Association football is the most popular sport in France. In 2024, 53% of people in France declared an interest in football, with 26% being very interested. The French Football Federation is the national governing body and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of association football in the country, both professional and amateur. The federation organizes the Coupe de France and is responsible for appointing the management of the men's, women's, and youth national football teams in France. The federation gives responsibility of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) who oversee, organize, and manage the country's top two leagues. The LFP is also responsible for organizing the Coupe de la Ligue, the country's league cup competition. The French Football Federation also supervises the overseas departments and territories leagues and hosts football club AS Monaco, a club based in the independent sovereign state of Monaco. In 2022, the FFF had 2.1 million licensees, 1.8 million players and 14,000 registered clubs, the second highest number of registered players in Europe after Germany.
The Championnat National, 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.
The Championnat National 3, commonly referred to as simply National 3 and formerly known as Championnat de France Amateur 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fifth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, Championnat National, and the Championnat National 2. Usually contested by 154 clubs, the Championnat National 3 operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Championnat National 2 and the regional leagues of the Division d'Honneur, the sixth division of French football. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in eleven groups playing 26 games each totalling 2002 games in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, 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.
The Algerian Ligue 2, also called Ligue 2, formerly known as Ligue Professionnelle 2 and Championnat National 2, is the second highest division overall in the Algerian football league system. Administered by the Ligue Nationale du Football Amateur, it is contested by 32 clubs, divided into two groups with the two champions of each group promoted to Ligue Professionnelle 1 and the bottom 3 teams of each group relegated to the Inter-Régions Division. It was professional from 2010 to 2020.
The 2009–10 Championnat de France Amateurs season was the 12th edition of the competition since its establishment. The competition officially began on 8 August 2009 and ended in May 2010. The competition consisted of 73 clubs spread into four parallel groups of 18 with one of the groups containing 19 clubs. It is open to reserve teams in France and amateur clubs in France, although only the amateur clubs are eligible for promotion to the Championnat National. The highest-placed amateur team in each pool are promoted, replaced by the four lowest-placed in the Championnat.
The 2009–10 Championnat de France Amateurs 2 season was the 12th edition of the competition since its establishment. The competition officially began on 15 August and ended in May 2010. The competition consisted of 128 clubs spread into 8 parallel groups of 16. It was open to reserve teams in France and amateur clubs in France, however, unlike the preceding league Championnat de France amateur, both the reserve and amateur clubs are eligible for promotion to the next league, the Championnat de France amateur. The highest-placed team in each pool are promoted, replaced by the 3 lowest-placed in the Championnat de France amateur.
The 2010–11 season is the 78th season of competitive professional football in France. The league season began on 6 August 2010 for the Championnat National and Ligue 2 and on 7 August for Ligue 1 and the Championnat de France amateur. The season concluded on 26 May 2011 for Ligue 2, 27 May for the Championnat National, and 28 May for Ligue 1 and the Championnat de France amateur. The men's France national team began play on 11 August contesting a friendly match against Norway, while the women continued their quest for qualification to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup by facing Iceland on 21 August.
The 2010–11 Championnat de France amateur 2 was the 13th edition since its establishment. The reserves of Metz were the defending champions. Due to the elongated appeals process involving each clubs' eligibility, the groups and fixtures were unveiled to the public on 15 July 2010 and the season began on 21 August and ended on 4 June 2011. There were 22 promoted teams from the regional leagues of the Division d'Honneur, replacing the 22 teams that were relegated from the Championnat de France amateur 2 following the 2009–10 season. A total of 130 teams competed in the league with 22 clubs suffering relegation to the sixth division, the Division d'Honneur. All non-reserve clubs that secured league status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.
The 2011–12 Championnat National season was the 14th since its establishment. The previous season's champions was Bastia. The league schedule was announced on 16 May 2011 and the fixtures were determined in July. The season began on 6 August 2011 and ended on 26 May 2012. The winter break was in effect from 23 December to 6 January.
The 2011–12 Championnat de France amateur season was the 14th since its establishment. Gazélec Ajaccio was the previous season's club champions, while the reserve team of professional club Lyon were the defending reserve team champions. The teams and groups was announced on 18 July 2011 and the fixtures were determined on 28 July. The season began on 13 August 2011 and ended on 2 June 2012. The winter break was in effect from 23 December to 6 January.
Raphaël Calvet is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ligue 2 club Martigues.
The 2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur is the 18th season of the fourth tier in the French football league system.
The 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur 2 will be the 19th season of the fifth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition will be contested by 112 clubs split geographically across 8 groups of 14 teams each. The teams include amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs.
The 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur was the 19th season of the fourth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition was contested by 64 clubs split geographically across 4 groups of 16 teams each. The teams included amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs.
The 2018–19 Championnat National 3 is the second season of the fifth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition is due to be contested by 168 clubs split geographically across 12 groups of 14 teams. The teams include amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs.
The 2019–20 Championnat National 3 was the third season of the fifth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition was contested by 168 clubs split geographically across 12 groups of 14 teams. The teams included amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs. The season was suspended indefinitely on 12 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020–21 Championnat National 3 is the fourth season of the fifth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition is contested by 168 clubs split geographically across 12 groups of 14 teams. The teams include amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs.
The Championnat National U19 is the highest tier of under-19 football in France. Organized by the French Football Federation, it is contested by 56 clubs that are split into 4 groups.
The 2022–23 Championnat National 2 was the 25th season of the fourth tier in the French football league system in its current format. This season the competition was contested by 64 clubs split geographically across four groups of 16 teams. The teams included amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs. The competition started on 20 August 2022 and completed on 3 June 2023.
The 2022-23 Championnat National 3 is the sixth season of the fifth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition is contested by 168 clubs split geographically across 12 groups of 14 teams. The teams include amateur clubs and the reserve teams of professional clubs. The competition starts on 28 August 2022 and is scheduled to end on 4 June 2023.
