final were played as a single match. If tied after regulation time, it went to extra time and a penalty shoot-out to decide the winning team if necessary. The winner of the play-off match was promoted to the 2025–26 Liga 2, while the winner of the final match was crowned as champions.
2025–26 season There were two rounds: Regular round: 24 teams were divided into four groups of six, the round being played in a centralized format of triple round-robin matches. The top two teams advanced to the knockout round, the fifth placed-team entered the relegation play-off, and the sixth-placed teams were immediately relegated to the 2026–27 Liga 4. Knockout round: The round was played as a single match. The winners of the semi-final matches and then the winner of the promotion play-off match were promoted to the 2026–27 Championship, while the losers of the relegation play-off matches were relegated to the 2026–27 Liga 4. The winner of the final was crowned as the champions.
2026–27 season There will be three rounds: Regular round: 24 teams were divided into three groups of eight, with the format being played in a home-and-away format of double round-robin matches. Group winners, group runners-up, and two best group third-place finishers will advance to the round of eight. No team will be relegated to the 2027–28 Liga 4 unless anyone fails to obtain a Liga Nusantara license. Round of eight: Eight teams will be divided into two groups of four, with the round being played in a centralized format of single round-robin matches. Group winners will advance to the final and will promoted to the 2027–28 Championship by obtaining that league's license. Group runners-up will enter the promotion play-off. Promotion play-off and final: The play-off and final will be played as a single match. If tied after regulation time, it went to extra time and a penalty shoot-out to decide the winning team if necessary. The winner of the play-off match will be promoted to the 2027–28 Championship by obtaining that league's license, while the winner of the final match will be crowned as champions.
Teams Maps
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Current participating teams The following 24 clubs will compete in the Liga Nusantara during 2026–27 season.
TeamLocation2025–26 positionYear joinedSeasons in LNFirst season in D3Seasons in D3Current spell inD3Last spell in CHFormer namesOther leagues Batavia South Jakarta Quarter-finals 2017 9 2017 9 2025– — — — Donggala United Donggala 10th in Group 2 (Championship) 2011 2 2017 2 2026– 2018–2026 — Gresik United Gresik 4th in Group D 2006 5 2019 5 2025– 2022–2025 — — Pasuruan City Champions (Liga 4) 2013 4 2022–23 4 2026– — — Pekanbaru Pekanbaru Quarter-finals 2024–25 2 2025–26 2 2025– — — — Perseden Denpasar 3rd in Group D 1994–95 9 2013 13 2025– — — Persekabpas Pasuruan Regency Quarter-finals 1994–95 10 2009–10 17 2017– 2008–2009 — Persekat Tegal Lost relegation play-off (Championship) 2006 4 2016 5 2026– 2020–2026—— Persiba Bantul Bantul 4th 1994–95 9 2018 9 2018– 2015–2017 — — Persibangga Purbalingga 3rd in NP R4 Group B (Liga 4) 2006 7 2011–12 8 2026– 2013–2017 — Persibo Bojonegoro 3rd in Group C 2002 9 2017 9 2025– 2024–2025 — — Persika Karanganyar Karanganyar Quarter-finals 2006 5 2021–22 5 2025– — — — Persikota Tangerang 3rd in Group B 1994–95 9 2014 12 2025– 2024–2025 — Persikotas Nusantara Tasikmalaya 3rd in Group A 2021 3 2021–22 3 2025– 2022–2025 — Persikutim United East Kutai Won relegation play-off 2018 9 2018 9 2018– — — Persinab Nabire 4th in Group C 2018 9 2018 9 2025– — — Persinga Ngawi Semi-finals (Liga 4) 2004 7 2013 8 2026– 2014–2017 — Persipa Pati 4th in Group A 1994–95 7 2010 13 2025– 2022–2025 — Persipani Paniai 3rd in NP R4 Group A (Liga 4) 1994–95 9 2011–12 14 2026– — — — Persitara North Jakarta Won relegation play-off 1994–95 9 2015 11 2025– 2010–2014 — — Pesik Kuningan Runners-up (Liga 4) 2004 7 2008–09 12 2026– — — PSN Ngada Semi-finals (Liga 4) 2004 7 2016 8 2026– — — Putra Sang Fajar Blitar 4th in Group B 2021–22 5 2021–22 5 2025– — — Sriwijaya Palembang 10th in Group 1 (Championship) 2005 1 2026–27 1 2026– 2019–2026 — —
Recently relegated from ChampionshipRecently promoted from Liga 4 "Year joined" is the year the club joined the Liga Indonesia, including leagues that are divisionally below it and counted since 1994–95 season. "First season in D3" and "Seasons in D3" counted since First Division dropped down to third-tier and also including of LPIS First Division during dualism era (2011–2012) and ISC Liga Nusantara in 2016 season. "Seasons in LN" and "Current spell in D3" counted since the third-tier league was renamed as Liga 3 and later changed to Liga Nusantara. "Last spell in CH" counted since Premier Division dropped down to second-tier (now Championship), including LPIS Premier Division during dualism era (2011–2013) and ISC B in 2016 season.
