Liga 3 (Portugal)

The Liga 3 is the third-level football league in the Portuguese football league system, starting in 2021–22. It is a professional national league organized by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

Liga 3
Organising bodyFPF
Founded2021 (2021)
CountryPortugal
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams20 (since 2023–24)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toLiga Portugal 2
Relegation toCampeonato de Portugal
Domestic cup(s)Taça de Portugal
Current championsUnião de Leiria (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsTorreense
União de Leiria (1 title)
Current: 2023–24 Liga 3

The creation of this league is part of a restructuring of the Portuguese third tier, with Campeonato de Portugal, which saw the number of teams reduced, being relegated to fourth tier and the top teams competing there advancing to this new competition. In its first season, a total of 24 teams competed in the Liga 3, 2 of which were relegated from 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2 and 22 others which were promoted from 2020–21 Campeonato de Portugal. This number is set to be reduced to 20 teams from the 2023–24 season.[1][2][3]

Format

This competition consists of a first stage with all the teams then proceed to a promotion or relegation series depending on their performance.[4]

First Stage

In the first stage, the 20 clubs are divided in two series (Serie A and B) of 10 teams, according to geographic criteria. In each series, teams play against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system. The four best-placed teams of the two series will advance to the promotion series and bottom six teams will proceed to the relegation series.

Promotion Stage

The eight qualified teams of each series are divided in one serie playing against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system. The winners of each series will be automatically promoted to Liga Portugal 2 and will face each other in a neutral venue to determine the champion. The second best placed teams will face each other in a playoff, whose winner will face the 16th placed of Liga Portugal 2 for the last spot in Liga Portugal 2. On this stage teams will be divided as follows.

Promotion Series
1st A
2nd A
3rd A
4th A
1st B
2nd B
3rd B
4th B

Relegation Stage

The bottom 12 teams are divided in two series of 6 teams, playing against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system. To account for their performance in the first stage, teams will start with bonification points, with 5th placed teams starting with 8 points and 10th placed teams starting with 1. The bottom two teams of each series will be relegated to Campeonato de Portugal.

Relegation Series
Serie 1Serie 2
5th A5th B
6th B6th A
7th B7th A
8th A8th B
9th A9th B
10th B10th A

Seasons - league tables
Decade 1st 2nd 3rd
2020s: — 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

List of champions
Season Championship Final
Champions Score Runners-up Final venue
2021–22 Torreense 1–1 (a.e.t.), (5–4 p) Oliveirense Estádio Nacional, Jamor
2022–23 União de Leiria 1–0 Belenenses
2023–24

Performance by club
Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runner-up seasons
Torreense 1 0 2021–22 –
União de Leiria 1 0 2022–23 –
Oliveirense 0 1 – 2021–22
Belenenses 0 1 – 2022–23

See also

References
  1. "Plano de reestruturação para o terceiro escalão". FPF (in European Portuguese). 6 May 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. "Conhecido o formato da Liga 3". FPF (in European Portuguese). 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. "Everything You Need to Know About Liga 3". Próxima Jornada. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. "Como vai funcionar a Liga 3? Eis a explicação". Zero Zero (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-29.
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