Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in the Basque Country

The Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in the Basque Country are ultimately overseen by the Basque Football Federation which operates Group 4 of the Tercera División RFEF, the fifth tier of the Spanish football league system divided among each of the country's autonomous regions. However, unlike most of the regions, the leagues in the sixth tier and below are organised by three separate federations, corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa. The other region with this arrangement is the Canary Islands which has two provincial forks to its amateur setup, while Andalusia and the Balearic Islands have two and three parallel divisions respectively under the same umbrella.

League chronology

Timeline – Álava

  • The regional categories of Álava were included in Gipuzkoa until 1987

Timeline – Gipuzkoa

Timeline – Biscay

Álava

División de Honor de Álava

Arabako Ohorezko Maila
Preferente de Álava
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid6
Promotion to3ª RFEF - Group 4
Relegation toRegional Preferente
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The División de Honor de Álava or Arabako Ohorezko Maila is at the sixth level of Spanish football. All of the clubs are based in the province of Álava. The league consists of 18 teams. At the end of the season, the top club is promoted automatically to the Tercera División RFEF - Group 4. The teams finishing second play a promotion play-off depending on the number of vacancies in the Tercera División. Two clubs are relegated to Primera Regional.

2023–24 season teams

Teams

Regional Preferente de Álava

Primera Regional de Álava
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid7
Promotion toPreferente
Relegation toNone
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Regional Preferente is the seventh and lowest level of competition in Álava.

2023–24 season teams

Teams
  • Abetxuko "B"
  • Alegría
  • Amurrio "B"
  • Aranbizkarra
  • Aurrerá de Vitoria "B"
  • Ayuda Condado de Treviño
  • Batzarre
  • Campezo
  • Colegio San Prudencio "B"
  • Giltzarrapo
  • Ipar Arriaga Gasteiz
  • Izarra Gorri
  • Lakua Arriaga "B"
  • Lantarón
  • Mercedarias "B"
  • Nanclares
  • Pagazuri Marianistas
  • Salvatierra
  • San Viator "B"
  • Zaramaga

Gipuzkoa

División de Honor de Guipúzcoa

Gipuzkoako Ohorezko Maila
División de Honor de Guipúzcoa
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid6
Promotion to3ª RFEF - Group 4
Relegation toRegional Preferente
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The División de Honor de Guipúzcoa or Gipuzkoako Ohorezko Maila is at the sixth level of Spanish football. All of the clubs are based in the province of Gipuzkoa. The league consists of 18 teams. At the end of the season, the first team is promoted automatically to Tercera División RFEF - Group 4. The team finishing second plays a promotion play-off depending on the number of vacancies seats in the Tercera División. Four clubs are relegated to Regional Preferente.

2023–24 season teams

Teams

Preferente de Guipúzcoa

Preferente de Guipúzcoa
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams32; 2 groups of 16
Level on pyramid7
Promotion toDivisión de Honor
Relegation toPrimera Regional
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Preferente is played in two groups of 16 teams. At the end of the season, the champions and the winner of the playoff between the runners-up are promoted to División de Honor. Three clubs in each group are relegated to Primera Regional.

Some teams playing in this level

Primera Regional de Guipúzcoa

Primera Regional
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams40; 5 groups
Level on pyramid8
Promotion toDivisión de Honor
Relegation toNone
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Primera Regional is played with five groups of 8 teams. At the end of the season, the top four from each group advance to Fase de Ascenso while the other 16 teams play in Copa de Gipuzkoa. The Fase de Ascenso has two groups of 10 with the two winners and runners-up being promoted to Regional Preferente. The two 3rd placed finishers playoff to fill any vacancies.

Biscay

División de Honor de Vizcaya

Bizkaiko Ohorezko Maila
División de Honor de Vizcaya
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid6
Promotion to3ª - Group 4
Relegation toTerritorial Preferente
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The División de Honor de Vizcaya or Bizkaiko Ohorezko Maila is at the sixth level of Spanish football. All of the clubs are based in the province of Biscay. The league consists of 18 teams. At the end of the season, the top club is promoted automatically to the Tercera División - Group 4. The teams finishing second play a promotion play-off depending on the number of vacancies in the Tercera División. Two clubs are relegated to Territorial Preferente.

2023–24 season teams

Teams

Preferente de Vizcaya

Preferente
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid7
Promotion toDivisión de Honor
Relegation toPrimera División
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Preferente de Vizcaya is at the seventh level of Spanish football. All of the clubs are based in the province of Biscay. The league consists of 18 teams. At the end of the season, the top three clubs are promoted to División de Honor. Three clubs are relegated to the Primera División de Bizkaia.

Some teams playing in this level

Primera División de Bizkaia

Primera División de Bizkaia
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams36; two groups of 18
Level on pyramid8
Promotion toPreferente
Relegation toSegunda División
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Primera División de Bizkaia is played in two groups of 18 teams. the champion and runner-up of both groups are promoted to Preferente de Bizkaia. The 3rd placed finishers play off to fill any vacancies. Two clubs in each group are relegated to the Segunda División de Bizkaia.

Segunda División de Bizkaia

Segunda División de Bizkaia
FoundedUnknown
Country Spain
Number of teams36; 2 groups of 18
Level on pyramid9
Promotion toPrimera División
Relegation toTercera División
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Segunda División de Bizkaia is played in two groups of 16. At the end of the season, the two champions and runners-up are promoted to the Primera División de Bizkaia. the 3rd placed teams playoff to fill any vacancies. three clubs in each group are relegated to Tercera División de Bizkaia.

Tercera División de Bizkaia

Tercera División de Bizkaia
Founded2009
Country Spain
Number of teams74; 5 groups
Level on pyramid10
Promotion toSegunda División
Relegation toNone
Domestic cup(s)None
WebsiteOfficial website

The Tercera División de Bizkaia is played with 74 teams in one group of 14 and five groups of 15. At the end of the season, the champions and runners-up are promoted. the 3rd placed teams advance to playoff league to fill any vacancies.

See also