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Ligue 1

France’s top division since 1932, cut from 20 to 18 clubs in 2023–24 and run by the LFP under the FFF — Paris Saint-Germain the 2025–26 champions with a fifth straight title, and a league that now broadcasts itself after its DAZN deal collapsed.
✓ Last reviewed: September 2026
SportSoccer — men, top division (France)
Founded1932 — inaugurated 11 September 1932 as the “National”; Ligue 1 since 2002
Clubs18 (since 2023–24) — 34 matchdays; two relegated to Ligue 2 plus a playoff for the 16th-placed club
ChampionParis Saint-Germain — 2025–26 (76 points, 6 clear of Lens; 14th title, fifth straight)
OrganizerLigue de Football Professionnel (LFP), under the FFF

What is Ligue 1?

Ligue 1 is the top division of French men’s football: 18 clubs playing 34 matchdays for the national title and France’s European places. The Ligue de Football Professionnel runs it, and Ligue 2, under the Fédération Française de Football; the competition is sold as Ligue 1 McDonald’s after the title sponsor that replaced Uber Eats in 2024–25.[1] [3]

How does it work?

A double round-robin decides the champion, who enters the Champions League league phase; the bottom two go down to Ligue 2 and the 16th-placed club plays a two-leg playoff against the winner of the Ligue 2 playoffs. In 2025–26 Nantes and Metz were relegated, Nice kept its place by beating Saint-Étienne 4–1 on aggregate, and Troyes and Le Mans came up. The 89th season runs from 21 August 2026 to 29 May 2027 with a winter break from 12 December to 2 January and the last two rounds played simultaneously.[2] [5] [8]

Since when does it exist?

The professional championship was inaugurated on 11 September 1932 as the “National”, became Division 1, and was renamed Ligue 1 in 2002. The league contracted from 20 to 18 clubs in 2023–24, relegating four and promoting two the season before. Paris Saint-Germain have won nine of the ten titles to 2025–26, Lille’s 2020–21 championship the exception, and the 2019–20 title was awarded when the season was halted by the pandemic.[3] [4]

SeasonPool / FormatHost cities
2025–26Paris Saint-Germain76 points, 6 clear of Lens — clinched 13 May 2026; 14th title, fifth straight
2024–25Paris Saint-GermainRunner-up Marseille
2023–24Paris Saint-GermainRunner-up Monaco
2022–23Paris Saint-GermainRunner-up Lens
2021–22Paris Saint-GermainRunner-up Marseille
2020–21LilleRunner-up Paris Saint-Germain
2019–20Paris Saint-GermainSeason halted by the pandemic; title awarded — runner-up Marseille
2018–19Paris Saint-GermainRunner-up Lille
2017–18Paris Saint-GermainRunner-up Monaco
2016–17MonacoRunner-up Paris Saint-Germain

Champions of the last ten seasons.

Why does it matter?

France was fifth in UEFA’s men’s association ranking on 28 December 2025 (75.534 points), completing the five leagues that the FA’s Governing Body Endorsement criteria place in Band 1. The 2025–26 season drew 8,385,849 spectators over 306 matches. Its broadcast economy is the story of the decade: the DAZN domestic deal was terminated by mutual agreement in April 2025 and the LFP launched its own Ligue 1+ service for 2025–26.[3] [5] [6] [7]

References

  1. Ligue 1 — official site. Accessed September 2026.
  2. LFP — The 2026/27 Ligue 1 McDonald’s calendar is released. Accessed September 2026.
  3. Wikipedia — Ligue 1 (background). Accessed September 2026.
  4. Wikipedia — List of French football champions (background). Accessed September 2026.
  5. Wikipedia — 2025–26 Ligue 1 (background). Accessed September 2026.
  6. UEFA — UEFA rankings 2025: which teams and nations are on top?. Accessed September 2026.
  7. The FA — Men's Players Governing Body Endorsement criteria 2025/26 (PDF). Accessed September 2026.
  8. Wikipedia — 2026–27 Ligue 1 (background). Accessed September 2026.