Tercera Federación
Organising bodyRFEF
Founded6 May 2020 (2020-05-06)
First season2021–22
CountrySpain
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams324 (since 2023–24)
Level on pyramid5
Promotion toSegunda Federación
Relegation toDivisiones Regionales
Domestic cup(s)Copa del Rey
Copa Federación
International cup(s)UEFA Europa League
(via winning Copa del Rey)
TV partnerstvG2, laOtra, PTV Córdoba
Current: 2023–24 Tercera Federación
Groups of Tercera Federación

Tercera Federación, previously known as Tercera RFEF, is the fifth tier of the Spanish football league system. It is below the La Liga, Segunda División, and its fellow semi-professional divisions Primera Federación and Segunda Federación.[1] It was founded in 1929 as the third tier, and dropped down to the fourth and fifth tiers in 1977 and 2021, respectively.

History

On 6 May 2020, the RFEF announced the creation of a new, two-group, 40-team third division called Primera División RFEF, which made the former third and fourth divisions, Segunda División B and Tercera División, respectively, to drop down a level and change into Segunda División RFEF and Tercera División RFEF; the changes were made effective for the 2021–22 campaign.[2][3]

In July 2022, the division was renamed into Tercera Federación.[4]

Current format

The Tercera Federación features 18 regional groups (like the former fourth tier Tercera División), corresponding to the autonomous communities of Spain (due to its size, Andalusia is divided into two groups, East and West; Ceuta is allocated to West Andalusia, while Melilla is allocated to the East), where each group is administered by a regional football federation. At the end of the season the first four teams in each group qualify for promotion play-offs to decide which teams are promoted to Segunda Federación. At least the three teams finishing bottom of each group may be relegated to the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol. However the number of teams relegated can vary. The eighteen group champions also qualify for the following season's Copa del Rey. However reserve teams are ineligible. Along with teams from Segunda Federación, the remaining teams from the division compete in the Copa Federación.

Group Region Relegation
1 Galicia Preferente de Galicia
2 Asturias Preferente de Asturias
3 Cantabria Preferente de Cantabria
4 Basque Country Basque lower levels
5 Catalonia and Andorra Lliga Elit
6 Valencian Community Preferente Comunidad Valenciana
7 Community of Madrid Preferente de Madrid
8 Castile and León Primera División Regional
9 Eastern Andalusia and Melilla División de Honor Andaluza Gp 2
10 Western Andalusia and Ceuta División de Honor Andaluza Gp 1
11 Balearic Islands Preferente
12 Canary Islands Interinsular Preferente
13 Region of Murcia Preferente de Murcia
14 Extremadura Primera Extremeña
15 Navarre Preferente de Navarra
16 La Rioja Preferente de La Rioja
17 Aragon Preferente de Aragón
18 Castile-La Mancha Preferente de Castilla-La Mancha

Teams

The member clubs of the Tercera Federación for the 2023–24 season are listed below.

Group Teams
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
Group 10
Group 11
Group 12
Group 13
Group 14
Group 15
Group 16
Group 17
Group 18

Winners and promotions

All group champions are promoted to Segunda Federación. Administrative promotions not included in this table.

SeasonI
X		II
XI		III
XII		IV
XIII		V
XIV		VI
XV		VII
XVI		VIII
XVII		IX
XVIII
2021–22PolvorínOviedo VetustaGimnástica TorrelavegaAlavés BManresaValencia MestallaAtlético Madrid BGuijueloJuventud Torremolinos
RecreativoMallorca BAtlético PasoYeclanoDiocesanoAtlético CirboneroArnedoDeportivo AragónGuadalajara
Other promoted teams: Ourense CF (I), Beasain (IV), Olot (V), Atlético Saguntino (VI), Alcorcón B (VII), Utrera (X), Cartagena B (XIII), Alfaro (XVI), Utebo (XVII)
2022–23Deportivo FabrilCovadongaCayónBarakaldoEuropaOrihuelaUrsariaArandinaMarbella
Atlético AntonianoAndratxMensajeroÁguilasLlerenenseEgüésNáxaraRobresManchego
Other promoted teams: Racing Villalbés (I), Sant Andreu (V), Torrent (VI), Getafe B (VII), El Palo (IX), Penya Independent (XI), San Fernando (XII), La Unión Atlético (XIII), Illescas (XVIII)

    References

    1. ↑ "La R.F.E.F. comunica las novedosas bases de competición para la próxima temporada en Tercera División" [The RFEF communicates the new competition rules for the next season in the Third Division]. VTV (in Spanish). 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
    2. ↑ "Comunicado de la RFEF en relación con las competiciones no profesionales del fútbol español" (in Spanish). RFEF. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
    3. ↑ "La Federación desvela el misterio: La nueva Segunda B se denominará Primera División RFEF". ABC (in Spanish). 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
    4. ↑ "Resolución inscripción de equipos en Competiciones oficiales de ámbito estatal y carácter no profesional de la RFEF" (PDF) (in Spanish). RFEF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
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