Teams
Lyon Women
Guingamp Women
Montpellier Women
PSG Women
ASJ Soyaux Women
Paris FC Women
Bordeaux Women
FC Fleury 91 Women
Dijon Women
Reims Women
Rodez AF Women
St Etienne Women
Le Havre Women
Metz Women
ASPTT Albi Women
Issy-les-Moulineaux Women
Lille Women
Juvisy Essonne Women
Marseille Women
Arras Women
Nantes Women
Strasbourg Women
Wikipedia - Première Ligue
The Première Ligue (French pronunciation: [pʁəmʒɛʁ liɡ]; sponsor name Arkema Première Ligue) is a professional women's association football league at the highest level of the French football league system, and is run by the Ligue féminine de football professionnel (LFFP). Its annual competition features twelve teams playing two series of round-robin matches from September to June, to determine the four participants of a single-elimination tournament. The winners of the tournament are crowned champions of France, and contest the Trophée des Championnes match the following season. At the end of each season, the top three teams qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League, while the bottom two teams are relegated to the Seconde Ligue.
The Première Ligue is the latest iteration of a competition founded in 1975 by the French Football Federation (FFF) as the amateur Division 1 Féminine. Professionalism was introduced for the first time in the 2009–10 season. The competition was ranked the best women's league in Europe according to UEFA 2019–20 women's association club coefficients. Olympique Lyonnais have won the league the most times (17), and also hold the record for consecutive wins (14).
History
The first women's association football league in France was founded in 1918 by the Fédération des Sociétés Féminines Sportives de France (FSFSF), a women's football organization in France that was led by women's football pioneer Alice Milliat. The league lasted for twelve seasons before disbanding due to the prohibition of women's football. In 1975, women's football was officially re-instated and a new league, the Division 1 Féminine, was established by the governing body of football in France, the French Football Federation. Professionalism was introduced in 2009–10 season and female football players in France began signing professional contracts with their clubs at the same season, the most notable of which is Olympique Lyonnais.
In July 2022, it was announced that the Division 1 Féminine will feature in the FIFA 23 video game.
Before the beginning of the 2024–25 season, the league's name changed from Division 1 to Première Ligue.
Comprising 12 teams, the D1 Arkema operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the second-tier league, Division 2 Féminine. Each season, teams compete in a round-robin format, with each club playing 22 matches—11 at home and 11 away. The league runs from August to May, culminating in a thrilling race for the championship title, European qualification spots, and the battle against relegation.
The D1 Arkema is known for its high level of play, featuring many talented players, including international stars who represent their countries on the global stage. Clubs like Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain, and Montpellier HSC have established themselves as powerhouses, consistently competing for the title and making significant impacts in European competitions.
In addition to the on-field action, the league is dedicated to promoting women's soccer at all levels, fostering youth development, and increasing visibility for female athletes. With a growing fan base and increasing media coverage, the France Division 1 Women is not only a platform for elite competition but also a vital part of the movement towards gender equality in sports.