Ligue 2
Ligue 2 (French pronunciation: [liɡ dø], League 2), also known as Ligue 2 BKT due to sponsorship by Balkrishna Industries, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with both Ligue 1 and the third division Championnat National. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 38 games each, totalling 380 games in the season. Most games are played on Fridays and Mondays, with a few games played during weekday and weekend evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.
| Organising body | Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1933 (officially) 2002 (as Ligue 2) |
| Country | France |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 20 (18 from 2024–25) |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Ligue 1 |
| Relegation to | Championnat National |
| Domestic cup(s) | Coupe de France |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Europa League (via cups) |
| Current champions | Le Havre (6th title) (2022–23) |
| Most championships | Le Havre (6 titles) |
| TV partners | beIN Sports Téléfoot |
| Website | Ligue2.fr (in French) |
| Current: 2023–24 Ligue 2 | |
Ligue 2 was founded a year after the creation of the first division in 1933 under the name Division 2 and has served as the second division of French football ever since. The name lasted until 2002 before switching to its current name. Since the league is a part of the LFP, it allows clubs who are on the brink of professionalism to become so.