sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

, the Second Division, also called Division 2 or Division II is usually the second highest division of a league, and will often have

promotion and relegation Promotion and relegation is used by sports leagues as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a league system, based on their performance over a season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are sometimes call ...

with divisions above and below. Following the rise of

Premier League The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...

style competitions, many leagues known as the Second Division have fallen to a lower tier in countries' football

league system A league system is a hierarchy of sports league, leagues in a sport. They are often called pyramids, due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions further down the system. League systems of some sort are used in ma ...

. This list of Second Divisions in

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

, divided by authority, includes country and actual level.

AFC

K League Challenge The K League 2 () is the men's second-highest division of the South Korean football league system. It is contested between thirteen professional clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with K League 1. History In 2011, the or ...

, South Korea (second tier) * J. League Division 2, Japan (second tier) * I League 2, India (second tier)

UEFA

Albanian Second Division Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

, Albania (third tier) *

Segona Divisió The Segona Divisió (Second Division), or Lliga Unida QP for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest level of men's football in Andorra. Stadiums The Andorran Football Federation organizes the matches of Primera Divisió The Primera Divi ...

, Andorra (second tier) *

Belarusian Second League The Belarusian Second League () is the third tier of professional football in Belarus. It was established in 1992. History and format A strict number of teams and competition format are not defined for the league. Before the start of each season t ...

, Belarus (third tier) *

Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division was the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system, one level below the Belgian Pro League. It was founded by the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1909 and folded in 2016, when it was replace ...

, Belgium (second tier) *

Second League of the Republika Srpska The Second League of the Republika Srpska () is a third level football league competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is divided into two leagues, based on geographical areas. The winner of each league is promoted to the First League of the Repu ...

, Bosnia and Herzegovina (third tier) *

Czech 2. Liga The Czech National Football League (, ''FNL''), known as Chance Národní Liga due to sponsorship reasons, is the second level professional association football league in the Czech Republic. Before 2013 it was known as 2. liga or Druhá liga. The ...

, Czech Republic (second tier) *

Cypriot Second Division The Cypriot Second Division () is the second highest association football, football division of the Cypriot football league system. Administered by the Cyprus Football Association, it is contested by 16 teams, with the top three teams being Prom ...

, Cyprus (second tier) *

Druga HNL The Prva nogometna liga (), commonly Prva NL or 1. NL, is the second tier of the football league system in Croatia. The league was formed in 1991 with the breakup of Yugoslavia and the dissolution of the Yugoslav Second League. The 1. NL is ope ...

, Croatia (second tier) *

Danish 2nd Division The 2nd Division () is a professional association football league for men and the third division in Denmark. It is organised by the Divisionsforeningen on behalf of the Danish Football Association (Danish FA; DBU) as part of the nation-wide Da ...

, Denmark (third tier) * England: **

Football League Second Division The Football League Second Division was the second level division in the English football league system between 1892 and 1992. Following the foundation of the FA Premier League, the Football League divisions were renumbered and the third tier ...

(1892–1992; second tier, re-branded as

Football League First Division The Football League First Division was the top division of the Football League in England from 1888 until the end of the 1991–92 season, when its teams broke away to form the Premier League. From 1992 to 2004, the name First Division was g ...

after creation of top-level

FA Premier League The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football ...

) **

EFL Championship The English Football League Championship, known simply as the Championship and for sponsorship purposes as Sky Bet Championship, is a professional association football league in England and Wales. Contested by 24 clubs, it is the highest divi ...

, (second tier) **

Isthmian League Second Division The Isthmian League () is a regional football league covering Greater London, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs. Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, the league now consists of 88 teams in fo ...

, (ninth tier) *

Second League of Estonia II liiga is the fourth level of football league competition in Estonia arranged by the Estonian Football Association. It consists of 28 teams, divided geographically into two divisions with 14 teams each in group North/East and South/West. Until ...

