Regionalliga promotion (Germany) is the DFB-governed pathway that awards four promotion places from the five fourth-tier Regionalliga divisions to the 3. Liga. Regulations: under the current model, the champions of Regionalliga West and Regionalliga Südwest are promoted directly every season, while the remaining two promotion places are shared between the champions of Regionalliga Nord, Regionalliga Nordost and Regionalliga Bayern, with one of these three champions receiving direct promotion on a yearly rotation and the other two champions playing a two-legged home-and-away play-off for the final place. In the play-off the away-goals rule is not used, and if the tie is level on aggregate after both legs the second leg goes to extra time and then penalties if required. Admission to promotion is subject to meeting 3. Liga licensing and eligibility requirements, and if a champion is not admitted or waives promotion the spot can pass to the next eligible club in that Regionalliga under the season’s approved rules.
