Leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation
The Portuguese
football league system consists of several leagues bound together hierarchically by
9️⃣ promotion and relegation. Reserve teams are allowed to compete in the main league
system, as is the case with most 9️⃣ of Europe. However, they are not allowed to compete in
the same tier as their senior team, thus no reserve 9️⃣ team has ever competed in
Portugal's top flight, the Primeira Liga.
Men's league system [ edit ]
The Portuguese
men's football league 9️⃣ system consists of four national divisions and up to four
district leagues (depending on the district).
National leagues [ edit ]
All 9️⃣ four
national divisions provide access to the Portuguese Cup. The first two leagues are
operated by the Portuguese Professional Football 9️⃣ League, and they also guarantee
participation in the Portuguese League Cup. Lastly, the third and fourth divisions are
divided into 9️⃣ two and four leagues respectively and are the only divisions operated by
the Portuguese Football Federation. The federation announced the 9️⃣ creation of Liga 3
(League 3) for 2024–22.[1][2]
Level League(s)/Division(s) 1 Liga Portugal
18 clubs ↓↑ 2
clubs + 1 club play-off 9️⃣ 2 Liga Portugal 2
18 clubs ↓↑ 2 clubs + 1 club play-off 3 Liga
3
20 clubs divided into 2 groups 9️⃣ Serie A
10 clubs Serie B
10 clubs ↓↑ 4 clubs 4
Campeonato de Portugal
56 clubs divided into 4 groups Serie A
14 9️⃣ clubs Serie B
14 clubs
Serie C
14 clubs Serie D
14 clubs ↓↑ 20 clubs
District leagues [ edit ]
District
leagues are operated 9️⃣ by 22 District Associations: 18 from each district, plus 1 from
Madeira Islands, and 3 from Azores Islands (western, central 9️⃣ and eastern groups). The
winner of each district league is promoted to the fourth national tier, the Campeonato
de Portugal. 9️⃣ Moreover, all district leagues provide access to their correspondent
district cup, and the winner of the district cup, along with 9️⃣ the second-placed team in
the district league, is allowed to participate in the next season's Portuguese Cup. The
bottom tier 9️⃣ of each association is open to any new club or reserve team based on that
district.
Women's league system [ edit 9️⃣ ]
The Portuguese women's football league system
consists of three national divisions and no district leagues.
All divisions provide
access to the 9️⃣ Women's Portuguese Cup and are operated by the Portuguese Football
Federation. The second and third divisions are divided in series 9️⃣ by geographical
proximity.
Level League(s)/Division(s) 1 Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino
12
clubs ↓↑ 1 club + 2 clubs play-off 2 Campeonato 9️⃣ Nacional de Futebol Feminino II
Divisão
16 clubs divided into 2 groups Serie North
8 clubs Serie South
8 clubs ↓↑ 4
clubs 9️⃣ 3 Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino III Divisão
71 clubs divided into 12
groups Serie A
6 clubs Serie B
6 clubs Serie 9️⃣ C
6 clubs Serie D
6 clubs Serie E
6 clubs
Serie F
6 clubs Serie G
6 clubs Serie H
6 clubs Serie I
6 clubs 9️⃣ Serie J
6 clubs Serie
L
6 clubs Serie M
5 clubs
See also [ edit ]
