First Division (La Liga): La Liga, along with the Second Division, is one of only two professional football categories in Spain, governed by the National Professional Football League (Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional). Other divisions fall under the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and regional federations.
Recognized as one of Europe’s top five leagues, La Liga ranks alongside the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.
Second Division: The Second Division, officially known as La Liga Hypermotion, is Spain’s second tier of professional soccer, organized by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. Currently comprising 22 teams, it serves as a pathway for clubs seeking promotion to La Liga. The season runs from August or September to May or June, featuring a 42-match round-robin format where teams earn 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. At the end of the season, the top two teams secure automatic promotion to La Liga, with a third team promoted through play-offs.
Third Level – RFEF 1st Division: The Third Division, governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), is the lowest tier of Spain’s national league system but remains highly competitive. It consists of 40 teams split into two groups of 20, each playing 38 matches in a round-robin format. Teams compete for promotion, with the top four from each group moving up to the Second Division, while the bottom five are relegated to the Second Federation.
Fourth Level – RFEF Second Division: The RFEF Second Division, also known as Segunda Federación, is the fourth tier of the Spanish football league system. It consists of 90 teams organized into five groups of 18. The league runs annually from late August or early September to May or June. The top two teams from each group earn promotion to the RFEF First Division, while the bottom five teams are relegated to the Third Division.
RFEF Third Division: The RFEF Third Division is the lowest tier in Spain’s soccer pyramid, featuring 18 groups of 18 teams each, totaling 324 teams. It is the largest division and consists of 36 matchdays where teams face each other twice. At season’s end, 27 teams earn promotion to the second division.
There are several divisions in women’s soccer, here are the key highlights:
Women’s First Division: The Primera División Femenina, now known as Liga F, highlights the growth of women’s soccer in Spain. It is the country’s only professional women’s league, featuring 16 teams that compete in a round-robin format, with each team playing twice against one another. The league champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, and prominent teams include Barcelona Women and Atletico Madrid Women.
First Women’s Federation: The Primera Federación is the second tier of women’s soccer in Spain, governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. It currently features 14 semi-professional teams. The top two teams are promoted to the Primera División, while the bottom two are relegated to the Segunda Federación.
Second Women’s Federation: The league consists of 32 teams divided into two groups of 16. Formerly known as the Women’s Second Division, it serves as the entry level to women’s elite soccer, providing young players opportunities for development and promotion. The champions of each group are automatically promoted to the Primera División RFEF for the following season.
First National Women’s League: The Primera Nacional Femenina is a crucial tier in Spanish women’s soccer that fosters emerging talent. It comprises 96 teams divided into six groups of 16. The top teams in each group are promoted to the Women’s Segunda Federación, while the bottom three teams, along with the two lowest-ranked 13th-placed teams, face relegation to regional leagues.
Regional Levels: The regional categories play a vital role in developing women’s football in Spain, offering local players valuable opportunities to grow and advance in the sport.
