2025–26 Championnat National 3

Championnat National 3
Season	2025–26
Dates	16 August 2025 – 16 May 2026
Promoted	Tarbes ; Poiré-sur-Vie ; Pontivy ; Racing Club ; Lille (res) ; ESTAC Troyes (res) ; Hauts Lyonnais ; Lyon La Duchère
Relegated	16 Teams + 1 Team dissolved
	← 2024–25 2026–27 (N2) →

The 2025–26 Championnat National 3 is the ninth and last season of the fifth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition is contested by 112 clubs split geographically across 8 groups of 14 teams. The teams include amateur clubs (although a few are semi-professional) and the reserve teams of professional clubs. The competition started on 16 August 2025 and ended on 16 May 2026.^[1] The fifth tier will keep its 8-group format for next season, but will be renamed to Championnat National 2, following the establishment of Ligue 3 for the 2026–27 season.^[2]

Teams

On 17 July 2025, the FFF ratified the constitution of the competition, and published the groups.^[3] Following Ajaccio's exclusion from national competitions, and ASPTT Dijon winning their appeal to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, the Burgundian team will take the Corsican reserve team's place in Group H.^[4]^[5]

Changes from the 2024–25 season were as follows:

Teams joining the division

Jura Sud, Anglet, Poiré-sur-Vie, Aubervilliers and Villers-Houlgate finished in relegation positions in 2024–25 Championnat National 2 (and weren't administratively relegated to regional leagues), FC Balagne was administratively relegated
13 teams gained promotion from the various Régional 1 leagues.^[6]

Teams promoted to Championnat National 3
Region	Team	Method of qualification
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Cestas	Champion, R1 Group B
Pays de la Loire	Les Sables-d'Olonne	Champion, R1 Group B
Centre-Val de Loire	Saran	Champion, R1 Centre-Val de Loire
Corse	Gazélec Ajaccio	Champion, R1 Corse
Méditerranée	Carnoux-en-Provence	Champion, R1 Méditerranée
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté	Chalon-sur-Saône	Champion, R1 Group B
Grand Est	Mulhouse	Champion, R1 Group C
Occitanie	Tarbes	Champion, R1 Group B
Hauts-de-France	Amiens (res)	Champion, R1 Group B
Normandy	Havre Caucriauville	Champion, R1 Group B
Brittany	Brest (res)	Champion, R1 Group A
Paris Île-de-France	Versailles (res)	Champion, R1 Group A
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes	Feurs	Champion, R1 Group A

Teams leaving the division

Bayonne, Chauray, Lorient (res), Borgo, Dieppe, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Saint-Maur, Colmar, Limonest and Rousset were champions of each group, and were promoted to 2024–25 Championnat National 2.
Trélissac, Stade Bordelais, Bordeaux (res), ESOF La Roche-sur-Yon, TA Rennes, Sablé, Flers, Plabennec, Saint-Lô, ASPTT Caen, Chatou, Grand-Quevilly, AG Caen, Lens (res), Sannois-Saint-Gratien, Calais, Valenciennes (res), Avoine Chinon, Moulon Bourges, Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, Vineuil, Montceau-les-Mines, Louhans-Cuiseaux, Gueugnon, Sarreguemines, Sarre-Union, Raon-l'Étape, Strasbourg Koenigshoffen, Chassieu, Clermont (res), Espaly-Saint-Marcel, Chambéry, Sud FC, Aigues-Mortes, Corte and EUGA Ardziv were relegated to Régional 1 for the 2025–26 season. AC Ajaccio (res) was relegated to lower leagues following the club's exclusion from national competitions^[7]^[5]

Name changes and fusion

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat became Riviera FC^[8]
Following Tours's dissolution, Ouest Tourangeau became UF Touraine^[9]
Relegated from National 2, Villers-Houlgate fused with and was absorbed by Trouville-Deauville. The new entity will compete as Trouville-Deauville-Villers.^[10]
Promoted from Régional 1, Saran altered its official denomination from USM Saran football to Saran FC.^[11]
Mâcon alters its official denomination from Union du Football mâconnais to Mâcon 71.^[12]

Promotion and relegation

If eligible, the top team in each group is promoted to Championnat National 1. If a team finishing top of the group is ineligible, or declines promotion, the next eligible team in that group is promoted.

