The Championnat National U17 is the highest tier of under-17 football in France.[1] Organized by the French Football Federation, it is contested by 84 clubs that are split into 6 groups.
History
In 2009, the Championnat National 16 ans was renamed the Championnat National U17.[2][3] A under-15 (moins de 15 ans) league existed from 1990 to 1999, and a 15 ans league from 1999 to 2002.[4] The Championnat National U17 became the continuation for these competitions.[5]
Period
Name of the competition
Age category
1990–1996
Championnat National des moins de 15 ans
Players turning 16 on or after 1 August of the year the competition ends
1996–1999
Players turning 16 on or after 1 January of the year the competition ends
1999–2002
Championnat National des 15 ans
2002–2009
Championnat National 16 ans
Players turning 17 on or after 1 January of the year the competition ends
2009–present
Championnat National U17
Format
The Championnat National U17 is an annual competition that is contested by 84 clubs, with 83 coming from France and 1 from Monaco. The teams are distributed into 6 geographically determined groups of 14 teams. A season starts in the end of summer and ends the following the spring. In the league phase, each team plays each other twice (home and away) in their respective groups for a total of 26 matches played per team. Afterwards, the 6 first-place teams in addition to the 2 best second-place teams face off in a play-off phase. The winner of the final is crowned French under-17 champion.[6]
Clubs
2023–24 season
For the 2023–24 season, 84 clubs participate in the Championnat National U17.[7]
Lyon have won the most titles, with four. The title was not awarded for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no competition was held for the 1994–95 season.[5]
