History of Ligue 1 in Timeline
Ligue 1 is the top-tier professional football league in France. Governed by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, it features 18 clubs competing in a promotion and relegation system with Ligue 2. The season spans from August to May, with each team playing 34 matches against every other team, both home and away. Matches primarily occur on weekends, with occasional weekday evening games. There is a two week break in play over the Christmas period.
1929: Amateur League
Until 1929, the first division of French football was contested through an amateur league.
July 1930: Vote for Professionalism
In July 1930, the National Council of the French Football Federation (FFF) voted in favor of adopting professionalism.
September 1932: Ligue 1 Inauguration
In September 1932, Ligue 1 was inaugurated under the name National.
September 1932: Professionalism Implemented
In September 1932, professionalism was officially implemented in French football.
1932: League Foundation
From its foundation in the 1932-33 season, 74 clubs have played in Ligue 1.
1932: Ligue 1 championships
There are 75 teams that have taken part in 88 Ligue 1 championships that were played from the 1932–33 season until the 2025–26 season.
May 1933: First Final
On 14 May 1933, the first final was held between Olympique Lillois and Cannes, with Lillois crowned the inaugural champions after a 4-3 victory.
1933: Inaugural Season
In 1933, the league's inaugural season of the all-professional league, called National, was held.
1934: Promotion and Relegation System
In 1934, the league organised a legitimate promotion and relegation system bringing the total tally of clubs in the first division to 16.
1938: Number of Clubs in First Division
Until the 1938-39 season, the number of clubs in the first division was 16.
1939: Suspension of Football
In 1939, because of World War II, football was suspended by the French government.
1945: Return of Professional Football
Following the conclusion of the war in 1945, professional football returned to France.
1965: Increase in Number of Clubs
Until the 1965-66 season, the number of clubs was increased to 20.
1973: Bonus Rule Experiment
From 1973 to 1976, a rule rewarded teams scoring three or more goals in a game with one extra point.
1974: PSG Longevity
In 1974, PSG started their league record for longevity with 51 consecutive seasons.
May 1976: Nantes' Unbeaten Streak
In May 1976, Nantes began a record run of 92 matches without losing at home.
1976: Bonus Rule Experiment
From 1973 to 1976, a rule rewarded teams scoring three or more goals in a game with one extra point.
April 1981: End of Nantes' Unbeaten Streak
In April 1981, Nantes' record run of 92 matches without losing at home ended.
1984: DNCG Foundation
In 1984, the DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion) was founded to manage Ligue 1 clubs' finances and budgets.
1988: Marseille's Dominance
In 1988, Marseille started a period of dominance, winning four consecutive league titles.
1991: Marseille's Dominance
In 1991, Marseille continued their period of dominance, winning four consecutive league titles.
1994: Nantes' Unbeaten Streak
In 1994, Nantes began a record run of 32 matches unbeaten.
1995: Promotion and Relegation Format
Prior to 1995, the league's format was direct relegation of the bottom two teams.
2002: Increase in Combined Budget of Ligue 1 clubs
Following a report by the DNCG, it was determined that the combined budget of Ligue 1 clubs was €910 million for the 2005–06 season, a 39% increase from the 2002–03 season.
2005: Combined Budget of Ligue 1 clubs
Following a report by the DNCG, it was determined that the combined budget of Ligue 1 clubs was €910 million for the 2005–06 season.
2006: Attacking Play Table
At the start of the 2006–07 season, the league introduced an Attacking Play Table to encourage the scoring of more goals in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.
2006: Combined Budget of Ligue 1 clubs
Following a report by the DNCG, it was determined that the combined budget of Ligue 1 clubs was €910 million for the 2005–06 season.
May 2007: Hexagoal name announced for new Ligue 1 trophy
On 20 May 2007, French Football Federation member Frédéric Thiriez announced that, following an online vote, the term Hexagoal had received half of the votes and would be the name of the new Ligue 1 trophy.
2007: Lille host Lyon at the Stade de France
In 2007, Lille hosted Lyon at the Stade de France.
2008: Lille host Lyon at the Stade de France
In 2008, Lille hosted Lyon at the Stade de France.
2008: Lyon's Dynasty
In 2008, Lyon concluded their unprecedented run of winning 7 consecutive titles.
2008: Deloitte Football Money League Ranking
In the list compiled in the 2008–09 season, Lyon ranked 13th among clubs generating approximately €139.6 million, while Marseille were right behind them in 14th position generating €133.2 million.
2008: LFP clubs accounts in the red
The LFP clubs accounts as a whole were in the red for the third consecutive season (2008–2011) with an estimated deficit of €130 million.
June 2011: LFP rights agreements with Canal+ and BeIN Sports
In June 2011, the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) reached rights agreements with Canal+ and BeIN Sports. The agreement with BeIN Media Group involved a payment of €510 million over four seasons. Following the announcement of the agreement, Canal+ acquired four television packages, while BeIN Sports acquired two packages in June 2011.
