The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to the hierarchically interconnected league system for association football in Germany that in the 2016–17 season consisted of 2,235 leagues in up to 13 levels having 31,645 teams, in which all divisions are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation.
The top three professional levels contain one division each. Below this, the semi-professional and amateur levels have progressively more parallel divisions, which each cover progressively smaller geographic areas. Teams that finish at the top of their division at the end of each season can rise higher in the pyramid, while those that finish at the bottom find themselves sinking further down. Therefore, in theory, it is possible for even the lowest local amateur club to rise to the top of the system and become German football champions one day. The number of teams promoted and relegated between the divisions varies, and promotion to the upper levels of the pyramid is usually contingent on meeting additional criteria, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances.
Structure The German football league system is held under the jurisdiction of the nationwide German Football Association and its professional body German Football League, along with its five regional associations and their 21 state associations.
On top of the system sits the level one 1. Bundesliga and the level two 2. Bundesliga, both organized by the professional German Football League. The two top flights are then followed by the level three 3. Liga, the lowest full professional division in Germany, organised by the German Football Association itself.
The professional level four Regionalliga is divided into 5 regional divisions, these typically organised by one or two of the five regional associations of the German Football association, these being the Northern German Football Association, the Northeastern German Football Association, the Western German Football Association, the Southwestern Regional Football Association and the Southern German Football Association. For Bavaria, the Bavarian Football Association, a member state association of the Southern German Football Association, runs their top division under their own jurisdiction.
Starting at level five, the various fully amateur divisions are usually governed by the 21 state associations. For the North East German Football Association and Southwestern Regional Football Association, both regional bodies still run the level five divisions under their jurisdiction. Their state member associations' pyramids therefore start at level six.
Level DivisionProfessional Leagues 1 1. Bundesliga18 teams↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation play-off spot 2 2. Bundesliga18 teams↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion play-off spot↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation play-off spot 3 3. Liga20 teams↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion play-off spot↓ 4 relegation spotsNon-Professional Leagues 4 Regionalliga Nord18 teams↑ 1 promotion spot or promotion play-off spot↓ 2 to 4 relegation spots Regionalliga Nordost18 teams↑ 1 promotion spot or promotion play-off spot↓ 1 to 5 relegation spots Regionalliga West18 teams↑ 1 promotion spot↓ 1 to 4 relegation spots Regionalliga Südwest18 teams↑ 1 promotion spot↓ 3 to 6 relegation spots Regionalliga Bayern20 teams↑ 1 promotion spot or promotion play-off spot↓ 2 to 4 relegation spots+ 2 relegation play-off spots 5 Hamburgstate league system↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
Bremenstate league system↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
Schleswig-Holsteinstate league system↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
Lower Saxonystate league system↑ 1 promotion spot+ 1 promotion playoff spot 2 divisions ofNOFV-Oberliga33 teams↑ 2 promotion spots↓ 5 to 11 relegation spotsLower Rhinestate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Middle Rhinestate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Westphaliastate league system↑ 2 promotion spots Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar19 teams↑ 1 to 2 promotion spots↓ 3 to 6 relegation spots
Oberliga Baden-Württemberg18 teams ↑ 1 promotion spot↓ 3 to 6 relegation spots
Hessestate league system↑ 1 promotion spot2 divisions inBavariastate league system↑ 2 promotion spots+ 2 promotion playoff spots 6 Mecklenburg-Western Pomeraniastate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Brandenburgstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Berlinstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Saxony-Anhaltstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Thuringiastate league system↑ 1 promotion spot
Saxonystate league system↑ 1 to 2 promotion spots Rhinelandstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot toOberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar
Saarlandstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot toOberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar
Southweststate league system↑ 1 promotion spot toOberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar
Badenstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot+ 1 promotion playoff spot toOberliga Baden-Württemberg
South Badenstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot+ 1 promotion playoff spot toOberliga Baden-Württemberg
Württembergstate league system↑ 1 promotion spot+ 1 promotion playoff spot toOberliga Baden-Württemberg
Federal association league system
After each season, the winners of the Bundesliga are crowned German football champions. The bottom two Bundesliga teams are relegated to 2. Bundesliga, whereas the champion and runner-up of 2. Bundesliga are promoted to the top flight. Additionally, the third-last ranked team of Bundesliga and the third-best ranked team of 2. Bundesliga plays a promotion/relegation playoff for the final spot in the next Bundesliga edition. The bottom two 2. Bundesliga teams are relegated to 3. Liga, whereas the champion and runner-up of 3. Liga are promoted to the second flight. Additionally, the third-last ranked team of 2. Bundesliga and the third-best ranked team of 3. Liga plays a promotion/relegation playoff for the final spot in the next 2. Bundesliga edition. The bottom four teams of 3. Liga are relegated to Regionalliga.
