French football league system

The French football league system 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 and Ligue 2. Below that are a number of leagues run by the Fédération Française de Football. At level 3 is the semi-professional Championnat National. Below that is the amateur Championnat de France amateur (level 4), which is divided into four parallel regional divisions, followed by the Championnat de France amateur 2 (level 5), which is divided into eight parallel regional divisions. Underneath that are many more regional 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.

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

1

Ligue 1
20 clubs

2

Ligue 2
20 clubs

3

National
18 clubs

4

CFA groupe A
16 clubs

CFA groupe B
16 clubs

CFA groupe C
16 clubs

CFA groupe D
16 clubs

5

CFA2 groupe A
14 clubs

...
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