Spanish Championship. Primera División RFEF
Primera División RFEF, the fourth tier of Spanish football, features 60 ambitious clubs divided into five regional groups of 12. It's a battleground for promotion dreams, blending historic teams with rising challengers from Andalusia to the Basque Country, where local rivalries fuel intense, passionate matches.
History and foundation
Evolving from the Tercera División founded in 1929, it was restructured in 2021: Tercera split into Primera RFEF (third tier) and Segunda RFEF (fourth), with Primera Federación becoming the new fourth level in 2023. Highlights include Real Unión's 2022 playoff triumph from Segunda RFEF, or Badajoz's phoenix-like rises from bankruptcy. Derby clashes like Elche Ilicitano vs. Valencia Mestalla draw huge crowds, amid a history of match-fixing scandals and underdog heroics.
Tournament format
60 teams in five groups of 12 play 32 round-robin matches. Group winners and top runners-up (10 total) promote to Segunda Federación; the rest enter playoffs for 5 more spots. Bottom 4 per group (20 teams) relegate to Tercera Federación. Strict RFEF rules govern the high-stakes format.
Interesting facts
High-scoring: 2.8–3.2 goals per game on average, favoring attacking play. Top scorers 2023/24: Eric Navarro (Gimnástica Segoviana, 22 goals), Xavi Rubio (Yeclano, 20). Standouts: Xavi Puig (Peralada, now in Primera), Antonio Medina (Marbella); reserves like Real Madrid C and Barcelona B nurture stars like Oscar Silla (Sestao River).