This season a total of 24 teams will be relegated to Régional 1. This will result in teams finishing in the bottom three places being relegated.^[13] Initially, it was planned the worst eleventh was to be relegated, but the administrative relegation of AC Ajaccio changed that.^[14]

Reserve teams whose training centres are categorised as category 2B or lower cannot be promoted to Championnat National 2 by the rules of the competition.

League tables

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Tarbes (C, P)	26	14	8	4	52	26	+26	47^[a]	Promotion to National 1
2	Canet Roussillon	26	12	9	5	37	22	+15	45
3	Colomiers	26	13	6	7	47	42	+5	43^[b]
4	Onet-le-Château	26	11	6	9	41	41	0	39
5	Pau (res)	26	10	7	9	32	26	+6	37
6	Anglet (R)	26	12	7	7	41	28	+13	37^[c]	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
7	Bassin d'Arcachon	26	9	9	8	38	36	+2	36
8	Toulouse (res)	26	9	6	11	32	28	+4	33
9	Castanet	26	8	8	10	27	32	−5	32
10	Blagnac	26	8	8	10	35	34	+1	29^[d]
11	Lège Cap Ferret	26	6	10	10	38	53	−15	28
12	Cestas	26	6	10	10	22	38	−16	28
13	Agde (X)	26	6	6	14	23	43	−20	24	Relegation under conditions
14	Alberes Argelès (R)	26	5	6	15	24	40	−16	21	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation
Notes:

↑ Tarbes was deducted 3 points.
↑ Colomiers was deducted 2 points.
↑ Anglet was deducted 6 points.
↑ Blagnac was deducted 3 points.

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Poiré-sur-Vie (C, P)	26	17	6	3	45	24	+21	57	Promotion to National 1
2	UF Touraine	26	17	5	4	49	18	+31	56
3	Nantes (res)	26	15	6	5	37	20	+17	51
4	Challans	26	12	10	4	52	26	+26	46
5	La Châtaigneraie	26	10	9	7	40	43	−3	39
6	Fontenay	26	9	5	12	30	38	−8	32
7	Les Sables-d'Olonne (R)	26	9	5	12	39	40	−1	32	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
8	Panazol	26	11	3	12	36	35	+1	32^[a]
9	Châteauroux (res)	26	9	4	13	37	40	−3	31
10	Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu	26	8	6	12	32	44	−12	30
11	Vertou	26	7	7	12	32	38	−6	28
12	Chauvigny	26	4	12	10	30	42	−12	24
13	Angers (res) (E)	26	4	8	14	23	37	−14	20	Dissolved reserve team
14	Châtellerault (D)	26	4	6	16	21	58	−37	18	Demoted to Régional 2

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (D) Relegated then demoted administratively; (E) Dissolved; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

↑ Panazol was deducted 4 points.

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Pontivy (C, P)	26	16	8	2	42	24	+18	56	Promotion to National 1
2	Vire	26	15	8	3	41	17	+24	53
3	Vitré	26	9	12	5	27	24	+3	39
4	Laval (res)	26	12	3	11	31	25	+6	39
5	Guingamp (res)	26	10	5	11	36	33	+3	35
6	Cesson-Sévigné (R)	26	9	7	10	35	30	+5	34	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
7	Lannion	26	8	9	9	34	31	+3	33
8	Brest (res)	26	8	8	10	29	31	−2	32
9	Milizac	26	8	8	10	27	34	−7	32
10	Alençon	26	7	9	10	39	53	−14	30
11	Rennes (res)	26	6	11	9	32	26	+6	29
12	Vannes	26	8	7	11	32	39	−7	29^[a]
13	Ergué-Gabéric (X)	26	7	8	11	28	43	−15	26^[b]	Relegation under conditions
14	Fougères (R)	26	4	7	15	20	43	−23	18^[c]	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation
Notes:

↑ Vannes was deducted 2 points.
↑ Ergué-Gabéric was deducted 3 points.
↑ Fougères was deducted 1 point.