(third tier) * 2. deild, Faroe Islands (third tier) *

Kakkonen Kakkonen or II divisioona is the fourth level in the league system of Finnish football and comprises 36 Finnish football teams. Until the end of 2023, ''Kakkonen'' was the third-highest level in Finland, but after the creation of new second-t ...

, Finland (third tier) *

Ligue 2 Ligue 2 (, League 2), also known as Ligue 2 BKT due to sponsorship reasons, 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 Prof ...

, France (second tier) *

Second Macedonian Football League The Macedonian Second Football League (; also called Macedonian Second League, 2. MFL and Vtora Liga) is the second-highest professional football competition in North Macedonia. The competition is contested by 16 clubs, playing each other 2 time ...

(Macedonian Vtora Liga), Republic of Macedonia (second tier) *

Meore Liga Liga 3 ( ka, ლიგა 3), organized by the Georgian Football Federation, is the third division of professional football in Georgia. Introduced for the 2017 season with the launch of the Erovnuli Liga, it is a rebrand of the former Meore Liga ...

, Georgia (third tier) *

2. Fußball-Bundesliga The 2. Bundesliga ( ; ) is the second division of professional football in Germany. It was implemented 11 years after the founding of the Fußball-Bundesliga as the new second division for professional football. The 2. Bundesliga is ranked belo ...

, Germany (second tier) *

Football League (Greece) The Football League () was the second highest professional football league in Greece since its inception in 1962 as ''Beta Ethniki'' and until 2019. It then served as a third tier after the creation of the Super League 2 as the new second tier ...

(formerly Beta Ethniki, Greece (second tier) *

Nemzeti Bajnokság II The NB II, currently known as the Merkantil Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of Hungarian football. At the end of the 2004–05 season, the tournament format was changed from one division of 14 teams to two divisions: ''Ke ...

(Hungarian National Championship II), Hungary (second tier) *

2. deild karla 2. deild karla () is a football league in Iceland. It is the third division in the Icelandic football league system. The current champions are Afturelding from Mosfellsbær, who won their 1st title in 2018. The division was started in 1966 as th ...

, Iceland (third tier) * Italy: **

Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...

, (second tier) **

Lega Pro Seconda Divisione Serie C2 was the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. History Before the 1978–79 season, there were only three professional football leagues in Italy, the third being Serie C. The league menaging ...

(fourth tier) *

Maltese Second Division The Maltese Second Division (also known as the BOV Second Division due to sponsorship reasons) was the third-highest division in Maltese football until 2020 when it was merged with the Maltese Third Division to create the National Amateur Le ...

, Malta (third tier) *

Montenegrin Second League The Montenegrin Second League (Montenegrin language, Montenegrin: ''Druga crnogorska fudbalska liga'' – ''Druga CFL'' – ''2. CFL'') is the second-top Association football, football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Associatio ...

, Montenegro (second tier) *

Norwegian Second Division The Norwegian Second Division, also called 2. divisjon and often referred to as PostNord-ligaen for sponsorship reasons, is the third-highest level of the Norwegian football league system. There are 28 teams divided into two groups, and at the ...

(2. divisjon), Norway (third tier) *

II liga (Poland) II liga (Druga liga, ), currently named Betclic II liga due to its sponsorship by Betclic, is a Polish football league that sits at the third tier of the Polish football league system. Until the end of the 2007–08 season, ''II Liga'' referre ...

(Polish Second League), Poland (third tier) * Portugal: **

Liga de Honra The Liga Portugal 2 (), also known as Liga Portugal Meu Super for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division of the Portuguese football league system. At the end of each season, the two top-finishing teams are promoted to the top-tier ...

, formerly "Segunda Divisão de Honra", (second tier) **

Segunda Divisão : : The Segunda Divisão Portuguesa ( English: ''Portuguese Second Division'') was a football league situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system. The division had previously been the second level of the Portuguese pyrami ...

