Association football is the most popular sport in France, followed by rugby union. 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 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 2006, the FFF had 2,143,688 licenses, with over 1,850,836 registered players and 18,194 registered clubs.
The Championnat National 2, commonly known as National 2 and formerly known as Championnat de France Amateur (CFA), is a football league competition. The league serves as the fourth tier of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the Championnat National. Contested by 64 clubs, the Championnat National 2 operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Championnat National and the Championnat National 3, the fifth division of French football. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in four groups playing 32 games each totalling 1280 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 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 168 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 twelve groups playing 26 games each totalling 2080 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.
FC Sète 34 is the current name of a French football club based in Sète and founded in 1901 as Olympique de Cette. The club has won the French league title twice and the French cup also twice. In 1934 they became the first club to win the French league and cup double. At the time, they were using the Georges-Bayrou Stadium. Until 1960, the club played a major role in the French football championship, but due to financial issues, it was forced to give up professional status. From the 1970s until 2005, the club played in secondary levels, before accessing Ligue 2 for one season after finishing at the 3rd rank of Championnat National.
Chamois Niortais Football Club is a French association football club based in the commune of Niort, in the Deux-Sèvres department of western France. It was founded in 1925 by Charles Boinot, the son of the owner of a local chamois leather factory. The club's home stadium is the Stade René Gaillard in Niort, which has a capacity of 10,898 although in the last 20 years attendances have generally averaged below 5,000 per match due to the club's relatively small fan base. Chamois Niortais has traditionally played in an entirely blue home strip, although away strips regularly differ.
Stade Briochin, founded in 1904, are a French association football team based in Saint-Brieuc, France. As from the 2020–21 season they play in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football league system. They play at the Stade Fred Aubert in Saint-Brieuc, which can hold 11,000 fans.
Athlétic Club Arlésien is a French association football club originally based in Arles. The club was founded in 1912 as a result of a merger and was formerly known as Athlétic Club Arles, but in 2010, moved to the nearby commune of Avignon and adopted its current name. Arles-Avignon last played in the Championnat de France Amateur, the fourth division in French football; it previously gained four promotions in five seasons to reach Ligue 1 in 2010.
Stade Bordelais ASPTT Football, known simply as Stade Bordelais, is the association football section of the French multi-sport club based in Bordeaux. The football section was created in 1889. They play at the Stade Sainte Germain, which has a capacity of 3,000 seated. They currently play in the Championnat National 3. The club's colours are black and white.
The Olympique Lyonnais Reserves & Academy are the reserve team and academy of French club Olympique Lyonnais. The reserves squad play in the Championnat de France amateur division, the fourth division of French football and the highest division the team is allowed to participate in. Lyon have won the reserves title of the Championnat de France amateur six times. They have won in 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2009, and 2010.
Football Club Villefranche-Beaujolais is a French association football club founded in 1927. They are based in Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhône-Alpes and play at the Stade Armand Chouffet in town. The team played one season in the second tier of French football during the 1980s. Since the 2018–19 season they play in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football league system.
Luçon Football Club is a French football club, located in Luçon. It was founded in 1924 as Stade Luçonnais. In 2003 it changed name to Vendée Luçon Football. In 2013 it rebranded to its current name. As of the 2017–18 season, the club plays in the Division Régionale Honneur of the Pays de la Loire regional league, at the eighth tier of French football.
Annecy Football Club is a French amateur football club based in the town of Annecy in Haute-Savoie. The team plays its home matches at the Parc des Sports, where the club and its predecessor have been based since 1964.
Stade Montois Football is a French association football club founded in 1921. They are based in the town of Mont-de-Marsan and their home stadium is the Stade de l'Argenté, which has a capacity of 6,000 spectators. As of the 2020–21 season, they play in the Championnat National 2.
Football Club de Versailles 78 is a French semi-professional association football club based in the commune of Versailles, Île-de-France. The club was formed in 1989 as the result of a merger between Racing Club Versailles and Companion Sports Versailles.
FC Balagne is a French football club based in L'Île-Rousse, Haute-Corse, Corsica. It was known as FB Île Rousse during the period between 2008 and 2018, and under other name prior to that. As of the 2020–21 season, the club play in Régional 1 Corsica, the sixth level of French football.
The 2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur is the 18th season of the fourth tier in the French football league system.
Voltigeurs de Châteaubriant is a French association football club based in the commune of Châteaubriant, Loire-Atlantique. As of the 2020–21 season the men's team competes in the National 2, the fourth tier of French football, having won promotion in the truncated 2019–20 season. The club plays their home matches at the Stade de la Ville en Bois, which has a capacity of 3,000.
GFA Rumilly-Vallières is a French football club based in Rumilly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The club currently plays in Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of the French football league system.
Football Club Vaulx-en-Velin are a French football club situated in Vaulx-en-Velin, in the Metropolis of Lyon. The club was formed in 1946 and plays its games at Stade Francisque-Jomard in the town.
The French Division 3 was the third tier in the French football pyramid, after the Division 1 and Division 2, from 1971 to 1993. Although it was succeeded by the Championnat National 2, the Championnat National became the new third division.