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Racing Club (C, P)	26	16	8	2	54	21	+33	56	Promotion to National 1
2	Aubervilliers	26	13	8	5	34	24	+10	47
3	SC Bastia (res)	26	12	7	7	44	30	+14	43
4	Linas-Montlhéry	26	11	8	7	46	37	+9	41
5	Versailles (res)	26	11	5	10	39	33	+6	38
6	Chartres (R)	26	10	8	8	45	38	+7	38	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
7	Oissel	26	11	5	10	29	35	−6	38
8	Sainte-Geneviève	26	10	2	14	37	40	−3	32
9	Trouville-Deauville-Villers	26	7	8	11	27	37	−10	29
10	Brétigny	26	7	7	12	31	39	−8	28
11	SM Caen (res)	26	8	5	13	27	36	−9	28^[a]
12	Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône	26	7	7	12	28	51	−23	28
13	Dives-Cabourg (X)	26	6	8	12	32	41	−9	26	Relegation under conditions
14	Havre Caucriauville (R)	26	7	6	13	26	37	−11	23^[b]	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation
Notes:

↑ SM Caen (res) was deducted 1 point.
↑ Havre Caucriauville was deducted 4 points.

Group E

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Lille (res) (C, P)	26	15	3	8	56	34	+22	48	Promotion to National 1
2	Croix	26	14	4	8	37	20	+17	46
3	Pays du Valois	26	13	7	6	42	26	+16	45^[a]
4	Charleville Prix-lès-Mézières (R)	26	12	5	9	29	28	+1	40^[b]	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
5	Vimy	26	11	6	9	40	33	+7	39
6	Saint-Quentin	26	10	7	9	28	26	+2	37
7	Drancy	26	10	5	11	43	38	+5	35
8	Gazélec Ajaccio	26	9	7	10	32	36	−4	34
9	Metz (res)	26	10	3	13	38	42	−4	33
10	FC Balagne	26	9	6	11	27	29	−2	33
11	Neuilly-sur-Marne	26	8	7	11	29	42	−13	31
12	Pays de Cassel (D)	26	7	8	11	29	44	−15	29	Demoted to Régional 2
13	Amiens (res) (X)	26	8	5	13	31	44	−13	29	Relegation under conditions
14	Reims (res) (R)	26	5	9	12	21	40	−19	20^[c]	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (D) Relegated then demoted administratively; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation
Notes:

↑ Pays du Valois was deducted 1 point.
↑ Charleville Prix-lès-Mézières was deducted 1 point.
↑ Reims (res) was deducted 4 points.

Group F

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	ESTAC Troyes (res) (C, P)	26	15	6	5	54	32	+22	51	Promotion to National 1
2	Thonon Évian	26	13	7	6	43	31	+12	46
3	Chalon-sur-Saône	26	12	9	5	41	29	+12	45
4	Racing Besançon	26	11	10	5	38	24	+14	43
5	Jura Dolois (R)	26	12	6	8	37	31	+6	42	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
6	Torcy	26	10	7	9	32	30	+2	37
7	Pontarlier	26	9	9	8	38	31	+7	36
8	Ivry	26	9	8	9	26	29	−3	35
9	Thaon	26	9	5	12	44	42	+2	32
10	Belfort	26	7	9	10	37	34	+3	30
11	Mulhouse	26	8	6	12	35	46	−11	30
12	RC Strasbourg (res)	26	7	7	12	28	48	−20	28
13	Sochaux (res) (X)	26	7	6	13	37	44	−7	27	Relegation under conditions
14	Besançon Football (R)	26	2	7	17	18	57	−39	13	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation

Group G

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Hauts Lyonnais (C, P)	26	17	7	2	48	20	+28	58	Promotion to National 1
2	Mâcon	26	16	6	4	52	23	+29	54
3	Dijon (res)	26	10	10	6	44	35	+9	40
4	Romorantin	26	9	10	7	42	30	+12	37
5	Orléans (res)	26	10	6	10	39	37	+2	36
6	Auxerre (res)	26	9	8	9	31	31	0	35
7	Saran (R)	26	9	7	10	42	45	−3	34	Administrative relegation to Régional 1
8	Vierzon	26	10	3	13	42	53	−11	33
9	Feurs	26	7	11	8	42	46	−4	32
10	Chamalières	26	8	6	12	33	35	−2	30
11	Saint-Étienne (res)	26	7	9	10	28	35	−7	30
12	Moulins Yzeure	26	7	8	11	26	45	−19	29
13	Jura Sud (X)	26	7	5	14	25	41	−16	26	Relegation under conditions
14	Cosne-sur-Loire (R)	26	4	8	14	26	44	−18	20	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation

