Liga 3 is a men’s league competition in Portugal, established in 2021. The page brings together live scores, fixtures, results, standings, and player and team statistics across the recorded competition seasons, helping visitors follow the league in one place.
Upcoming matches, Liga 3
Regular Season - 6
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- Regular Season - 6
Vitória de Sernache
Louletano
-
- Regular Season - 6
Guimaraes B
Pacos Ferreira
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- Regular Season - 6
Vianense
No H2HParedes
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- Regular Season - 6
União Santarém
No H2HLusitano Évora 1911
Campo Chã das Padeiras -
- Regular Season - 6
São João Ver
Varzim
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- Regular Season - 6
Mafra
CF Os Belenenses
Estádio Municipal de Mafra -
- Regular Season - 6Fafe
Trofense
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- Regular Season - 6
Atlético CP
Caldas -
- Regular Season - 6
SC Covilha
Oliveirense
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- Regular Season - 6
Leça
AD Marco 09
Estádio do Leça Futebol Clube
Latest played matches, Liga 3
Regular Season - 5
Liga 3 Standings
| Rank | Club | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Last 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Paredes | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 12 | WWLWW |
| 1 |
|
CF Os Belenenses | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15 | WWWWW |
| 2 |
|
AD Marco 09 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 10 | WDWLW |
| 2 |
|
Atlético CP | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 | LWWDW |
| 3 |
|
Varzim | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 9 | LLWWW |
| 3 |
|
Oliveirense | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | WLWDD |
| 4 | Fafe | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | LWDWD | |
| 4 |
|
Mafra | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 7 | LWLDW |
| 5 |
|
Vianense | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 8 | WDLWD |
| 5 |
|
Louletano | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | LWWLD |
| 6 |
|
Leça | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 7 | WLWLD |
| 6 | Caldas | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | WWLDL | |
| 7 |
|
Guimaraes B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 | LDDWL |
| 7 |
|
Lusitano Évora 1911 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 | DLWDL |
| 8 |
|
Trofense | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 4 | LDWLL |
| 8 |
|
SC Covilha | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 5 | DLLDW |
| 9 |
|
São João Ver | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 | DDLLD |
| 9 |
|
União Santarém | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 4 | WLLDL |
| 10 |
|
Pacos Ferreira | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 2 | DDLLL |
| 10 |
|
Vitória de Sernache | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 13 | -10 | 1 | LLLDL |
Liga 3 Statistics
Top scorers 2026
| # | Player | Goals |
|---|
Top assists 2026
| # | Player | Assists |
|---|
Top key passes
Top tackles
Top yellow cards
Top red cards
Liga 3 teams participation since 2021
History
| Team | Nb participations |
|---|---|
| SC Braga B | 5 |
| Fafe | 5 |
| Caldas | 5 |
| Sanjoanense | 5 |
| Varzim | 4 |
| Academica | 4 |
| Sporting CP B | 4 |
| Amora | 4 |
| Anadia | 4 |
| Oliveira Hospital | 4 |
| São João Ver | 4 |
| Guimaraes B | 3 |
| SC Covilha | 3 |
| 1º Dezembro | 3 |
| Alverca | 3 |
| Felgueiras 1932 | 3 |
| Trofense | 3 |
| Canelas 2010 | 3 |
| Atlético CP | 3 |
| Lusitânia Lourosa | 3 |
| União Santarém | 3 |
| CF Os Belenenses | 3 |
| Vitoria Setubal | 2 |
| União de Leiria | 2 |
| Amarante | 2 |
| Montalegre | 2 |
| Paredes | 2 |
| Vilaverdense | 2 |
| Real | 2 |
| Oliveirense | 1 |
| Cova De Piedade | 1 |
| Mafra | 1 |
| Lusitânia | 1 |
| Torreense | 1 |
| Vianense | 1 |
| Moncarapachense | 1 |
| Pêro Pinheiro | 1 |
| Fontinhas | 1 |
| Pevidem | 1 |
| Oriental Dragon | 1 |
| Lusitano Évora 1911 | 1 |
| AD Marco 09 | 1 |
Liga 3 top scorer teams
Liga 3 About
Liga 3, currently branded Liga 3 Placard for sponsorship purposes, is Portugal’s national third-tier men’s football league, positioned between Liga Portugal 2 and the Campeonato de Portugal. Created by the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF) in 2021, it provides a more demanding national platform for developing players, established clubs and eligible reserve sides while narrowing the traditional gap between amateur and professional football.
