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Primera Nacional

Argentine association football league


Argentine association football league

FieldValue
namePrimera Nacional
logoPrimera Nacional Logo.svg
pixels150
founded
first1986–87
countryARG
confedCONMEBOL
teams36
promotionPrimera División
relegationPrimera B Metropolitana
Torneo Federal A
levels2
championsGimnasia y Esgrima (M)
season2025
most_champsBanfield
Olimpo (3 titles each)
top_goalscorerAdrián Czornomaz (160)
tvArgentina:
TyC Sports
DirecTV SportsInternational:
TNT Sports
TyC Max
website
current2026 Primera Nacional

Torneo Federal A Olimpo (3 titles each) TyC Sports DirecTV SportsInternational: TNT Sports TyC Max Primera Nacional, (usually called simply Nacional B, (English "National B Division"), and known as Primera B Nacional until the 2019–20 season) popularly known as La B (The B), is the second division of the Argentine football league system. The competition is made up of 38 teams.

It is played by teams from all over the country. Clubs from Buenos Aires surroundings, as well as some from Santa Fe Province, are promoted from or relegated to the Primera B Metropolitana ("Metropolitan B Division") while for teams from the other provinces the Torneo Federal A ("Federal A Tournament") is the next level down. In Argentine football, Primera Nacional is the second-highest league, and from it, the three best teams are automatically promoted to Primera División.

Primera B Nacional games are often transmitted to Argentina and abroad on television by TyC Sports.

History

It was created in 1986 to integrate unaffiliated clubs into the Argentine football structure, which until then had only participated in Nacional championships of Argentina's First Division tournament. It brought together teams from the old Primera B (until then, the second division) and regional leagues from several Argentine provinces.

After the 1985–86 season, the Primera B Nacional became the second hierarchical league in Argentina's professional football, after the Primera División, and it is above the Torneo Federal A and the Primera B Metropolitana, the last one started to act as a third division for the teams directly affiliated to AFA.

Beginning in the 2019–20 season, the name was changed dropping the B to simply be known as Primera Nacional.

Format

Main article: 2026 Primera Nacional

Thirty-six participating teams split into two zones of 18 teams, where they played against the other teams in their group twice: once at home and once away. However, interzonal matches between rival teams were played, although rival sides were still paired together for the season draw and drawn into different zones. Both zone winners played a final match on neutral ground to decide the first promoted team to the top flight for the following season, while the teams placed from second to eighth place in each zone played a knockout tournament (Torneo Reducido) for the second promotion berth along with the loser of the final between the zone winners. Four teams were relegated to the third-tier leagues, those being the bottom two teams from each zone.

List of champions

Since the first season held in 1986–87, the following teams have crowned champions of the division: In case of championships defined by final, they are indicated.

Ed.SeasonChampionFinal scoreRunner-upThird Place
1986–87Deportivo Armenio (1)BanfieldBelgrano (C)
1987–88Deportivo Mandiyú (1)QuilmesCipolletti
1988–89Chaco For Ever (1)LanúsUnión
1989–90Huracán (1)QuilmesDouglas Haig
1990–91Quilmes (1)Atlético TucumánBelgrano (C)
1991–92Lanús (1)Almirante BrownColón
1992–93Banfield (1)ColónGimnasia y Tiro
1993–94Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) (1)QuilmesSan Martin (T)
1994–95Estudiantes (LP) (1)Atlético de RafaelaColón
1995–96Huracán (C) (1)Talleres (C)Atlético Tucumán
1996–97Argentinos Juniors (1)Talleres (C)Godoy Cruz
1997–98Talleres (C) (1)Belgrano (C)No third-place awarded
1998–99Instituto (1)Chacarita JuniorsNo third-place awarded
1999–00Huracán (2)QuilmesNo third-place awarded
2000–01Banfield (2)QuilmesNo third-place awarded
2001–02Olimpo (1)QuilmesSan Martín (M)
2002–03Atlético de Rafaela (1)Argentinos JuniorsQuilmes
2003–04Instituto (C) (2)AlmagroHuracán (TA)
2004–05Tiro Federal (1)Gimnasia y Esgrima (J)Huracán
2005–06Godoy Cruz (1)Nueva ChicagoBelgrano (C)
2006–07Olimpo (2)San Martín (SJ)Huracán
2007–08San Martín (T) (1)Godoy CruzUnión
2008–09Atlético Tucumán (1)Chacarita JuniorsAtlético de Rafaela
2009–10Olimpo (3)QuilmesAtlético de Rafaela
2010–11Atlético de Rafaela (2)UniónSan Martín (SJ)
2011–12River Plate (1)QuilmesInstituto
2012–13Rosario Central (1)Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)Olimpo
2013–14Banfield (3)Defensa y JusticiaIndependiente
2014
2015Atlético Tucumán (2)PatronatoFerro Carril Oeste
2016Talleres (C) (2)Chacarita JuniorsGimnasia y Esgrima (J)
2016–17Argentinos Juniors (2)Chacarita JuniorsGuillermo Brown
2017–18Aldosivi (1)AlmagroSan Martin (T)
2018–19Arsenal (1)Sarmiento (J)Nueva Chicago
2019–20
2020Sarmiento (J) (1)Estudiantes (RC)No third-place awarded
2021Tigre (1)Barracas CentralNo third-place awarded
2022Belgrano (1)InstitutoSan Martín (T)
2023Independiente Rivadavia (1)Almirante BrownNo third-place awarded
2024Aldosivi (2)San Martín (T)No third-place awarded
2025Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) (1)Deportivo MadrynNo third-place awarded

