2025–26 Liga III

Liga III
Season	2025–26
	← 2024–25 2026–27 → All statistics correct as of 22 August 2025.

The 2025–26 Liga III will be the 70th season of Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system. The season will start in August 2025 and end in June 2026.

The format was changed to ninety-six teams, divided into eight series of twelve, and will be played in three phases: a regular season, post-season play-offs and play-outs, and a knockout tournament for the fifth promotion spot.^[1]

In the regular season, each team will play 22 matches in a double round-robin format. The top four teams from each series will advance to the promotion play-offs, while the others will enter the play-outs.

In the promotion play-offs, qualified teams will be paired with those from a neighboring series (1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8), forming four play-off groups. The winners of each group will be promoted to Liga II, while the runners-up will compete in a knockout tournament for a fifth promotion place.

In the play-outs, teams ranked 5th–12th will play a single round-robin (7 matches), keeping the points accumulated in the regular season. The bottom two teams from each play-out group will be relegated, along with five additional 6th-placed teams, determined by a general ranking.

Team changes

Promoted to Liga II

Bacău – ended a two-year stay.
Dinamo București – ended a three-year stay.
Tunari – ended a one-year stay.
Gloria Bistrița-Năsăud – ended a seven-year stay.
Olimpia Satu Mare – ended a five-year stay.

Relegated from Liga II

FCU 1948 Craiova – returned after six years, having been excluded previously for failing to obtain a second-tier license.
Dumbrăvița and Câmpulung Muscel – were spared from relegation and admitted to fill the vacant spots in the second tier.
Focșani – returned after one year; however, it withdrew from the third tier.
Mioveni and Viitorul Târgu Jiu^[2] – excluded from the previous second-tier season and not eligible to join the third tier.

Promoted from Liga IV

Cetatea Suceava
Bihorul Beiuș
Unirea Tășnad
Inter Sibiu
Săcele
Hidro Mecanica Șugag 1984
Unirea DMO Hațeg
Unirea Sântana
Târgu Jiu
Voința Crevedia
Păușești Otăsău
Teleajenul Vălenii de Munte
AXI Adunații-Copăceni
Progresul Mogoșoaia
Agigea
Victoria Traian

Relegated to Liga IV

Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț II
Voința Limpeziș
Medgidia
Fetești
Sporting Roșiori
Sport Team București
Olimpic Cetate Râșnov
Ciucaș Tărlungeni
Avântul Reghin
Codlea
Sparta Râmnicu Vâlcea
Avântul Periam
Vulturul Mintiu Gherlii
Diosig Bihardiószeg

Other changes

Comstar Vaslui, Moldova Cristești, Academica Recea, Zimbrii Lerești and Voința Cudalbi declined promotion.

USV Iași, Dacia Unirea Brăila, Dunărea Giurgiu, Flacăra Moreni, Gilortul Târgu Cărbunești and Gloria Lunca-Teuz Cermei were spared from relegation.

Petrolul Potcoava ceded its place to Academica Balș.^[3]

CSM Bacău, Vedița Colonești, Peciu Nou, MSE Târgu Mureș, SR Brașov, Gloria Ultra, ACS FC Dinamo București and Speed Academy Pitești had withdrawn and were formally excluded by the FRF.^[4]

Bacău II, Oțelul Galați II, FCSB II, Universitatea Craiova II, Voluntari II, Dinamo București II and Nanov were invited to fill the vacant spots.