2011: Lille win Ligue 1
In 2011, Lille won Ligue 1, with Eden Hazard emerging as the league's star player.
2011: LFP clubs accounts in the red
The LFP clubs accounts as a whole were in the red for the third consecutive season (2008–2011) with an estimated deficit of €130 million.
2012: LFP announce clubs deficit cut in half
In 2012, the LFP announced that the clubs deficit had been cut in half from €130 million to €65 million.
2015: Relegation Changes
For the 2015–16 season, a decision was made regarding relegation but later overturned.
2016: Relegation Play-off Return
The 2016–17 season saw the return of a relegation play-off between the 16th-placed Ligue 1 team and the third-placed team in Ligue 2.
2018: Mediapro acquires LFP media rights
In 2018, Mediapro acquired three of the four major packages of LFP media rights for the 2020–21 season through to the 2023–24 season, largely replacing Canal+ in a deal valued at a record €1.15 billion. BeIN Sports maintained "lot 3", which contained two matches per-week on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.
June 2020: Mediapro announces partnership with TF1 for Téléfoot channel
In June 2020, Mediapro announced a partnership with TF1, under which the new channel would leverage the network's talent and resources, and be branded as Téléfoot—an extension of TF1's long-running football programme. Téléfoot presenters Grégoire Margotton and Bixente Lizarazu served as the lead broadcast team for at least 20 matches per-season.
October 2020: Mediapro withholds rights payments to the LFP
In October 2020, Mediapro began withholding its rights payments to the LFP, citing the financial impact of COVID-19. LFP CEO Arnaud Rouger stated in October 2020 that they may have to pursue a new broadcaster if they are unable to resolve the dispute with Mediapro.
December 2020: Mediapro prepares to wind down Téléfoot
In December 2020, it was reported that Mediapro were preparing to wind down Téléfoot, after it agreed to compensate the LFP for the two missed rights payments.
February 2021: Canal+ acquires Mediapro's rights packages; Téléfoot shuts down
In February 2021, Canal+ reached an interim agreement to acquire the rights packages held by Mediapro for the remainder of the season, and later sub-licensed Ligue 2 to BeIN. Téléfoot shut down on 8 February 2021.
June 2021: LFP resells broadcast rights to Canal+ and Amazon Prime Video
In June 2021, the LFP resold the broadcast rights packages for Ligue 1 to Canal+ and Amazon Prime Video for the 2021–22 season through to the 2024–25 season, with the two broadcasters paying a total of €663 million.
June 2021: Ligue 1 contracted to 18 clubs
In June 2021, the LFP voted to contract Ligue 1 back to 18 clubs for the 2023–24 season.
2022: Relegations and Promotions
After the 2022–23 season, four teams were relegated to Ligue 2, and two were promoted from Ligue 2.
August 2023: Canal+ sub-licenses matches to DAZN
In August 2023, Canal+ announced a sub-licensing agreement with DAZN to stream its matches on a branded channel within the service as part of DAZN's local launch.
2023: Reduction in Number of Teams
Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the number of teams in the league was reduced to 18.
2023: UEFA Champions League Qualification
As of the 2023-24 season, the top four teams in Ligue 1 qualify for the Champions League.
2023: Ligue 1 contracted to 18 clubs
For the 2023–24 season, Ligue 1 was contracted back to 18 clubs.
2023: Mediapro's LFP media rights end
Mediapro had acquired three of the four major packages of LFP media rights for the 2020–21 season through to the 2023–24 season. 2023 marked the end of this agreement.
2024: Ligue 1 Ranking
As of 2024, Ligue 1 is considered one of the top national leagues, ranked fifth in Europe.
2024: Canal+ plans not to renew its rights
Canal+ did not plan to renew its rights after the conclusion of the 2024–25 season.
April 2025: LFP and DAZN end rights broadcast deal
In April 2025, both the LFP and DAZN came to an agreement to end the rights broadcast deal due to a legal dispute between the two parties over unpaid rights payments. L'Équipe reported that DAZN was to pay the LFP €100m to exit the agreement, as well as the remaining €140m it owed to the organisation for the final two instalments.
July 2025: LFP announces Ligue 1+ streaming service
In July 2025, the LFP announced that an in-house streaming service named Ligue 1+ would be launched on 15 August, in time for the 2025–26 season. Ligue 1+ will exclusively broadcast eight live matches per week, though BeIN will retain its allocation of one live match per week, broadcast on Saturdays.
2025: Clubs in Ligue 1
From its foundation in the 1932-33 season to the start of the 2025-26 season, 74 clubs have played in Ligue 1.
2025: Teams Competing
In 2025, the following 18 clubs are competing in the 2025–26 Ligue 1 season.
2025: Ligue 1 championships
There are 75 teams that have taken part in 88 Ligue 1 championships that were played from the 1932–33 season until the 2025–26 season.
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