The French football league system, also known as the French football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France and Monaco, and includes one Spanish side. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1, Ligue 2. Below that are a number of leagues run by the Fédération Française de Football. At level 3 is the semi-professional Ligue 3. Below that is the Championnat National 1 (level 4), which is divided into four parallel regional divisions, followed by the Championnat National 2 (level 5), which is divided into eleven parallel regional divisions. Underneath that are many more regional and departmental leagues and divisions. 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.
Men National leagues Starting in 2026–27 there were changes at level 3 (significant restructuring and rename turning as professional), levels 4 and 5 (in name only as National 1 and 2). Level League(s)/Division(s)Professional leagues1Ligue 1 18 clubs↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation play-off spot2Ligue 2 18 clubs↑ 2 promotion spots + 3 promotion play-off spot↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation play-off spot3Ligue 3 18 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 4 promotion play-off spot↓ 3 relegation spots Semi-professional leagues4National 148 clubs divided into 3 groups ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 10 relegation spotsGroup A 16 clubsGroup B 16 clubsGroup C 16 clubs5National 2112 clubs divided into 8 groups = 14x8↑ 8 promotion spots ↓ 25 relegation spotsGroup A 14 clubsGroup B 14 clubsGroup C 14 clubsGroup D 14 clubsGroup E 14 clubsGroup F 14 clubsGroup G 14 clubsGroup H 14 clubs
Regional leagues As of the 2022–23 season, this is the structure of the amateur regional leagues, operating directly below the national leagues. LeaguesLevel 6Level 7Level 8Level 9Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3 Bourgogne-Franche-ComtéRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3 BretagneRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3 Centre-Val de LoireRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3 CorsicaRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3Régional 4Grand EstRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3Hauts-de-FranceRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3MéditerranéeRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3 NormandyRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3 Nouvelle AquitaineRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3OccitanieRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3Paris Île-de-FranceRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3Pays de la LoireRégional 1Régional 2Régional 3
Departmental leagues As of the 2019–20 season, this is the structure of the amateur departmental leagues, operating at various levels below the regional leagues.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13AinDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5AllierDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5CantalDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Drôme-ArdècheDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Haute-LoireDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Haute-Savoie-Pays de GexDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5IsèreDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5LoireDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Lyon Metropolis-RhôneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Puy-de-DômeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5SavoieDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Côte-d'OrDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Doubs-Territoire de BelfortDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Haute-SaôneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4JuraDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4NièvreDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Saône-et-LoireDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4YonneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Bretagne region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Côtes-d'ArmorDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 FinistèreDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Ille-et-VilaineDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5MorbihanDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Centre-Val de Loire region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13CherDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Eure-et-LoirDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 IndreDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Indre-et-LoireDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5LoiretDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Loir-et-CherDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Corsica region There are no district divisions in Corsica. The system in Corsica goes up to Régional 4.
Grand Est region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Level 14Level 15Level 16Level 17AlsaceDistrict 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9ArdennesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 AubeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3 Haute-MarneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 MarneDistrict 1District 2District 3District 4 Meurthe-et-MoselleDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4 MeuseDivision 1Division 2Division 3 MoselleDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4 VosgesDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4
Hauts-de-France region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Level 14Level 15AisneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 ArtoisDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Départemental 7Côte d'OpaleDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Départemental 7EscautDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Départemental 7FlandresDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Départemental 7OiseDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 SommeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Départemental 7
Provence Alpes-Cote d'Azur Region Departmental districts Level 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Alpes (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes)District 1District 2District 3 Côte d'Azur (Alpes-Maritimes)District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône)Départemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Grand VaucluseDistrict 1District 2District 3District 4 VarDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Normandy region Departmental districts Level 9Level 10Level 11Level 12CalvadosDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4EureDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4MancheDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4OrneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Seine-MaritimeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4
Nouvelle Aquitaine region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Level 14CharenteDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 Charente-MaritimeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 CorrèzeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 CreuseDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Deux-SèvresDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 Dordogne-Périgord (Dordogne)Départemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 GirondeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Haute-VienneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 LandesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Lot-et-GaronneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Pyrénées-AtlantiquesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 VienneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6
Occitanie region Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Level 14AriègeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 AudeDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 AveyronDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Haute-GaronneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 Hautes-PyrénéesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Gard-LozèreDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 GersDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3 HéraultDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 LotDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4 Pyrénées-OrientalesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 TarnDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4 Tarn-et-GaronneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5
Paris Île-de-France region Clubs in the arrondissements of Paris are divided between the three surrounding suburban districts. The District of Hauts-de-Seine includes 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th, the District of Seine-Saint-Denis has the 9th, 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 20th and the District of Val-de-Marne includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th and 13th. Departmental districtsLevel 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Level 14EssonneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 Hauts-de-SeineDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6Seine-et-MarneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Seine-Saint-DenisDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5 Val d'OiseDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 Val-de-MarneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 YvelinesDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Départemental 6
Pays de la Loire region Departmental districts Level 9Level 10Level 11Level 12Level 13Loire-AtlantiqueDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4Départemental 5Maine-et-LoirePremière DivisionDeuxième DivisionTroisième DivisionQuatrième DivisionCinquième DivisionMayenneDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 SartheDépartemental 1Départemental 2Départemental 3Départemental 4 VendéeDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4Division 5
Men (national leagues only) (2017-2024) National leagues Starting in 2017–18 there were changes at Levels 3 and 4 (in name only) and Level 5 (significant restructuring and rename). LevelLeague(s)/Division(s)Professional Leagues1Ligue 1 20 clubs2Ligue 2 20 clubsSemi-Professional League3National 18 clubsNon-Professional Leagues4National 1 group A 16 clubsNational 1 group B 16 clubsNational 1 group C 16 clubsNational 1 group D 16 clubs5National 3 Group Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 14 clubs National 3 Group Bourgogne-Franche-Comté 14 clubs National 3 Group Bretagne 14 clubs National 3 Group Centre-Val de Loire 14 clubs