Regular season

Seria I

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Adjud	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Aerostar Bacău
3	Bacău II
4	Bucovina Rădăuți
5	Cetatea Suceava	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Gheorgheni
7	Odorheiu Secuiesc
8	Șoimii Gura Humorului
9	Știința Miroslava
10	USV Iași
11	Vaslui
12	Viitorul Onești

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria II

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Blejoi	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Dacia Unirea Brăila
3	KSE Târgu Secuiesc
4	Oțelul Galați II
5	Păulești	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Petrolul Ploiești II
7	Plopeni
8	Râmnicu Sărat
9	Sepsi OSK II
10	Sporting Liești
11	Unirea Braniștea
12	Victoria Traian

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria III

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Agigea	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Agricola Borcea
3	Axiopolis Cernavodă
4	Dinamo București II
5	Dunărea Călărași	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	FCSB II
7	Gloria Băneasa
8	Înainte Modelu
9	Popești-Leordeni
10	Progresul Fundulea
11	Recolta Gheorghe Doja
12	Voluntari II

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria IV

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Băicoi	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Flacăra Moreni
3	Kids Tâmpa Brașov
4	Olimpic Zărnești
5	Progresul Mogoșoaia	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Pucioasa
7	Săcele
8	Ștefănești
9	Teleajenul Vălenii de Munte
10	Tricolorul Breaza
11	Urban Titu
12	Voința Crevedia

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria V

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Academica Balș	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Alexandria
3	AXI Adunații-Copăceni
4	Clinceni
5	Cetatea Turnu Măgurele	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Dunărea Giurgiu
7	FCU 1948 Craiova
8	Filiași
9	Nanov
10	Oltul Curtișoara
11	Progresul Spartac București
12	Universitatea Craiova II

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria VI

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	ARO Muscelul Câmpulung	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Gilortul Târgu Cărbunești
3	Inter Sibiu
4	Jiul Petroșani
5	Mediaș	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Minerul Lupeni
7	Păușești Otăsău
8	Râmnicu Vâlcea
9	Târgu Jiu
10	Unirea Bascov
11	Viitorul Dăești
12	Vulturii Fărcășești

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria VII

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	CIL Blaj	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	CSU Alba Iulia
3	Ghiroda
4	Hidro Mecanica Șugag 1984
5	Metalurgistul Cugir	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Politehnica Timișoara
7	Progresul Pecica
8	Timișul Șag
9	Unirea Alba Iulia
10	Unirea DMO Hațeg
11	Unirea Sântana
12	Viitorul Arad

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Seria VIII

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Bihorul Beiuș	Qualification to Play-Off round
2	Crișul Sântandrei
3	Gloria Lunca-Teuz Cermei
4	Lotus Băile Felix
5	Minaur Baia Mare	Qualification to Play-Out round
6	Olimpia MCMXXI Satu Mare
7	Sănătatea Cluj
8	Sighetu Marmației
9	Unirea Dej
10	Unirea Tășnad
11	Viitorul Cluj
12	Zalău

First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored;
5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[5]

Play-off round

Seria I

Pos	Team	Promotion or qualification
1	Team1	Promotion to Liga II
2	Team2	Qualification to promotion play-offs
3	Team3
4	Team4
5	Team5
6	Team6
7	Team7
8	Team8

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria II

Pos	Team	Promotion or qualification
1	Team1	Promotion to Liga II
2	Team2	Qualification to promotion play-offs
3	Team3
4	Team4
5	Team5
6	Team6
7	Team7
8	Team8

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria III

Pos	Team	Promotion or qualification
1	Team1	Promotion to Liga II
2	Team2	Qualification to promotion play-offs
3	Team3
4	Team4
5	Team5
6	Team6
7	Team7
8	Team8

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria IV

Pos	Team	Promotion or qualification
1	Team1	Promotion to Liga II
2	Team2	Qualification to promotion play-offs
3	Team3
4	Team4
5	Team5
6	Team6
7	Team7
8	Team8

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Play-out round

Seria I

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria II

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria III

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria IV

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria V

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria VI

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria VII

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Seria VIII

Pos	Team	Qualification or relegation
5	Team1
6	Team2
7	Team3
8	Team4
9	Team5
10	Team6	Possible relegation
11	Team7	Relegation to Liga IV
12	Team8	Relegation to Liga IV

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: FRF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in the regular season; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored;
6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Goal difference (regular season + play off); 8) Goals scored (regular season + play off); 9) Play-off.^[5]

