Ligue 1 adopts an 18-club format for 2025-26

Ligue 1 will operate with 18 clubs in the 2025-2026 season, establishing the structure of France’s top division for the campaign ahead. The change concerns the size of the championship itself and will shape the league programme for every team competing at the highest domestic level.

The 18-club field places the competition within a clearly defined framework before the season begins. Paris Saint-Germain will enter as defending champions, while Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg are among the clubs already appearing in the early Ligue 1 schedule. The format therefore provides the setting for the title race and for the battles involving the rest of the division, without changing the identity of the teams taking part.

The new campaign will also retain the Ligue 1 McDonald’s branding. Decathlon will supply the official balls for both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 for a fourth successive season. The 2025-2026 models use the same technology as the previous versions and carry a design linked to the visual identity of the French championship.

The 18-club format is now the central reference point for the coming Ligue 1 season. It will apply as the division moves into its 2025-2026 programme, with the competition’s clubs preparing for a campaign that includes the defending champions and established sides such as Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg. The structure is set; the sporting hierarchy will be decided on the pitch.