About 3. Liga

The 3. Liga is the third-tier football league in the German football league system, ranking below the Bundesliga (1st tier) and 2. Bundesliga (2nd tier).

League History

In its inaugural season (2008/09), among the top 10 teams in each of the two Regionaliga (regional league) divisions, the two best-performing reserve teams from Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs in each division were eligible to join the 3. Liga, with a maximum of 4 reserve teams allowed. If 4 or fewer reserve teams ranked in the top 10 across both divisions, all such reserve teams were eligible to join the 3. Liga regardless of their division. If more than 4 reserve teams featured in the top 10 of both divisions, and one division had fewer than 2 reserve teams in its top 10, the 4 reserve team spots in the 3. Liga were allocated to reserve teams from the latter division (if any) plus the highest-performing reserve teams from the former division. Play-offs to determine promotion spots were only required if teams were tied on points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head records, and away goals.

League Development

After the inaugural season, all reserve teams were granted the same promotion and relegation rights as other teams, in exchange for forfeiting their eligibility to participate in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup).

Within the German football league system, the 3. Liga sits between the 2. Bundesliga and the semi-professional Regionaliga. It is also the highest-level competition organized by the German Football Association (DFB) that reserve teams of German clubs are eligible to participate in.