División de Honor Juvenil 2026/27: groups, format and coaching licence
División de Honor Juvenil 2026/27 brings together 114 clubs in seven groups run by the RFEF. Its head coach needs a UEFA A licence or the Diploma Nivel II.
- Groups: six of 16 clubs and one of 18, group 4 (Andalucía, Ceuta and Melilla).
- League: home-and-away format from 6 September 2026 to 2 May 2027.
- Relegation: the bottom four of each group drop to Liga Nacional Juvenil (in group 4, the four worst-placed Andalusian teams).
- Licence: UEFA A for the head coach; UEFA B qualifies for Liga Nacional Juvenil.
División de Honor Juvenil and Liga Nacional Juvenil: how they differ
The RFEF runs División de Honor Juvenil and is its sole rights holder. It also holds the rights to Liga Nacional Juvenil but has delegated its organisation to the regional federations.
Promotion and relegation connect the two leagues: the bottom teams of each División de Honor Juvenil group drop to Liga Nacional Juvenil, and its champions come up. Both are for players born in 2008, 2009, 2010 or later, as the guide to grassroots football age categories explains.
| Aspect | División de Honor Juvenil | Liga Nacional Juvenil |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | The RFEF | The regional federations, by delegation from the RFEF |
| Groups in 2026/27 | 7 groups and 114 clubs | 17 groups, set by territorial criteria |
| Born in | 2008, 2009, 2010 or later | 2008, 2009, 2010 or later |
| Head coach licence | UEFA A or Diploma Nivel II, mandatory | UEFA B or Diploma Nivel I, qualify |
Sources: RFEF Circular 89 and Circular 90 and the Competition Regulations.
What licence the coach needs
The required qualification depends on the role and the league. The table sets out what the RFEF Competition Regulations, published in November 2025, lay down for División de Honor Juvenil and Liga Nacional Juvenil.
| Role | Valid qualification |
|---|---|
| Head coach in División de Honor Juvenil | UEFA A licence or Diploma Nivel II, mandatory. The same requirement applies in Primera, Segunda and Tercera Federación. |
| Head coach in División de Honor Juvenil, academic route | Título de Técnico Deportivo. The intermediate-level (grado medio) title in football is equivalent to the UEFA A for professional purposes. |
| Head coach in División de Honor Juvenil, youth licence | UEFA Youth Elite A. |
| Assistant in División de Honor Juvenil | A qualification equal to or one grade below the one required for the category, with the Diploma Básico as a minimum. The regulations do not name the UEFA B here, but by that rule an assistant with a UEFA B would be one grade below a head coach with a UEFA A. |
| Head coach in Liga Nacional Juvenil | UEFA B or Diploma Nivel I. The UEFA Youth B also works. |
| Any coach on the bench | The relevant federation licence and a certificate confirming no sexual-offence record. |
Sources: RFEF Competition Regulations and Circular 89.
For other categories, see the guide to what you can coach with each UEFA licence; the comparison of Sports Technician and UEFA licence explains both routes. Coaches who hold a UEFA C and aim for the UEFA A can look at the UEFA B&A course at the RFEF National Coaching School.
The seven groups in 2026/27 and their 114 clubs
There are six groups of 16 teams and one of 18, with 114 clubs in total.
The group of 18 teams is group 4. According to the RFEF news item on the group configuration, the fourth group is for the clubs of Andalucía, Ceuta and Melilla.
The clubs in each group are listed in the official RFEF fixture lists: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6 and group 7.
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How the league works: calendar, promotion and relegation
Each group plays a home-and-away league: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a defeat.
2026/27 calendar
- Start: 6 September 2026.
- End of the first half: 20 December 2026, on matchday 15 (matchday 17 in group 4). That table decides who plays the Copa del Rey Juvenil.
- End of the league: 2 May 2027.
- Matchdays: 30 in the groups of 16 teams and 34 in group 4.
Who goes down to Liga Nacional Juvenil
- General rule: the bottom four of each group.
- Group 4: the four worst-placed Andalusian teams. Ceuta and Melilla always have the right to one place each, under an agreement between the Andalucía, Ceuta and Melilla federations.
Who comes up from Liga Nacional Juvenil
- The 17 group champions.
- Seven runners-up: those of groups 1, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14.
- Four Canarian teams from the top competition in the islands, as set by that competition's own rules.
Groups 13 and 14 are also subject to their own agreements.
Sources: RFEF Circular 89, Circular 90 and group fixture lists.
The two cups: Copa del Rey Juvenil and Copa de Campeones
División de Honor Juvenil is completed by two cups, with different qualification routes and calendars, summarised in the table.
The RFEF sets the venue of the Final Four and, at the date of this review, has not yet announced it.
The Copa de Campeones winner is entitled to play the 2027/28 UEFA Youth League, under UEFA regulations.
| Aspect | Copa del Rey Juvenil | Copa de Campeones |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | The top four of each group plus the four best fifth-placed teams at the end of the first half of the season: 32 teams | The seven group champions plus the best runner-up: 8 teams |
| When it is decided | At the end of the first half of the season, on 20 December 2026 | At the end of the regular season, on 2 May 2027 |
| Format | Single-leg ties; if level, extra time of 2x15 minutes and penalties | Two-leg quarter-finals; semi-finals and final as a single-leg Final Four |
| Dates | Round of 32 on Sunday 17 January 2027 | Quarter-finals on 9 and 12 May 2027; Final Four from 19 to 23 May |
Sources: RFEF Circular 89 and Circular 91 and the 2026/27 youth football calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What licence do you need to coach in División de Honor Juvenil?
The head coach needs the UEFA A licence or the Diploma Nivel II, under the RFEF Competition Regulations. The Título de Técnico Deportivo and the UEFA Youth Elite A are also valid. The intermediate-level Técnico Deportivo is equivalent to the UEFA A for professional purposes.
Can I coach in División de Honor Juvenil with a UEFA B?
As head coach, no. Assistants may hold a qualification equal to or one grade below the one required for the category, with the Diploma Básico as a minimum. A UEFA B does let you be head coach in Liga Nacional Juvenil. For a specific case, check with your federation.
How many groups does División de Honor Juvenil have in 2026/27?
There are seven groups and 114 clubs: six groups of 16 teams and one of 18, group 4. According to the RFEF news item, group 4 corresponds to Andalucía, Ceuta and Melilla. The official PDF fixture lists from the RFEF show the clubs in each group.
What is the difference between División de Honor Juvenil and Liga Nacional Juvenil?
División de Honor Juvenil is run by the RFEF in seven groups and requires a UEFA A of its head coach. Liga Nacional Juvenil has 17 groups run by the regional federations by delegation, and a UEFA B qualifies for it. The bottom four of each División de Honor Juvenil group drop into it.
How does a team qualify for the Copa del Rey Juvenil?
The top four of each group at the end of the first half of the season enter, along with the four best fifth-placed teams, making 32 teams. In 2026/27 the first half ends on 20 December 2026 and the round of 32 is played on 17 January 2027.
Official sources
- RFEF: Circular 89, rules for División de Honor Juvenil and Copa de Campeones 2026/27
- RFEF: Circular 90, rules for Liga Nacional Juvenil 2026/27
- RFEF: Circular 91, rules for Copa del Rey Juvenil 2026/27
- RFEF: Circular 34, Competition Regulations (arts. 88, 89 and 100)
- RFEF: approved group configuration for División de Honor Juvenil 2026-2027
- RFEF: key dates of RFEF youth football in the 2026/27 season
- RFEF: División de Honor Juvenil fixture list, group 4, 2026/27