Group H

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Lyon La Duchère (C, P)	26	16	4	6	54	30	+24	52	Promotion to National 1
2	Fos-sur-Mer	26	15	6	5	53	31	+22	51
3	Alès	26	16	4	6	56	27	+29	50^[a]
4	Bourgoin-Jallieu	26	13	8	5	36	25	+11	47
5	Marseille (res)	26	12	6	8	39	25	+14	42
6	Cannet Rocheville	26	10	6	10	34	33	+1	36
7	Montpellier (res)	26	11	2	13	35	45	−10	35
8	Riviera FC	26	9	6	11	32	36	−4	33
9	Beaucaire	26	9	6	11	27	35	−8	33
10	Lucciana	26	8	8	10	36	34	+2	32
11	Olympique Lyonnais (res)	26	7	8	11	37	50	−13	29
12	ASPTT Dijon	26	5	8	13	27	43	−16	23
13	Seyssinet-Pariset (X)	26	6	3	17	37	58	−21	21	Relegation under conditions
14	Carnoux-en-Provence (R)	26	4	7	15	37	68	−31	15^[b]	Relegation to Régional 1

Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Possible relegation
Notes:

↑ Alès was deducted 2 points.
↑ Carnoux-en-Provence was deducted 4 points.

Season outcomes

Promotion

Tarbes, Poiré-sur-Vie, Pontivy, Racing Club, Lille (res), ESTAC Troyes (res), Hauts Lyonnais and Lyon La Duchère were champions of each group, and were promoted to 2026–27 Championnat National 1.

Relegation

A total of 16 teams were relegated, and 8 teams might be relegated, depending on administrative decisions:

Group A

Anglet (administrative relegation), Agde (under conditions), Alberes Argelès

Group B

Les Sables-d'Olonne (administrative relegation), Angers (res) (dissolution), SO Châtellerault (demotion to R2)

Group C

Cesson-Sévigné (administrative relegation), Ergué-Gabéric (under conditions), Fougères

Group D

Chartres (administrative relegation), Dives-Cabourg (under conditions), Havre Caucriauville

Group E

Charleville Prix-lès-Mézières (administrative relegation), Pays de Cassel (demotion to R2), Amiens (res) (under conditions), Reims (res)

Group F

Jura Dolois (administrative relegation), Sochaux (res) (under conditions), Besançon Football

Group G

Saran (administrative relegation), Jura Sud (under conditions), Cosne-sur-Loire

Group H

Seyssinet-Pariset (under conditions), Carnoux-en-Provence

References

↑ "Le calendrier 2025-2026 dévoilé" (in French). FFF. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
↑ Jérôme Bouchacourt (22 April 2026). "Le National 2 et le National 3 vont changer de nom". footamateur.ouest-france.fr (in French).
↑ Frédéric Sougey (17 July 2025). "Les groupes de National 3 pour la saison 2025-2026". footamateur.ouest-france.fr (in French).
↑ Jérôme Bouchacourt (August 11, 2025). "La FFF va réintégrer l'ASPTT Dijon en National 3 !". footamateur.ouest-france.fr (in French). Ouest France. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
1 2 Jérôme Bouchacourt (August 14, 2025). "Quelles sont les conséquences de la chute de l'AC Ajaccio ?". footamateur.ouest-france.fr. Ouest France. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
↑ "Régional 1 : tous les promus en National 3" (in French). Foot National. 23 June 2024.
↑ Jérôme Bouchacourt (August 13, 2025). "DNCG. L'AC Ajaccio est exclu des compétitions nationales !". footamateur.ouest-france.fr. Ouest France. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
↑ "OFFICIEL : Le club dont est actionnaire Hugo Lloris, Villefranche Saint-Jean Beaulieu change de nom" (in French).
↑ "Club métropolitain : l'Union Foot de Touraine est née" (in French).
↑ "La fusion entre l'AS Trouville-Deauville et l'AS Villers validée" (in French).
↑ "Nom, logo, staff technique, joueurs : à Saran, le club de football change tout, sauf ses ambitions" (in French).
↑ "Football - National 3. L'UF Mâconnais change de nom pour s'appeler Mâcon 71". www.lejsl.com (in French). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
↑ "REGLEMENT DU CHAMPIONNAT DE NATIONAL 3 2025-2026" (PDF) (in French). FFF. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
↑ "Le nombre de descentes en National 2 et National 3 modifié" (in French). Foot Amateur. 30 August 2025.

