![]() | This article needs to be updated.(January 2020) |
Founded | 2006 |
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Country | ![]() |
Number of clubs | 144 (in twelve groups) |
Level on pyramid | 5 |
Promotion to | Division 2 |
Relegation to | Division 4 |
Current: 2025 Swedish Football Division 3 |
Swedish men's football league structure |
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Allsvenskan (Tier 1) |
Superettan (Tier 2) |
Ettan (Tier 3) |
Division 2 (Tier 4) |
Division 3 (Tier 5) |
Division 4 (Tier 6) |
Division 5 (Tier 7) |
Division 6 (Tier 8) |
Division 7 (Tier 9) |
Division 8 (Tier 10) |
Division 3 is the fifth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 144 Swedish football teams. Division 3 had status as the official third level from 1928 to 1986, but was replaced by Division 2 in 1987. It then had status as the official fourth level until 2005, but was replaced once again as Division 1 was recreated in 2006.
Division 3 consists of 144 clubs, divided into 12 groups of 12 teams, each representing a geographical area. The season runs from April to October, with each club playing the others in its group twice—once at home and once away—for a total of 22 matches. The top team in each group is promoted to Division 2 , replacing the two lowest-placed teams from each Division 2 league. The second-placed teams in Division 3 compete in promotion/relegation play-offs against the third-lowest teams in Division 2.
Normally, at the end of each season the three lowest placed teams of each group are relegated to the regional Division 4 and thirty-six teams from the regional Division 4 leagues are promoted in their place while the fourth lowest placed teams in the Division 3 leagues plays promotion/relegation play-offs against teams in Division 4. There were a series of relegation/promotion play-offs at the end of the 2010 season. [1]
The Swedish Football Association (Swedish : Svenska Fotbollförbundet;SvFF) is responsible for the administration of Division 3.