Regional association league systems
Whereas the professional first three levels of the German football league system each are single division only and are organised by nationwide governing bodies, the semi-professional level four Regionalliga comprises five independent divisions, each run by different regional and/or state associations.
Three regional bodies, being the Northern German Football Association, the North East German Football Association and the Western German Football Association, each run a division under their sole jurisdiction, these being the corresponding Regionalliga Nord, the Regionalliga Nordost and the Regionalliga West. The two regional bodies Southwestern Regional Football Association and Southern German Football Association share the jurisdiction on the Regionalliga Südwest. Finally, the Bavarian Football Association, although being just a subordinate state association to the superior Southern German Football Association, runs the Regionalliga Bayern, by far the largest single state football association in Germany.
As an exception to the regular promotion rules within the German league system, not all champions of each Regionalliga division are granted automatic promotion. Instead only the Regionalliga West and Southwest each provide a fixed direct promotion. Another direct promotion place is assigned according to a rotation principle among the Regionalliga Nord, Nordost, and Bayern champions. The representatives from the remaining two Regionalligen determine the fourth promoted club in two-legged playoffs.
Northern Germany
The Northern German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga Nord on top. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions and the Regionalliga Südwest runner-up for three promotions to the 3. Liga.
Below the regional association's league system, the four state association league systems of the Bremen Football Association, the Hamburg Football Association, the Lower Saxony Football Association and the Schleswig-Holstein Football Association work as feeders to the Regionalliga.
Northeastern Germany
The Northeastern German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga Nordost on top. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions and the Regionalliga Südwest runner-up for three promotions to the 3. Liga.
Below the regional association's league system, the six state association league systems of the Berlin Football Association, the Brandenburg State Football Association, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Football Association, the Saxony Football Association, the Saxony-Anhalt Football Association and the Thuringian Football Association work as feeders to the Oberliga.
Western Germany
The Western German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga West on top. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions and the Regionalliga Südwest runner-up for three promotions to the 3. Liga.
Below the regional association's league system, the three state association league systems of the Lower Rhine Football Association, the Middle Rhine Football Association and the Westphalian Football and Athletics Association work as feeders to the Regionalliga.
Southwestern Germany
The Southwestern Regional Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga Südwest on top, which is held under joint jurisdiction along with the Southern German Football Association. The champions and the runner-up enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions for three promotions to the 3. Liga. By rule, the champions and the runner-up will not face each other in the promotion playoffs.
Below the regional association's league system, the three state associations league systems of the Rhineland Football Association, the Saarland Football Association and the Southwest German Football Association work as feeders to the Oberliga.
Southern Germany
The Southern German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Hessen and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga Südwest, which is held under joint jurisdiction along with the Regional Football Association South West respectively with the Regionalliga Bayern. The champions and the runner-up of the Regionalliga Südwest and the champions of the Regionalliga Bayern enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the three other Regionalliga divisions for three promotions to the 3. Liga.
Below the regional association's league system, the five state association league systems of the Baden Football Association, the Bavarian Football Association, the Hessian Football Association, the South Baden Football Association and the Württembergian Football Association work as feeders to the Regionalliga.
State association league systems