;Notes

Titles by club

ClubTitlesRunn.Seasons won
Banfield1992–93, 2000–01, 2013–14
Olimpo2001–02, 2006–07, 2009–10
Talleres (C)1997–98, 2016
Atlético Tucumán2008–09, 2015
Atlético de Rafaela2002–03, 2010–11
Argentinos Juniors1996–97, 2016–17
Aldosivi2017–18, 2024
Huracán1989–90, 1999–00
Instituto1998–99, 2003–04
Deportivo Armenio1986–87
Deportivo Mandiyú1987–88
Chaco For Ever1988–89
Quilmes1990–91
Lanús1991–92
Gimnasia y Esgrima (J)1993–94
Estudiantes (LP)1994–95
Huracán (C)1995–96
Tiro Federal2004–05
Godoy Cruz2005–06
San Martín (T)12007–08
River Plate2011–12
Rosario Central2012–13
Arsenal2018–19
Sarmiento (J)2020
Tigre2021
Belgrano2022
Independiente Rivadavia2023
Gimnasia y Esgrima (M)2025

Seasons in Primera Nacional

;Notes:

  • Updated to 2026 season.
  • Teams in bold are currently playing in the division.
Club/sSeasons
Instituto
Atlético de Rafaela
Quilmes
Chacarita Juniors, Gimnasia y Esgrima (J), Nueva Chicago
Ferro Carril Oeste
San Martín (SJ), San Martín (T)
Defensa y Justicia
All Boys, Almagro
Almirante Brown, Atlético Tucumán
Independiente Rivadavia, Los Andes
Deportivo Morón
Belgrano (C), Douglas Haig
Aldosivi
Unión (SF), Tigre
Atlanta, Godoy Cruz, Temperley, Villa Dálmine
Arsenal, Chaco For Ever, Colón, Defensores de Belgrano, Huracán
Banfield, Deportivo Maipú, Estudiantes (BA), Guillermo Brown, Olimpo
Brown (A), Central Córdoba (R), Racing (C), Sportivo Italiano, Talleres (C)
Agropecuario, Boca Unidos, Central Córdoba (SdE), Cipolletti, Mitre (SdE), Patronato, Platense, Santamarina, Sarmiento (J)
Comisión de Actividades Infantiles, Gimnasia y Esgrima (M), Gimnasia y Tiro, Juventud Antoniana, San Martín (M), Talleres (RE)
El Porvenir
Alvarado, Estudiantes (RC), Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU), San Miguel, Tiro Federal (R)
Almirante Brown (A), Deportivo Riestra, Güemes (SdE), San Telmo, Tristán Suárez
Argentinos Juniors, Crucero del Norte, Deportivo Madryn, Huracán (TA), Laferrere, Lanús,
Deportivo Merlo, Estudiantes (SL), Flandria, Guaraní Antonio Franco, Juventud Unida (G), Villa Mitre
Atlético Paraná, Barracas Central, Ben Hur, Central Norte, Defensores Unidos, Deportivo Español, Huracán Corrientes, Rosario Central, Sportivo Belgrano
Deportivo Armenio, Colegiales, Deportivo Mandiyú, Ferro Carril Oeste (GP), Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP), Ituzaingó
Acassuso, Atlético Concepción, Argentino (R), Ciudad de Bolívar, Desamparados, Estación Quequén, Estudiantes (LP), Ferrocarril Midland, General Paz Juniors, Independiente, Juventud Unida Universitario, River Plate, Sacachispas, Unión (MdP), Unión de Villa Krause, Villa San Carlos

