 | |
| Organising body | FFF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Country | France |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 154 |
| Level on pyramid | 5 |
| Promotion to | Championnat National 2 |
| Relegation to | Régional 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Coupe de France |
| International cup(s) | Europa League (via domestic cup) |
| Website | fff.fr/championnats |
| Current: 2024–25 Championnat National 3 | |
The Championnat National 3, commonly referred to as simply National 3 and formerly known as Championnat de France Amateur 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fifth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, Championnat National, and the Championnat National 2. Usually contested by 154 clubs, the Championnat National 3 operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Championnat National 2 and the regional leagues of the Division d'Honneur, the sixth division of French football. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in eleven groups playing 26 games each totalling 2002 games in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.
The competition was founded in 1993 as National 3 and lasted for five years before being converted to Championnat de France Amateur 2 in 1998. In 2017 the FFF reorganised amateur football and the restructured 5th level again became Championnat National 3. Some clubs that participate in the league are semi-professional. The matches in the league attract on average between 200 and 400 spectators per match.