(Portuguese Second Division), (third tier) *

Liga II The Liga 2, most commonly spelled as Liga II, is the second level of the Romanian football league system. The league changed its name from Divizia B just before the start of the 2006–07 Liga II, 2006–07 football season. It is currently Sponso ...

, Romania *

Russian Second Division The Russian Second League (), formerly the Russian Professional Football League, are both the third (Division A) and fourth level (Division B) of Russian professional Association football, football. History In 1998–2010, it was run by the :ru: ...

, Russia (third tier) *

Scottish Football League Second Division The Scottish Football League Second Division was the third tier of the Scottish football league system between 1975 and 2013. History The Second Division was created in 1975, as part of a wider reconstruction of the Scottish Football League (SFL ...

, Scotland (third tier) * 2. Liga (Slovakia) (Slovak Second League), Slovakia (second tier) *

Slovenian Second League The Slovenian Second Football League (), also known by the abbreviation 2. SNL, is the second highest Association football, football league in Slovenia. The league was formed in 1991 and is operated by the Football Association of Slovenia. Format ...

, Slovenia (second tier) *

Segunda División The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División, commonly known as Segunda División or La Liga 2, and officially known as LaLiga HyperMotion for sponsorship reasons, is the men's second professional association football division of the Spa ...

de La Liga, Spain * Swedish football Division 2, Sweden (fourth tier) *

TFF Second League The TFF 2. Lig (), currently referred to as Nesine 2. Lig for sponsorship reasons, is the third level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001–02 season with the name of ''Turkish Second League Category B'' as a continu ...

, Turkey (third tier) *

Ukrainian Second League The Ukrainian Second League (, ''Druha Liha'') is a professional football league in Ukraine which is part of the Professional Football League of Ukraine, a collective member of the Ukrainian Association of Football. As the third tier it was establ ...

, Ukraine (third tier) * V.League 3, Vietname (third tier) *

Welsh Football League Division Two The Welsh Football League Division Two, (last known as the ''Nathanielcars.co.uk Welsh League Division Two'', for sponsorship reasons) was a football league and forms the fourth level of the Welsh football league system in South Wales. If the ...

, Wales (second tier)

CONCACAF

Aruban Division Uno The Aruban Division Uno (''English: Aruban First Division'') is the second tier of football in Aruba. Since 2022-23 season, the top 4 team in each group of the league will enter the promotion/relegation playoff along with the bottom 4 team from t ...

, Aruba (second tier) * Barbados Division One, Barbados (second tier) *

Segunda División de Costa Rica Costa Rican Second Division (also known as Liga Transcomer for sponsorship reasons) is a professional league incorporated in 1921 for association football clubs in Costa Rica. It is the country's second-tier/division football competition, which ...

, Costa Rica (second tier) *

Segunda División de El Salvador The Segunda División de El Salvador (Second Division of El Salvador) is the second tier of football in El Salvador governed by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol (FESFUT). Teams contest to promote to the Primera División. The winning si ...

, El Salvador (second tier) *

GFA First Division The GFA First Division is the second tier of football in Grenada. The top two teams at the end of each season are promoted to the GFA Premier Division while the third and fourth place teams play the 7th and 8th placed Premier Division teams for a ...

, Grenada (second tier) *

Primera División de Ascenso The Primera División de Ascenso is the second highest level of football in Guatemala. Formerly, it was known as ''Liga Mayor "B"''. It is sanctioned by the National Football Federation of Guatemala The National Football Federation of Guatemala ( ...

, Guatemala (second tier) *

Honduran Liga Nacional de Ascenso Liga de Ascenso (Promotion League) is the Honduran football league system, second division of Honduran association football, football; it was founded on 17 December 1979 as ''Segunda División'' (Second Division) and renamed ''Liga de Ascenso'' (P ...

, Honduras (second tier) * Jamaica: **

Eastern Confederation Super League The Eastern Confederation Super League is a second division football league in the nation of Jamaica. The ten teams that currently compete in the league are based in the parishes of Portland, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Thomas. At the end of each ...

