When you ask how many games do Ligue 1 play, you’re usually wondering: how many matches does each team play in a Ligue 1 season, and what the total number of matches in the league is. FreeKickSEO is here to break it down clearly for you — and trust me, it’s simpler than all those transfer rumors.
What is Ligue 1’s current format
Since the 2023-24 season, Ligue 1 (France’s top football division) features 18 clubs. Each team plays each of the other 17 teams twice — one match at home, one away. edia)
So:
- Matches per team each season: 17 opponents × 2 = 34 games.
- The games are spread across the season, normally.
Total number of matches in the league
If each of the 18 teams plays 34 games, you might be tempted to multiply 18 × 34, but that double-counts every match (since each match involves two teams). The correct way:
- Total matches in Ligue 1 per season = (Number of teams × Matches per team) ÷ 2
- That’s (18 × 34) ÷ 2 = 306 matches in the whole league over the season.
How did this change over time
Ligue 1 hasn’t always been 18 teams. Historically:
- For many seasons it operated with 20 teams, meaning each team played 38 matches (19 home, 19 away).
- When Ligue 1 had 20 clubs: each club faced 19 opponents twice → 38 games per team, and total matches → (20 × 38) ÷ 2 = 380 matches per season.
- In mid-2023, the league was reduced from 20 to 18 teams, which changed the numbers to what they are now.
So the format from 2023-24 onward is 18 teams → 34 matches per team → 306 total matches. Before that, with 20 teams, it was 38 & 380 respectively.
Why it matters
All this plays a role in scheduling, player fitness, TV rights, and even how tight the competition can be.
- Fewer games can mean less fatigue over a long season, especially for teams that also compete in Europe.
- For broadcasters, fewer match-days mean a slightly different calendar and fewer “premium” fixtures.
- For fans and fantasy managers, knowing how many matches means accurate tracking of stats, predictions, and expectations.
When the numbers might differ
There are some special circumstances when the standard 34 games per team / 306 total matches can be affected:
- Play-offs or relegation/promotion playoffs: If Ligue 1 uses a playoff match to decide relegation/promotion, that adds extra matches beyond the regular schedule.
- Match cancellations, rescheduling, or extraordinary events (weather, health crises, etc.) can cause fixture congestion or postponements.
- Rule changes: Ligue 1 could change the number of teams again (up or down), which would adjust the match count accordingly.
Quick comparison with other Big Leagues
Let’s see where Ligue 1 stands in comparison:
| League | Teams | Matches per team | Total matches per season* |
| Ligue 1 (France) – now | 18 | 34 | 306 |
| Premier League (England) | 20 | 38 | 380 |
| La Liga (Spain) | 20 | 38 | 380 |
| Bundesliga (Germany) | 18 | 34 | 306 |
| Serie A (Italy) | 20 | 38 | 380 |
Based on the double round-robin standard format (home & away against each other team). No playoffs included.
Seasonal highlights & stats
- In the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, there were 306 matches played.
- The 2025-26 season will follow the same structure with 18 teams.
- Matches run from mid-August to mid-May typically.
Conclusion
How many games do Ligue 1 play in the current format? Each team plays 34 games in the season, and the entire Ligue 1 season has 306 matches total. That’s under the present 18-team setup.
If you want, FreeKickSEO can also pull together a timeline showing every time Ligue 1 changed formats, or even compare match loads of top European leagues. Want me to do that?
