 | |
| Organising body | FFF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Country | France |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Ligue 2 |
| Relegation to | Championnat National 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Coupe de France |
| International cup(s) | Europa League (via cups) |
| Current champions | Red Star (3rd title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Red Star (3 titles) |
| TV partners | Canal+ Sport |
| Website | Official site |
| Current: 2024–25 Championnat National | |
The Championnat National (English: French National Championship), commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, is the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Contested by 18 clubs, the Championnat National operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Ligue 2 and the Championnat National 2, the fourth division of French football.
Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 34 games each, totalling 306 games in the season. Most games are played on Fridays and Saturdays, 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 National was founded in 1993 by the French Football Federation and served as a base league for clubs on the brink of becoming professional or falling to the amateur levels. The league is annually composed of professional and semi-professional clubs or amateur clubs. The matches in the league attract on average between 2,500 and 6,000 spectators per match.