Torneo Federal A

The Torneo Federal A Is one of two football competitions that function as the Third Football League in Argentina. This competition was created in 2014 because of the changes applied to the football ladder in that country, leading to this competition replacing the Torneo Argentino A, as was known previously. The Torneo Federal A Is organized by a branch of the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino known as the Consejo Federal. All clubs in this category are considered semiprofessional and located outside Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area.

The Torneo Federal A is played annually by 38 football teams divided into four zones. Ten teams play two of those zones, while the other two have nine teams. Each zone is contested on a double round-robin format, giving 18 teams access to the Championship Stage (five from each 10-team zone and four from each of the nine-team zones).

Once in the Championship Stage, teams are divided into two nine-club zones, each facing opponents once. The teams that finish in the first two spots of each zone enter the fourth stage, which operates as a semi-final, resulting in two clubs fighting for the title and promotion to the Primera Nacional.

All teams eliminated from the preliminary stage get a second chance to gain promotion by entering the Torneo Revalida. All clubs are paired up against one of their rivals in a two-legged format until only two are left in the race. The winner of the Torneo Revalida enters a promotion playoff against a team from the Primera B Metropolitana. Like other football leagues, the competition also has a relegation phase. This is determined by the aggregate table of the first stage and the Torneo Revalida. Those teams that finish in the final spots of each zone in those tournaments get relegated to the Torneo Regional Federal Amateur, which means up to eight teams get the drop each year.

Some of the top football clubs to play in this category over the years include Central de Córdoba, Guillermo Brown, Atlético Paraná, San Martín de Tucumán, and Talleres de Córdoba, among others. The tournament also gives the teams involved a chance to play in the subsequent edition of the Copa Argentina. However, the number of spots to play in that competition is determined randomly by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).