Championnat National

Championnat National
Organising body	FFF
Founded	1993;32 years ago; 2026;1 year's time (as Ligue 3)
Country	France
Confederation	UEFA
Number of clubs	18
Level on pyramid	3
Promotion to	Ligue 2
Relegation to	Championnat National 2
Domestic cup(s)	Coupe de France
Current champions	Nancy (1st title) ; (2024–25)
Most championships	Red Star (3 titles)
Broadcaster(s)	Canal+ Sport
Website	Official site
	Current: 2025–26 Championnat National

Last updated July 11, 2025

The Championnat National (English: French National Championship), commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, is the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Contested by 18 clubs, the Championnat National operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Ligue 2 and the Championnat National 2, the fourth division of French football.

Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 34 games each, totalling 306 games in the season. Most games are played on Fridays and Saturdays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.

History

The National was founded in 1993 by the French Football Federation and served as a base league for clubs on the brink of becoming professional or falling to the amateur levels. The league is annually composed of professional and semi-professional clubs or amateur clubs. The matches in the league attract on average between 2,500 and 6,000 spectators per match.

On 16 January 2025, during a press conference, Philippe Diallo announced the creation of a professional Ligue 3 from the 2026–27 season.^[1]

Competition format

There are 18 clubs in the Championnat National. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion and promoted to Ligue 2. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship or for relegation, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The first and second place finisher are also promoted to the second division, while the three lowest placed teams are relegated to the Championnat National 2 and the three winners of the three groups from Championnat National 2 are promoted in their place until last season.

Current clubs

For the 2025–26 season.

Stadiums and locations

Aubagne

Fleury

Boulogne

Bourg-Péronnas

Le Puy

Concarneau

Dijon

Caen

Rouen

Sochaux

Location of teams in 2025–26 National

Club	Location	Venue	Capacity
Aubagne	Aubagne	Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny	1,000
Boulogne	Boulogne-sur-Mer	Stade de la Libération	9,534
Bourg-Péronnas	Bourg-en-Bresse	Stade Marcel-Verchère	11,400
Caen	Caen	Stade Michel d'Ornano	21,215
Concarneau	Concarneau	Stade Guy-Piriou [ fr ]	5,800
Dijon	Dijon	Stade Gaston Gérard	15,995
Fleury	Fleury-Mérogis	Stade Auguste Gentelet	2,000
Le Puy	Le Puy-en-Velay	Stade Charles Massot	4,800
Martigues	Martigues	Stade Francis Turcan	8,290
Orléans	Orléans	Stade de la Source	7,000
Paris 13 Atletico	Paris (Paris 13)	Stade Pelé	1,000
Quevilly-Rouen	Rouen	Stade Robert Diochon	8,372
Rouen	Rouen	Stade Robert Diochon	8,372
Sochaux	Montbéliard	Stade Auguste Bonal	20,005
Stade Briochin	Saint-Brieuc	Stade Fred-Aubert	11,000
Valenciennes	Valenciennes	Stade du Hainaut	25,172
Versailles	Versailles	Stade de Montbauron	7,545
Villefranche	Villefranche-sur-Saône	Stade Armand Chouffet	3,500