{{Short description|Spanish association football league}} {{Infobox football league | logo = Tercera Federación.svg | upright = 0.7 | country = Spain | other countries = | confed = UEFA | founded = {{start date and age|2020|5|6|df=y}} | first = 2021–22 | teams = 320 (2021–22)<br/>288 (2022–23)<br/>324 (2023–24, 2025–26)<br/>325 (2024–25) | promotion = Segunda Federación | relegation = Divisiones Regionales | organiser = RFEF | levels = 5 | domest_cup = Copa del Rey<br>Copa Federación | champions = | tv = tvG2, laOtra, PTV Córdoba | season = | current = 2025–26 Tercera Federación }} thumb|350px|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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videoluctv.net/la-r-f-e-f-comunica-las-novedosas-bases-de-competicion-para-la-proxima-temporada-en-tercera-division/|trans-title=The RFEF communicates the new competition rules for the next season in the Third Division|language=es|title=La R.F.E.F. comunica las novedosas bases de competición para la próxima temporada en Tercera División|date=15 September 2020|work=VTV|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813152250/http://www.videoluctv.net/la-r-f-e-f-comunica-las-novedosas-bases-de-competicion-para-la-proxima-temporada-en-tercera-division/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 caused 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.<ref name=rfef>{{cite web|url=https://www.rfef.es/noticias/comunicado-rfef-relacion-competiciones-no-profesionales-del-futbol-espanol|publisher=RFEF|date=6 May 2020|title=Comunicado de la RFEF en relación con las competiciones no profesionales del fútbol español|language=es|access-date=22 May 2020|archive-date=16 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816104806/https://rfef.es/noticias/comunicado-rfef-relacion-competiciones-no-profesionales-del-futbol-espanol|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=La Federación desvela el misterio: La nueva Segunda B se denominará Primera División RFEF |url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-federacion-desvela-misterio-nueva-segunda-denominara-primera-division-rfef-202009141930_noticia.html |access-date=18 September 2020 |work=ABC |date=15 September 2020 |lang=es |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010081048/https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-federacion-desvela-misterio-nueva-segunda-denominara-primera-division-rfef-202009141930_noticia.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2022, the division was renamed '''Tercera Federación'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rfef.es/sites/default/files/sanciones/resolucionnoprofesional_20.pdf|title=Resolución inscripción de equipos en Competiciones oficiales de ámbito estatal y carácter no profesional de la RFEF.|publisher=RFEF|language=es|accessdate=22 July 2022|archive-date=22 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722192042/https://www.rfef.es/sites/default/files/sanciones/resolucionnoprofesional_20.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
==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.
{| class="wikitable" |- !Group !Region !Relegation |- |1 |Galicia |Preferente Futgal |- |2 |Asturias |Primera Asturfútbol |- |3 |Cantabria |Regional Preferente |- |4 |Basque Country |División de Honor |- |5 |Catalonia and Andorra |Lliga Elit |- |6 |Valencian Community |Lliga Comunitat |- |7 |Community of Madrid |Primera División Autonómica |- |8 |Castile and León |Primera Regional |- |rowspan="2"|9 |{{Interlanguage link multi|Eastern Andalusia|es|3=Andalucía Oriental}} |División de Honor – Group 2 |- |Melilla |Primera Autonómica |- |rowspan="2"|10 |{{Interlanguage link multi|Western Andalusia|es|3=Andalucía Occidental}} |División de Honor – Group 1 |- |Ceuta |Regional Preferente |- |11 |Balearic Islands |División de Honor |- |12 |Canary Islands |Interinsular Preferente |- |13 |Region of Murcia |Preferente Autonómica |- |14 |Extremadura |Primera División Extremeña |- |15 |Navarre |Primera Autonómica |- |16 |La Rioja |Regional Preferente |- |17 |Aragon |Regional Preferente |- |18 |Castile-La Mancha |Primera Autonómica Preferente |}
==Teams== The member clubs of the Tercera Federación for the 2025–26 season are listed below. <!--This section uses the teams filled within their respective groups' template. To change this, edit the matching template accordingly.