Primera Nacional 2026: Draw date set, new format explained | OneFootball

The Primera Nacional 2026 is starting to take shape: on December 22, the draw will take place to determine the setup of the two zones. Just like this year, the championship will feature 36 teams, divided into two groups of 18, with a fixture of 34 matchdays, everyone playing each other home and away.

The promotion scheme remains unchanged. The first promotion will be awarded to the winner of the final between the leaders of each zone. The second promotion will come from the Playoffs, where the top eight from each group, along with the loser of the final, will participate, repeating the format used this year.

Regarding relegations, the last teams in each zone will be directly relegated to Primera B or Federal A.

The tournament will start on the first weekend of February and will be played even during the World Cup. Additionally, there will be a two-week break between the first and second rounds. The AFA is also considering a new mini-tournament for the clubs that do not qualify for the Playoffs, with the possibility of competing for spots in the Copa Argentina 2027, although no firm decision has been made yet.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.