Ligue 1
The top tier of French professional football.
Ligue 1, officially known as Ligue 1 McDonald's for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in France and the highest level of the French football league system. Administered by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, Ligue 1 is contested by 18 clubs and operates on a system of promotion and relegation from and to Ligue 2. Seasons run from August to May. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings.
- Country
- France
- Tier
- Top Division
- Governing Body
- Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP)
- Game Franchise
- FIFA Series
- Format
- Round-robin league system
- Champions League Qualification
- Available to top finishers
Lore & Background
Ligue 1 was inaugurated on 11 September 1932 under the name National before switching to Division 1 after a year of existence. It continued to operate under that name until 2002, when it adopted its current name. Ligue 1 ranks fifth in the UEFA coefficient rankings as of 2025–26 based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons, behind England's Premier League, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga and Germany's Bundesliga. PSG are the most successful club, with 14 league titles, and the current defending champions as of the 2026–27 season.
In Their Own Story
The rain slicks the pitch at Parc des Princes as the final whistle approaches. The scoreboard flickers, showing a narrow lead for the home side against their city rivals. In the FIFA interface, the stamina bars of key midfielders are critically low, forcing a tactical substitution. The crowd noise swells to a deafening roar, vibrating through the virtual stadium as a counter-attack begins down the left flank.
Reader's Guide
There are 18 clubs in Ligue 1. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.
Did You Know?
- The league's inaugural season was held in 1932–1933 under the name National.
- The first final was held on 14 May 1933, with Olympique Lillois crowned champions after a 4–3 victory.
- During World War II, football was suspended by the French government, and the LFP and FFF do not recognise championships won from 1939–1945.
- Olympique Lyonnais won 7 consecutive titles from 2002 to 2008, an unprecedented run in French football.
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