National 1

The Championnat National, or simply "National," is France’s third-tier men’s football league. Founded in 1993 by the French Football Federation (FFF), it ranks below only Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 in the French football pyramid.

The league operates on a summer-to-spring schedule, typically running from August to May. It includes both professional and amateur clubs, though reserve teams are no longer eligible to participate.

A total of 18 teams compete in a double round-robin format, facing each other twice per season (once at home and once away) over 34 matches. The team with the most points is crowned champion and automatically promoted to Ligue 2. The runner-up also moves up, while the third-place team enters a two-legged playoff against the third-from-bottom team in Ligue 2 for a spot in the second division.

It's important to note that professional status is mandatory in Ligue 2, so amateur clubs may refuse promotion to maintain their status.

Conversely, the three bottom-placed teams are relegated to the Championnat National 2, France’s fourth-tier league. Any professional club that drops to the fourth tier automatically loses its professional status.

Over the years, the Championnat National has evolved, having initially featured a group stage in its first four seasons and consisting of 20 teams until it was reduced to 18 in 2013.

LB Châteauroux won the inaugural Championnat National title in 1993-94, while Clermont Foot became the first club to win multiple titles with their victory in 2006-07. Red Star FC also achieved success in the tournament, securing their first title in 2015 and adding two more by 2024.