Purpose and place in Portuguese football
Liga 3 was introduced as part of a restructuring of the Portuguese football pyramid. Its role is not simply to add another championship, but to concentrate competitive quality at the level immediately below the top two divisions. The league gives ambitious clubs a route towards Liga Portugal 2 and offers young players regular experience in a national competition with stronger sporting, organisational and infrastructure expectations than the regional tiers.
The competition is governed by the FPF rather than Liga Portugal, the body responsible for the country’s top professional divisions. That distinction is important: Liga 3 belongs to the national structure administered by the federation, while its clubs must still satisfy demanding licensing standards before they can participate. These requirements cover financial compliance, stadium and infrastructure standards, broadcasting facilities and youth-development commitments.
Liga 3 began in August 2021, with its first recorded match taking place on 13 August. Although it has a short history compared with Portugal’s older championships, it has quickly become an important proving ground for emerging talent and a route back to national relevance for historic clubs. Reserve or “B” teams from leading clubs may also take part, although they are not eligible for promotion to Liga Portugal 2.
How clubs reach Liga 3
Clubs can enter the competition through promotion from the Campeonato de Portugal or relegation from Liga Portugal 2. The precise number of clubs moving between divisions is determined by the regulations for the relevant season. Promotion from the fourth tier rewards sporting progress, while relegation provides a place for clubs dropping out of the second division to rebuild at national level.
Promotion and participation are therefore subject to more than league position. Clubs must obtain the appropriate FPF licence and demonstrate that they can meet the competition’s financial, stadium and operational requirements. A reserve side can compete for sporting development and competitive experience, but its ineligibility for promotion can affect the final allocation of promoted places.
Competition format and progression
Liga 3 uses a staged league format rather than one uninterrupted national table. In the recent 20-team structure, clubs begin in two regional groups, commonly identified as the North and South series. Teams play each opponent in their group at home and away, producing a geographically balanced first phase while retaining the intensity of a double round-robin league.
The leading four teams from each series progress to the promotion phase. This creates an eight-team upper section in which clubs compete for movement into Liga Portugal 2 and for the championship distinction attached to Liga 3. In the recent format, the leading sides can earn direct promotion, while a further play-off route may involve the highest eligible team that does not take an automatic place. The promotion phase can also culminate in a championship final; the exact final and play-off arrangements depend on the regulations applying to the relevant edition.
The teams that do not reach the promotion phase enter the maintenance phase, normally divided into two groups. These matches determine which clubs remain in Liga 3 and which fall to the Campeonato de Portugal. Recent regulations have also used bonus points based on first-phase ranking, giving earlier results a continuing effect while ensuring that the second phase remains decisive.
Because the competition has evolved since its creation, details such as the number of groups, promotion play-offs and championship-final arrangements should be read alongside the regulations for the individual season. The underlying principle remains consistent: strong first-phase performance opens a route upwards, while the maintenance phase makes survival a separate sporting contest.
Rules, standings and match calendar
League matches follow the standard points system: three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat. When teams are level, head-to-head performance is used as the principal comparison, beginning with points gained in the relevant meetings and then head-to-head goal difference. Overall goal difference and total victories provide further ordering criteria where required by the competition regulations.
Promotion or relegation play-offs may require extra time when scores remain level after 90 minutes, followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary. Where a tie is played over two legs, the aggregate score across both matches determines which team advances before those additional procedures are applied.
The season follows the usual European football calendar, generally beginning in August and concluding in May. The autumn and winter months are centred on the regional first phase, while the promotion and maintenance groups provide the decisive spring programme. Clubs are also eligible to compete in the Taça de Portugal, giving Liga 3 sides the opportunity to meet teams from higher divisions in the national cup.
Promotion, survival and sporting importance
The central prize is a place in Liga Portugal 2, but Liga 3 offers more than promotion alone. It is a national showcase for players being monitored as they develop, a competitive environment for reserve teams and a platform through which traditional clubs can restore their status. The combination of regional rivalries, promotion pressure and relegation danger gives the league a distinctive identity within Portuguese football.
For supporters, Liga 3 is both a gateway and a test. Clubs must earn progress on the pitch while meeting the standards required off it, making the competition an important link between Portugal’s regional game and its fully established professional elite.