[table_hth_TPF0.15684481438102-15] Tarbes was deducted 3 points.

[table_hth_UCO0.15684481438102-16] Colomiers was deducted 2 points.

[table_hth_LGA0.15684481438102-17] Anglet was deducted 6 points.

[table_hth_BFC0.15684481438102-18] Blagnac was deducted 3 points.

[table_hth_ASP0.53615995335214-19] Panazol was deducted 4 points.

[table_hth_VOC0.54032118503951-20] Vannes was deducted 2 points.

[table_hth_PEG0.54032118503951-21] Ergué-Gabéric was deducted 3 points.

[table_hth_USF0.54032118503951-22] Fougères was deducted 1 point.

[table_hth_SMC0.49726001848339-23] SM Caen (res) was deducted 1 point.

[table_hth_HCS0.49726001848339-24] Havre Caucriauville was deducted 4 points.

[table_hth_UPV0.52782393178336-25] Pays du Valois was deducted 1 point.

[table_hth_OCP0.52782393178336-26] Charleville Prix-lès-Mézières was deducted 1 point.

[table_hth_SDR0.52782393178336-27] Reims (res) was deducted 4 points.

[table_hth_OAC0.88500326959649-28] Alès was deducted 2 points.

[table_hth_CFC0.88500326959649-29] Carnoux-en-Provence was deducted 4 points.

[1] "Le calendrier 2025-2026 dévoilé" (in French). FFF. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2026.

[2] Jérôme Bouchacourt (22 April 2026). "Le National 2 et le National 3 vont changer de nom". footamateur.ouest-france.fr (in French).

[3] Frédéric Sougey (17 July 2025). "Les groupes de National 3 pour la saison 2025-2026". footamateur.ouest-france.fr (in French).

[ASPTT-12août-4] Jérôme Bouchacourt (August 11, 2025). "La FFF va réintégrer l'ASPTT Dijon en National 3 !". footamateur.ouest-france.fr (in French). Ouest France. Retrieved August 12, 2025.

[ACA-2-5] 1 2 Jérôme Bouchacourt (August 14, 2025). "Quelles sont les conséquences de la chute de l'AC Ajaccio ?". footamateur.ouest-france.fr. Ouest France. Retrieved August 15, 2025.

[6] "Régional 1 : tous les promus en National 3" (in French). Foot National. 23 June 2024.

[ACA-exclu-7] Jérôme Bouchacourt (August 13, 2025). "DNCG. L'AC Ajaccio est exclu des compétitions nationales !". footamateur.ouest-france.fr. Ouest France. Retrieved August 13, 2025.

[8] "OFFICIEL : Le club dont est actionnaire Hugo Lloris, Villefranche Saint-Jean Beaulieu change de nom" (in French).

[9] "Club métropolitain : l'Union Foot de Touraine est née" (in French).

[10] "La fusion entre l'AS Trouville-Deauville et l'AS Villers validée" (in French).

[11] "Nom, logo, staff technique, joueurs : à Saran, le club de football change tout, sauf ses ambitions" (in French).

[M71-12] "Football - National 3. L'UF Mâconnais change de nom pour s'appeler Mâcon 71". www.lejsl.com (in French). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

[13] "REGLEMENT DU CHAMPIONNAT DE NATIONAL 3 2025-2026" (PDF) (in French). FFF. Retrieved 7 July 2026.

[14] "Le nombre de descentes en National 2 et National 3 modifié" (in French). Foot Amateur. 30 August 2025.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[a]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[a]

[b]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[a]

[b]