| Championnat National U19 | |
| Organiser: | French Football Federation (FFF) |
| Country: | France (55 teams) |
| Level: | 1 (of under-19 age group) |
| Relegation: | Regional leagues |
| Founded: | 1990 (officially) 2009 (as Championnat National U19) |
| Confed Cup: | UEFA Youth League |
| Domest Cup: | Coupe Gambardella (1996–2019) |
| Most Successful Club: | Paris Saint-Germain (5 titles) |
| Champions: | Paris Saint-Germain (5th title) (2023–24) |
| Other Countries: | Monaco (1 team) |
| Website: | Championnat National U19 |
The Championnat National U19 is the highest tier of under-19 football in France. Organized by the French Football Federation, it is contested by 56 clubs that are split into 4 groups.
In 2009, the Championnat National 18 ans of France was renamed Championnat National U19.[1] [2] Before the 18 ans league, a U17 (moins de 17 ans then 17 ans) league existed from 1990 to 2002. The Championnat National U19 became the continuation of the now-disappeared -17 ans and 18 ans leagues.[3] On the other hand, the Championnat National U17 is a continuation of the former moins de 15 ans league from 1990 to 2002 and 16 ans league from 2002 to 2009.[4]
| Period | Name of the competition | Age category |
|---|---|---|
| 1990–1996 | Championnat National des moins de 17 ans | Players turning 18 on or after 1 August of the year the competition ends |
| 1996–1999 | Players turning 18 on or after 1 January of the year the competitions ends | |
| 1999–2002 | Championnat National des 17 ans | |
| 2002–2009 | Championnat National 18 ans | Players turning 19 on or after 1 January of the year the competition ends |
| 2009–present | Championnat National U19 |
The Championnat National U19 is played annually and is contested by 56 clubs, with 55 coming from France and 1 from Monaco. The teams are divided into 4 geographically-determined groups of 14 teams. A season begins in the end of summer and ends in the following spring. In the league phase, every team plays each other twice (home and away) in their respective groups for a total of 26 games played per team. Afterwards, the first and second place teams of each group face off in a play-off phase. The winner of the final is crowned French under-19 champion.[5] [6]
Since 2015, the winner of the Championnat National U19 has qualified for the UEFA Youth League. In a separate path, 2–3 youth teams of Ligue 1 clubs qualified for the UEFA Champions League qualify for the Youth League as well.[7]
For the 2021–22 season, 56 clubs participated in the Championnat National U19.[8]
Paris Saint-Germain have won the most Championnat National U19 titles, with five. They are followed by Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux, and Rennes, who all have three titles, while Auxerre and Cannes both have two.[9] The title was not awarded for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Paris Saint-Germain | 5 | 2 | 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2023–24 | 2011–12, 2022–23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | 3 | 4 | 1992–93, 1999–2000, 2004–05 | 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2015–16 | |
| Nantes | 3 | 3 | 1990–91, 2021–22, 2022–23 | 2004–05, 2012–13, 2014–15 | |
| Bordeaux | 3 | 2 | 1997–98, 1998–99, 2016–17 | 2000–01, 2008–09 | |
| Rennes | 3 | 2001–02, 2006–07, 2018–19 | |||
| Auxerre | 2 | 2 | 1993–94, 2011–12 | 1990–91, 2023–24 | |
| Cannes | 2 | 1994–95, 1995–96 | |||
| Monaco | 1 | 3 | 2012–13 | 2005–06, 2009–10, 2021–22 | |
| Metz | 1 | 2 | 2000–01 | 1993–94, 1995–96 | |
| Sochaux | 1 | 1 | 2002–03 | 1997–98 | |
| Nice | 1 | 1 | 2003–04 | 2001–02 | |
| Saint-Étienne | 1 | 1 | 1996–97 | 2006–07 | |
| Montpellier | 1 | 1 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | |
| Strasbourg | 1 | 1991–92 | |||
| Guingamp | 1 | 2007–08 | |||
| Lens | 1 | 2008–09 | |||
| Tours | 1 | 2013–14 | |||
| Reims | 1 | 2014–15 | |||
| Le Havre | 2 | 2007–08, 2016–17 | |||
| Caen | 2 | 1999–2000, 2017–18 | |||
| Toulouse | 1 | 1991–92 | |||
| Nancy | 1 | 1992–93 | |||
| INF Clairefontaine | 1 | 1994–95 | |||
| FC Lyon | 1 | 1996–97 | |||
| Grenoble | 1 | 2010–11 | |||
| Thonon Évian | 1 | 2013–14 |