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Primera Nacional

Argentina

About the League

Argentina's sprawling second tier, split into two 18-club zones with a final for direct promotion and a Reducido playoff for the second spot.

Primera Nacional is the second division of Argentine football, sitting directly below the Liga Profesional and above the Torneo Federal A and Primera B Metropolitana. Created in 1986 as Primera B Nacional to unify clubs from Buenos Aires and the country's provincial leagues into a single second tier, it dropped the "B" from its name ahead of the 2019-20 season. Like the top flight, it now runs on a calendar-year schedule rather than the August-to-May format common in Europe. Thirty-six clubs are split into two zones of eighteen, playing every other team in their zone home and away; the two zone winners meet in a final on neutral ground, with the winner promoted directly to the Liga Profesional. Clubs finishing second through eighth in each zone enter the Torneo Reducido, a knockout playoff that decides a second promotion spot alongside the beaten zone finalist. The bottom two clubs in each zone are relegated. The division is a proving ground for storied clubs rebuilding after relegation and provincial sides chasing a first taste of the top flight, and it regularly sends surprise promotions into Argentina's elite. For a fan following it on a scores platform, expect two parallel zone races, congested run-ins, and a second-promotion race that can stay unresolved into late November.

Founded1986
Clubs36
HoldersGimnasia y Esgrima(Mendoza)

Where to watch the Primera Nacional

Quick answer: the Primera Nacional is broadcast by different rights holders in each country — LPF Play in Argentina, LPF Play in United Kingdom, LPF Play in United States, and more below. Pick your region in the table, then open a match on OneLightScore to start the stream.

Country / RegionOfficial BroadcastersPlatformQuality
Argentina
LPF Play·TyC Sports Argentina
TV/OTTHD
United Kingdom
LPF Play
OTT
United States
LPF Play
OTT
i
No play buttons here on purpose. Streaming links are match-specific and rights-checked at kickoff — they live on each match page, not in this guide.

Frequently asked questions

How is Primera Nacional structured?

Primera Nacional splits 36 clubs into two zones of 18, with each club playing every other team in its zone home and away.

How is the Primera Nacional champion decided?

The two zone winners in 2026 meet in a final on neutral ground, and the winner earns direct promotion to the Liga Profesional.

What is the Torneo Reducido in Primera Nacional?

It is a knockout playoff among the clubs finishing second to eighth in each zone, plus the beaten zone final finalist, deciding a second promotion spot.

How many clubs are relegated from Primera Nacional each season?

Four clubs, the bottom two in each zone, are relegated at the end of 2026.

When does the Primera Nacional season run?

Primera Nacional follows a calendar-year format, generally starting in February and finishing in November.

What tier of Argentine football is Primera Nacional?

Primera Nacional is the second division, sitting below the Liga Profesional and above the Torneo Federal A and Primera B Metropolitana.