France/Ligue 3: multiple innovations for the new professional league launched by the FFF in 2026-27

The French Football Federation will implement several innovations in Ligue 3, the new professional league that will replace National 1 from the 2026-27 season onwards, the FFF announced on 12 May 2026.

Among these innovations:
• Broadcasting on LFP Media’s Ligue 1+ platform with a featured match on Thursday evenings at 20:45 and a multiplex on Saturdays at 15:00.
• A federal budget of €12.3m in 2026-27 (compared with €5.8m in 2025-26), 70% of which will be redistributed directly to clubs, with aid capped at €450,000 per club and unprecedented relegation support.
• The use of the “Football Video Support”, a lighter video assistance system than the VAR system used in Ligue 1 McDonald's, which will allow coaches to use two challenges per match to request a video review for incidents falling within the scope of the VAR protocol, in addition to the introduction of a fourth referee.
• New financial regulation mechanisms from the 2027-28 season onwards, notably through the implementation of a wage-to-revenue ratio, a “luxury tax” and advance funding of losses at the start of the season.
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