Structure
The German football league system is held under the jurisdiction of the nationwide German Football Association and its professional body German Football League, along with its five regional associations and their 21 state associations.
On top of the system sit the level one Bundesliga and the level two 2. Bundesliga, both organized by the professional German Football League. The two top flights then are followed by the level three 3. Liga, the lowest full professional division in Germany, held by the German Football Association itself.
The semi-professional level four Regionalliga is divided into 5 regional divisions, these typically organised by one or two of the five regional associations of the German Football association, these being the Northern German Football Association, the Northeastern German Football Association, the Western German Football and Athletics Association, the Football Association of the Southwest and the Southern German Football Association. This is except for Bavaria, where the Bavarian Football Association, a state member state association of the Southern German Football Association, runs their top division under their own jurisdiction.
Starting at level five, the various fully amateur divisions are usually governed by the 21 state associations. This is except for the Northeastern German Football Association and Football Association of the Southwest, where the regional bodies still run the level five divisions under their jurisdiction, with their state member associations' pyramids therefore set to start at level six.
| Level | Division | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bundesliga 18 teams ↓ 2 relegations spots + 1 relegation playoff spot |
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| 2 | 2. Bundesliga 18 teams ↑ 2 promotions spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot |
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| 3 | 3. Liga 20 teams ↑ 2 promotions spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 relegation spots |
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| 4 | Regionalliga Nord 18 teams ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 to 4 relegations spots |
Regionalliga Nordost 16 teams ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 1 to 3 relegations spots |
Regionalliga West 20 teams ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 5 to 6 relegations spots |
Regionalliga Südwest 19 teams ↑ 2 promotion playoff spots ↓ 2 to 6 relegations spots |
Bavaria state league system ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot |
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| 5 |
Oberliga Hamburg |
2 divisions of |
Lower Rhine |
Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar |
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| 6 |
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
Rhineland |
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