Former names
Breakaway league
Unofficial league
Former teams The following clubs competed in the Liga Nusantara since 2024–25 season, but are not competing in the 2026–27 season.
TeamLocationYear joinedSeasons in LNFirst season in D3Seasons in D3Last spell in D3Current leagueFormer names 757 Kepri Jaya Batam 2008–09 7 2013 7 2018–2025 Liga 4 de Red Surabaya 2022–23 3 2022–23 3 2025–2026 Championship Kalteng Putra Palangka Raya 2001 1 2008–09 4 2024–2025 Defunct — Kendal Tornado Kendal 2018 7 2018 7 2018–2025 Championship Persebata Lembata 1999 8 2017 8 2025–2026 Liga 4 — Perserang Serang 1994–95 2 2011–12 6 2024–2026 Liga 4 — Persewar Waropen 2005 3 2011–12 8 2025–2026 Liga 4 — Persiba Balikpapan Balikpapan 1994–95 1 2024–25 1 2024–2025 Championship — Persikab Bandung 1994–95 6 2016 8 2024–2025 Liga 4 — Persikabo 1973 Bogor 2016 1 2025–26 1 2025–2026 Liga 4 Persikad Depok 2019 4 2019 4 2024–2025 Championship Persipasi Bekasi 2017 8 2017 8 2017–2025 Liga 4 PSCS Cilacap 1994–95 2 2009–10 3 2024–2025 Liga 4 — PSDS Deli Serdang 1994–95 7 2011–12 12 2024–2026 Liga 4 — PSGC Ciamis 1994–95 7 2011–12 9 2020–2026 Championship — PSM Madiun Madiun 1994–95 7 2018 7 2018–2025 Liga 4 — RANS Nusantara Batu 2013 2 2014 2 2025–2026 Championship Sulut United Manado 2017 2 2018 2 2024–2025 — Waanal Brothers Mimika 2022–23 4 2022–23 4 2022–2026 Liga 4 —
Recently promoted to ChampionshipRecently relegated to Liga 4 "Year joined" is the year the club joined the Liga Indonesia, including leagues that are divisionally below it and counted since 1994–95 season. "First season in D3" and "Seasons in D3" counted since First Division dropped down to third-tier and also including of LPIS First Division during dualism era (2011–2013) and ISC Liga Nusantara. "Season in LN" and "Last spell in D3" counted since the third-tier league was renamed as Liga 3 and later changed to Liga Nusantara. Former names
Championship history
Old format
One-legged finals Season League name Champions Score Runners-up 2014Liga Nusantara Persatu Tuban 2–1 Laga 2015 season abandoned due to FIFA suspension of Indonesia 2017Liga 3 Blitar United 2–1 Persik Kendal 2019 Persijap Jepara 3–1 PSKC Cimahi 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia 2021–22 Karo United 3–3 Putra Delta Sidoarjo 2022–23 season abandoned after Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster 2023–24 Adhyaksa Farmel 3–2 Persibo Bojonegoro
Two-legged final Season League name Home team Score Away team2018Liga 3 Persik Kediri 3–1 PSCS Cilacap PSCS Cilacap 1–0 Persik KediriPersik Kediri won 3–2 on aggregate
New format Season League name Champions Score Runners-up 2024–25Liga Nusantara Sumut United 4–1 Tornado 2025–26 RANS Nusantara 2–2 Dejan 2026–27
Promotion history Old format Season Promoted teams Total2014 62017 32018 62019 62021–22 82023–24 6
New format SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird place 2024–25 Sumut United Tornado Persiba Balikpapan 2025–26 RANS Nusantara Dejan PSGC Ciamis 2026–27
Relegation history Season Relegated teams Total 2024–25 8 2025–26 6 2026–27 0
Notes:
Awards Best players