The following is a list of association football leagues which do not or did not have a promotion and relegation process.
Leagues within the scope of this list are:
Top-tier football leagues with no relegation system In countries without lower-tier leagues In countries with lower-tier leagues not integrated to the top-tier league; closed model Recognized Division II or lower leagues without promotion and relegation.
Excluded are: Any Division II or lower leagues with promotion but without relegation
Leagues Current Top tier leagues LeagueCountryConfederationFirst seasonWithout relegation since A-League MenAustralia, New ZealandAFC / OFC2005–062005 A-League WomenAustralia, New ZealandAFC / OFC 2008–092008 Belize Premier Football LeagueBelizeCONCACAF 2012 2012 Canadian Premier League CanadaCONCACAF 2019 2019 Liga Dominicana de FútbolDominican RepublicCONCACAF 2014 2014 Gibraltar National LeagueGibraltarUEFA2019–202019–20 Liga MXMexicoCONCACAF19432019–20 New Zealand National LeagueNew ZealandOFC20212021 Papua New Guinea National Soccer LeaguePapua New GuineaOFC 2006 2006 Philippine Football LeaguePhilippinesAFC20172017 PFF Women's LeaguePhilippinesAFC2016–172016–17 Campionato Sammarinese di CalcioSan MarinoUEFA1985–861995–96 Singapore Premier LeagueSingaporeAFC19961996 Sri Lanka Super LeagueSri LankaAFC20212021 Major League SoccerUnited States, CanadaCONCACAF19961996 National Women's Soccer LeagueUnited StatesCONCACAF20132013 USL Super League United States CONCACAF 2024–25 2024–25
Notes
Lower division leagues LeagueDivisionCountryConfederationFirst seasonWithout promotion sinceNext highest leagueRelegation toNational Premier Leagues 2 AFC 2005–06 2005 A-League Men Various (State-level leagues)USL Championship2 CONCACAF 2017 2017 Major League Soccer NoneLiga de Expansión MX2CONCACAF2020–212020–21Liga MXSerie AMLS Next Pro3CONCACAF20222022USL ChampionshipNoneNational Independent Soccer Association3CONCACAF2019–202019–20USL ChampionshipNoneUSL League One3CONCACAF20192019USL ChampionshipNone
Defunct or inactive Top tier leagues LeagueCountryConfederationFirst seasonLast seasonYears without relegationRelegation to National Soccer League OFC 1977 2003–04 1977–2004 None (underperforming clubs were de facto relegated to the state leagues but there was no set criterion for relegation)Philippine Premier League AFC 2019 2019 2019 NoneUnited Football League AFC 2010 2016 2016 United Football League Division 2(2010–2015)North American Soccer League (1968–84) CONCACAF 1968 1984 1968–1984 None Women's Professional Soccer CONCACAF 2009 2011 2009–2011 None Women's United Soccer Association CONCACAF 2001 2003 2001–2003 NoneBeNe League UEFA 2012-13 2014-15 2012-2015 NoneChinese Women's Super League (1997–2010)National Women's Football League (2011–2014) AFC 1997 2014 1997-2013 National Women's Football League (Early years)
Lower division leagues LeagueDivisionCountryConfederationFirst seasonLast seasonYears without promotionNext highest leagueNorth American Soccer League 2 CONCACAF 2011 2017 2011–2017 Major League SoccerUSSF Division 2 Professional League 2 CONCACAF 2010 2010 Major League Soccer USL Pro / United Soccer League 3 CONCACAF 2011 2016 2011–2016 North American Soccer League
References