--> {| class="wikitable" style="width: 99% !important;" |- !style="width: 10%;"|Group !Teams |- |align="center"|'''Group 1''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 1|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 1|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 2''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 2|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 2|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 3''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 3|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 3|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 4''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 4|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 4|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 5''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 5|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 5|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 6''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 6|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 6|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 7''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 7|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 7|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 8''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 8|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 8|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 9''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 9|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 9|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 10''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 10|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 10|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 11''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 11|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 11|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 12''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 12|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 12|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 13''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 13|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 13|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 14''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 14|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 14|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 15''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 15|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 15|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 16''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 16|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 16|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 17''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 17|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 17|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |- |align="center"|'''Group 18''' |{{Tercera Federación Group 18|border=none|state=expanded|abovestyle=display:none;|title=Group 18|titlestyle=display:none;|list2style=display:none;}} |}
==Winners and promotions== All group champions are promoted to Segunda Federación. Administrative promotions not included in this table. {|class=wikitable style="font-size:85%; width: 99%;" |- ! Season !! I<br/>X !! II<br/>XI !! III<br/>XII !! IV<br/>XIII !! V<br/>XIV !! VI<br/>XV !! VII<br/>XVI !! VIII<br/>XVII !! IX<br/>XVIII |- | rowspan=3|2021–22 || Polvorín || Oviedo Vetusta || Gimnástica Torrelavega || Alavés B || Manresa || Valencia Mestalla || Atlético Madrid B || Guijuelo || Juventud Torremolinos |- | Recreativo || Mallorca B || Atlético Paso || Yeclano || Diocesano || Atlético Cirbonero || Arnedo || Deportivo Aragón || Guadalajara |- | colspan=9|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) |- | rowspan=3|2022–23 || Deportivo Fabril || Covadonga || Cayón || Barakaldo || Europa || Orihuela || Ursaria || Arandina || Marbella |- | Atlético Antoniano || Andratx || Mensajero || Águilas || Llerenense || Egüés || Náxara || Robres || Manchego |- | colspan=9|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) |- | rowspan=3|2023–24|| Bergantiños || Llanera || Escobedo || Vitoria || Olot || Elche Ilicitano || Real Madrid C || Real Ávila || Juventud Torremolinos |- | Xerez || Ibiza Islas Pitiusas || Tenerife B || Minera || Don Benito || Subiza || UD Logroñés B || Ejea || Conquense |- | colspan=9|Other promoted teams: Laredo (III), Moscardó (VII), Salamanca (VIII), Almería B (IX), Xerez Deportivo (X), Mallorca B (XI), Unión Sur Yaiza (XII), Coria (XIV), Anguiano (XVI) |- | rowspan=3|2024–25|| UD Ourense || Oviedo Vetusta || Sámano || Basconia || Reus FCR || Castellón B || Alcalá || Atlético Astorga || Atlético Malagueño |- | Puente Genil || Poblense || Las Palmas Atlético || Lorca Deportiva || Extremadura || Mutilvera || Náxara || Ebro || Quintanar del Rey |- | colspan=9|Other promoted teams: Sarriana (I), Lealtad (II), Beasain (IV), Girona B (V), Rayo Vallecano B (VII), Burgos Promesas (VIII), Jaén (IX), Porreres (XI), Socuéllamos (XVIII), Atlètic Lleida ({{abbr|A|administrative}}) |- |} {{reflist|group="N"}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.rfef.es Official RFEF Site] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081228013841/http://usuarios.lycos.es/arefe/ Group for Spanish Football Statistics Compilation] {{In lang|es}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20010905115652/http://www.geocities.com/terceramaniacos/tercerad.htm Map of Regions used in 2000-01] {{Football in Spain}} {{Tercera Federación}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tercera Federacion}} Category:Tercera Federación Category:2021 establishments in Spain 5 Spa Category:Royal Spanish Football Federation competitions Category:Sports leagues established in 2021