Top scorers

SeasonPlayerTeamGoals
1986–87ARG José Raúl IglesiasHuracán36
1987–88ARG Daniel LeaniQuilmes24
1988–89ARG Daniel AquinoBanfield24
ARG Sergio RecchiuttiAlmirante Brown
1989–90ARG Juan AlmadaDefensa y Justicia20
ARG Abel BlasónQuilmes
1990–91ARG Roberto OsteDefensa y Justicia24
1991–92ARG Carlos CardozoAlmirante Brown26
1992–93ARG Miguel AmayaGimnasia y Tiro (S)21
1993–94ARG Dante FernándezQuilmes29
1994–95ARG Alejandro AbaurreGodoy Cruz29
1995–96ARG Adrián CzornomazLos Andes22
1996–97HON Eduardo BennettArgentinos Juniors23
1997–98ARG Alejandro GlaríaBanfield30
1998–99ARG Adrián CzornomazAtlético Tucumán26
1999–00ARG Gastón CasasHuracán30
2000–01ARG Daniel JiménezInstituto23
2001–02ARG Diego CeballosGimnasia y Esgrima (CdU)26
2002–03ARG Daniel GiménezGodoy Cruz13
ARG Diego TorresQuilmes
2003–04ARG Julio BevacquaComisión de Actividades Infantiles13
2004–05ARG Rubén RamírezTiro Federal15
2005–06ARG Daniel Bazán VeraUnión (SF)18
2006–07ARG Ismael BlancoOlimpo29
2007–08ARG Cristian MillaChacarita Juniors20
ARG Leandro ZárateUnión
2008–09ARG Luis RodríguezAtlético Tucumán20
2009–10ARG Leandro ArmaniTiro Federal19
2010–11ARG César CarignanoAtlético de Rafaela21
2011–12ARG Gonzalo CastillejosRosario Central26
2012–13ARG Luis RodríguezAtlético Tucumán20
2013–14ARG Juan M. LuceroDefensa y Justicia24
2014ARG Ramón ÁbilaHuracán9
ARG Nicolás MazzolaInstituto (C)
2015ARG Fernando ZampedriJuventud Unida (G)
2016ARG Germán LesmanAll Boys
2016–17ARG Rodrigo SalinasChacarita Juniors
2017–18ARG Jonathan HerreraDeportivo Riestra / Ferro Carril Oeste13
2018–19ARG Patricio CucchiGimnasia y Esgrima (M)15
2019–20ARG Pablo MagnínSarmiento (J)
2020ECU Claudio BielerAtlético Rafaela
2021ARG Pablo MagnínTigre
2022ARG Pablo VegettiBelgrano (C)
2023PAR Álex ArceIndependiente Rivadavia
2024ARG Agustín LavezziTristán Suárez
2025ARG Alejandro GagliardiAgropecuario

Notes

References

References

  1. [http://edant.ole.com.ar/notas/2007/01/28/01353319.html "Y se sacó el parche" on ''Olé''], 28 Jan 2007
  2. [https://www.infobae.com/deportes-2/2019/07/10/la-afa-le-cambio-el-nombre-a-la-b-nacional-como-se-llamara-y-los-detalles-del-nuevo-formato/ La AFA le cambió el nombre a la Primera B Nacional], Infobae, 10 Jul 2019
  3. [https://www.diariouno.com.ar/ovacion/futbol/primera-b-nacional-renueva-formato-cambia-nombre-07102019_rJ87Ra7ZH La Primera B Nacional renueva su formato], Diario Uno, 10 Jul 2019
  4. (22 December 2025). "Así se jugará la Primera Nacional en 2026: fixture, formato y los clásicos".
  5. [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg2champ.html List of Argentine second division champions] at [[RSSSF]]
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