(second tier) **

KSAFA Super League The KSAFA Championship (formerly KSAFA Super League), also known as the Wray & Nephew KSAFA Championship for sponsorship purposes, is a men's third division football league sanctioned by the Jamaican Football Federation. The league is contested b ...

(second tier) **

South Central Confederation Super League The South Central Confederation Super League is a second division football league in the nation of Jamaica. The twelve teams that currently compete in the league are based in the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, St. Catherine and St. Elizabeth. ...

(second tier) ** Western Confederation Super League (second tier) * Mexico: **

Ascenso MX Ascenso MX, also known as Ascenso BBVA MX for sponsorship reasons, was a professional association football league in Mexico and the second level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly known as Primera División A de México (1994–2009 ...

(second tier) ** Segunda División de México (formerly Segunda División Profesional) (third tier) *

Segunda División de Nicaragua The Segunda División de Nicaragua is the second tier of Nicaraguan football. It is organized by the FENIFUT. Format Torneo de Apertura (Opening tournament) and Torneo de Clausura (Closure Tournament). The Apertura champion each year will pla ...

, Nicaragua (second tier) *

Liga Nacional de Ascenso Liga (Spanish and Portuguese: ''League'') or LIGA may refer to: Sports Basketball * Liga ACB, men's professional basketball league in Spain * Liga Femenina de Baloncesto, women's professional basketball league in Spain Football Latin Amer ...

, Panama (second tier) * SKNFA Division 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis (second tier) * SLFA Second Division, St. Lucia (second tier) *

SVB Hoofdklasse The SVB Eerste Divisie is the second highest football championship for clubs run by the Surinaamse Voetbal Bond. The league currently comprises twelve teams and operates a system of promotion and relegation. Seasons run from November to June, w ...

, Suriname (second tier) *

National Super League The TT Premier Football League 2 (formerly called TT Super League) is a league for semi-professional association football clubs in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the second-highest division of the Trinidad and Tobago football league system. The league ...

, Trinidad and Tobago (second tier) * United States: **

United Soccer League The United Soccer League (USL) is an organizer of various professional and amateur soccer leagues in the United States league system. It currently organizes its Championship, League One, and League Two for men, its Super League and W Leag ...

(second tier) **

North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It is considered the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the ...

(second tier)

CONMEBOL

Primera B Nacional Primera Nacional (usually called simply Nacional B, (English "National B Division"), and known as Primera B Nacional until the 2019–20 season) is the second division of the Argentine football league system. The competition is made up of 38 team ...

, Argentina (second tier) *

Campeonato Brasileiro Série B The Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (commonly referred to as the Brasileirão Série B, the Série B or the Brazilian Série B to distinguish it from the Italian and the Ecuadorian Serie B), and currently officially called Brasileirão Série B ...

, Brazil (second tier) *

Ecuadorian Serie B The Primera Categoría Serie B, shortened to Serie B or Primera B, is a professional football league in Ecuador. It is in the second tier of the Ecuadorian football league system. Currently contested by ten clubs, it operates a system of promotio ...

, Ecuador (second tier) * Paraguayan Segunda División, Paraguay (second tier) *

Peruvian Segunda División The Peruvian Second Division (; known simply as ''Second Division'', and Liga 2 Caja Cusco for sponsorship reasons), officially known as Liga 2, is the second-highest division in the Peruvian football league system. Founded in 1943, it is a profess ...

, Peru (second tier) *

Uruguayan Segunda División The Segunda División Profesional is the second division of professional football in Uruguay, established in 1942. The league is sometimes referred to as ''Primera B''. In 1942, the Segunda División was established to replace the amateur Uruguaya ...

, Uruguay (second tier) *

Venezuelan Segunda División Segunda División, officially known as Liga FUTVE 2, is the men's second professional football division of the Venezuelan football league system. The Venezuelan second division was established in 1979. List of champions Titles by Team Refer ...

, Venezuela (second tier)

AFC

UEFA

CONCACAF

CONMEBOL

See also