French Football Championship (Ligue 1)

The French football championship (Ligue 1) is the top division of professional football in France. The tournament brings together the best football clubs in the country. Furthermore, it is considered to be one of the most prestigious European championships. Moreover, Ligue 1 is renowned for its high standard of play, talented scorers and exciting matches.

Official website

French Ligue 1 2026/27

Championship Dates and Venue

The 2026/27 Ligue 1 season starts on August 21, 2026. The opening match of the new championship is Marseille vs. Strasbourg. In the same matchweek, Paris Saint-Germain will host Rennes.

The final, 34th round will take place on May 29, 2027. The final two matchweeks will be played simultaneously. The winter break will begin after the 14th round in December, with the championship resuming in early January 2027.

Before the start of the championship, the Trophée des Champions was held on August 16 — the official season-opening match between French champions PSG and Coupe de France winners Lens.

2026/27 Season Participants

The following 18 clubs will compete in Ligue 1 this season:

Angers
Auxerre
Brest
Le Havre
Lens
Le Mans
Lille
Lorient
Lyon
Marseille
Monaco
Nice
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris FC
Rennes
Strasbourg
Toulouse
Troyes

Troyes won Ligue 2 and returned to the top flight after three seasons away. Le Mans secured the second automatic promotion spot to Ligue 1.

Main Title Favorites

The main favorite for the season is once again Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisian club won the 2025/26 championship, securing its fifth consecutive title and 14th French championship overall.

PSG's main competitors in the title race are expected to be:

Lens — the 2025/26 Ligue 1 runners-up and Coupe de France winners;
Marseille — one of PSG's traditional rivals;
Lille — third-place finishers in the previous championship;
Lyon — one of the most successful French clubs of the past few decades;
Monaco — a traditional contender for the top positions, although the club finished only seventh in the 2025/26 season.

Particular attention will be paid to the rivalry between PSG and Lens. In the 2025/26 season, Lens emerged as PSG's main challenger and finished second in the league.

Key Players of the Season

Among the players who could have the biggest impact on the title race are:

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) — one of the key players in the Parisian club's attacking line.
Désiré Doué (PSG) — a young French talent who continues to develop with the reigning champions.
Mason Greenwood (Marseille) — one of Marseille's most dangerous attacking players.
Pedro Gonçalves — an example of a player associated with the French football market through the development of young talent and the European transfer market. However, current squad lists should be checked separately before publication.

Club squads and individual player statuses can change during the transfer window, so the list of key players should be updated before publication to ensure accuracy.

History of the French Football Championship

The first professional French championship was held in the 1932/33 season. Since then, the competition has undergone several format and naming changes. The modern name Ligue 1 has been used since 2002, while the top division was previously known as Division 1.

Over the history of the championship, titles have been won by many famous clubs, including Saint-Étienne, Marseille, Lyon, Monaco, Bordeaux, Lille and Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG has enjoyed the greatest success in the modern era. In May 2026, the Parisian club officially won its 14th French championship, becoming champions for five consecutive seasons.

Historically, Saint-Étienne and Marseille have also won a significant number of French league titles and remain two of the most important clubs in French football.

Ligue 1: Key Features and What Makes It Unique

One of Ligue 1's defining characteristics is the ability of French clubs to consistently develop young players who go on to become global football stars. France is considered one of the most important sources of football talent for Europe's leading leagues.

The league is also known for strong competition for European qualification. Alongside PSG, clubs such as Lens, Marseille, Lille, Monaco, Lyon and Rennes have regularly competed for positions near the top of the table in recent seasons.

In the 2025/26 season, PSG won the championship, Lens finished second, while Lille finished third, returning to the Ligue 1 podium for the first time since 2021. Monaco, meanwhile, finished seventh.

Ligue 1 Results in Recent Seasons

Year	Country	Champion
2025/26	France	PSG
2024/25	France	PSG
2023/24	France	PSG

In the 2025/26 season, Paris Saint-Germain once again became French champions. The club secured the title after defeating Lens 2–0 and ultimately claimed its 14th championship.

Lens finished second, while Lille finished third, returning to the Ligue 1 podium for the first time since 2021.

French Ligue 1 2027/28

The 2026/27 season promises to be just as exciting. The fixture schedule and league table for the 2027/28 season will be published on the official Ligue 1 website closer to the start of the new campaign. Many clubs will already be preparing for the transfer window, looking to strengthen their squads and compete for the title.