Promotion play-offs

Semi-finals

30 May 2026	2nd place Seria I	–	2nd place Seria II	TBA
TBA				Stadium: TBA

30 May 2026	2nd place Seria III	–	2nd place Seria IV	TBA
TBA				Stadium: TBA

Final

6 June 2026	Semi-finals 1	–	Semi-finals 2	TBA
TBA				Stadium: TBA

Possible relegation

At the end of the season, a special ranking will be made between the teams placed 10th in each of the eight series, in order to determine five more teams to be relegated based on the overall ranking.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Un nou format competițional la Liga 3 din sezonul 2025/2026". frf.ro. 20 March 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
^ "Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu a fost exclusă din Liga 2". liga2.prosport.ro. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
^ "Proiect fotbalistic nou în Olt: Academica Balș, echipă de Liga a III-a cu antrenor experimentat" [New football project in Olt: Academica Balș, a Third League team with an experienced coach]. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
^ "16 cluburi au fost excluse din competițiile FRF în urma meciurilor din Turul 1 al Cupei României" (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 7 August 2025. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t "Regulamentul de Organizare a Activității Fotbalistice" [Football Activity Organization Regulations] (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2024.

External links

FRF

[format-1] "Un nou format competițional la Liga 3 din sezonul 2025/2026". frf.ro. 20 March 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.

[2] "Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu a fost exclusă din Liga 2". liga2.prosport.ro. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.

[3] "Proiect fotbalistic nou în Olt: Academica Balș, echipă de Liga a III-a cu antrenor experimentat" [New football project in Olt: Academica Balș, a Third League team with an experienced coach]. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.

[4] "16 cluburi au fost excluse din competițiile FRF în urma meciurilor din Turul 1 al Cupei României" (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 7 August 2025. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.

[ROAF-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t "Regulamentul de Organizare a Activității Fotbalistice" [Football Activity Organization Regulations] (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Liga III
Seria I	Bucovina Ceahlăul II CSM Bacău CSM Vaslui FC Bacău Gloria Ultra Miroslava Șoimii Șomuz USV Iași
Seria II	Adjud Aerostar Braniștea Dacia Unirea KSE Liești Limpeziș Onești Râmnicu Sărat Sepsi OSK II
Seria III	Agricola Axiopolis Băneasa Dunărea CL Fetești Fundulea Medgidia Modelu Popești-Leordeni Recolta
Seria IV	Alexandria CS Dinamo Cetatea Clinceni Curtișoara Dunărea GR Potcoava Progresul Roșiori Vedița
Seria V	ACS FC Dinamo Blejoi Flacăra Păulești Petrolul II Pucioasa Sport Team Ștefănești Tunari Urban Titu
Seria VI	Băicoi Ciucaș Gheorgheni Kids Tâmpa Odorheiu Secuiesc Plopeni Râșnov SR Brașov Tricolorul Zărnești
Seria VII	Avântul Blaj Codlea CSU Alba Iulia Gloria Mediaș Metalurgistul Târgu Mureș Unirea Alba Iulia Unirea Dej
Seria VIII	ARO Muscelul Bascov Dăești Fărcășești Filiași Gilortul Jiul Râmnicu Vâlcea Sparta RMV Speed Academy
Seria IX	Cermei Ghiroda Lotus Minerul Lupeni Pecica Peciu Nou Periam Poli Timișoara Timișul Șag Viitorul AR
Seria X	CSM Olimpia Diosig Minaur Mintiu Gherlii Olimpia MCMXXI Sănătatea Sântandrei Sighet Viitorul CJ Zalău

Team changes

Regular season

Seria I

Seria II

Seria III

Seria IV

Seria V

Seria VI

Seria VII

Seria VIII

Play-off round

Seria I

Seria II

Seria III

Seria IV

Play-out round

Seria I

Seria II

Seria III

Seria IV

Seria V

Seria VI

Seria VII

Seria VIII

Promotion play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

Possible relegation

See also

References

External links