Championnat National (English: French National Championship), also known as National or Division 3, is the third division of French football behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. It is contested by 17 clubs and runs on a system of promotion and relegation with Ligue 2, the second division of French football and the Championnat National 2, the fourth division of French football.
| Organising body | French Football Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Country | France |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 17 (for 2024–25) |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Ligue 2 |
| Relegation to | Championnat National 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Coupe de France |
| Current champions | Red Star (3rd title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Red Star (3 titles) |
Format
changeThe league contains 17 clubs, runs from August to May and each club plays the other teams twice, home and away playing a total of 32 games. Teams will receive three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat. Teams are ranked by total points, then head to head, then goal difference and then goals scored. At the end of the season the teams that finish first and second are promoted to Ligue 2. The team that finishes third in the Championnat National goes into a play-off with the team that finishes sixteenth in Ligue 2 for a place in the second division. The teams that finish sixteenth and seventeenth are relegated to the Championnat National 2.
Current clubs
changeList (2024–25 season)
change- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Finishing position last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aubagne | Aubagne | Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny | 1,000 | 1st in Championnat National 2, Group A (promoted) |
| Boulogne | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Stade de la Libération | 9,534 | 1st in Championnat National 2, Group C (promoted) |
| Bourg-Péronnas | Bourg-en-Bresse | Stade Marcel-Verchère | 11,400 | 1st in Championnat National 2, Group D (promoted) |
| Châteauroux | Châteauroux | Stade Gaston Petit | 17,173 | 12th |
| Concarneau | Concarneau | Stade Guy-Piriou | 5,800 | 19th in Ligue 2 (relegated) |
| Dijon | Dijon | Stade Gaston-Gérard | 15,995 | 4th |
| Le Mans | Le Mans | Stade Marie-Marvingt | 25,000 | 5th |
| Nancy | Nancy | Stade Marcel Picot | 20,087 | 6th |
| Nîmes | Nîmes | Stade des Antonins | 8,033 | 11th |
| Orléans | Orléans | Stade de la Source | 7,000 | 10th |
| Paris 13 Atletico | Paris | Stade Pelé | 995 | 1st in Championnat National 2, Group B (promoted) |
| Quevilly-Rouen | Rouen | Stade Robert Diochon | 12,018 | 18th in Ligue 2 (relegated) |
| Rouen | Rouen | Stade Robert Diochon | 12,018 | 7th |
| Sochaux | Montbéliard | Stade Auguste Bonal | 20,005 | 8th |
| Valenciennes | Valenciennes | Stade du Hainaut | 25,172 | 20th in Ligue 2 (relegated) |
| Versailles | Paris | Stade Jean-Bouin | 19,904 | 9th |
| Villefranche | Villefranche-sur-Saône | Stade Armand Chouffet | 3,500 | 13th |
