Division 2 (Swedish football)

Division 2 is the fourth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 84 Swedish football teams. Division 2 had status as the official second level from 1928 to 1986 but was replaced by Division 1 in 1987. It then had status as the official third level until 2005 but was replaced again by the recreated Division 1 in 2006.

Overview

In the division, there are 84 clubs which are divided in six groups of 14 teams each representing a geographical area. During the course of a season (starting in April and ending in October) each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 26 games. At the end of each season, the two lowest placed teams of each group are relegated to division 3 and the twelve winning teams from the twelve division 3 leagues are promoted in their place while the third lowest placed teams in the division 2 leagues plays promotion/relegation play-offs against the twelve second placed teams in division 3. The top team in each division 2 group is promoted to division 1 and the three lowest placed teams from each division 1 league are relegated in their place.

Administration

The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) is responsible for the administration of division 2.

Historical context

Division 2 is the fourth-highest division in Swedish Football. It currently comprises six regional leagues which may show some small changes to their titles year on year reflecting the changing geographical distribution of clubs. The six sections for the 2014 season cover Norrland, Norra Svealand, Södra Svealand, Norra Götaland, Västra Götaland and Östra Götaland.

The name of division 2 has been around since 1924/25 season when there were 5 sections titled Uppsvenskan, Mellansvenskan, Östsvenskan, Västsvenskan and Sydsvenskan which were run on an unofficial basis. Division 2 became official in 1928/29 as the second tier of Swedish football with 2 sections being created – Norra and Södra – with a total of 20 teams.

In 1932/33 division 2 was expanded into 4 sections covering Norra, Östra, Västra and Södra. This format continued until the end of the 1946/47 season. For the 1947/48 season a 2 section structure was restored comprising the Nordöstra and Sydvästra sections. In 1953/54 a section representing the northern clubs in Sweden was introduced for the first time known as Norrland. The other two sections were titled Svealand and Götaland. In 1955/56 it was decided that Götaland should have 2 sections. This provided division 2 with 4 sections covering Norrland, Svealand, Östra Götaland and Västra Götaland.

In 1972 the structure reverted to 3 sections titled Norra, Mellersta and Södra. This was short-lived and in 1974 two sections covering Norra and Södra were consolidated. This system continued until the end of the 1986 season when the competition became division 1.

From 1987 onwards division 2 became the third highest league in Swedish football and this continued until 2005. The new division initially had 4 sections titled Norra, Mellersta, Östra and Västra. In 1993 it was divided into 6 sections titled Norrland, Östra Svealand, Västra Svealand, Östra Götaland, Västra Götaland and Södra Götaland.

In 2006 division 2 became Sweden's fourth highest division with the introduction of division 1 below the Superettan.

Current clubs

Clubs for the 2026 season:

Norrland

• Bodens BK
• Fränsta IK
• Friska Viljor FC
• Gottne IF
• Kubikenborgs IF
• Lucksta IF
• IFK Luleå
• IFK Östersund
• Skellefteå FF
• Storfors AIK
• Täfteå IK
• Team TG FF
• Umeå FC Akademi
• IFK Umeå

Norra Svealand

• Ängby IF
• Bollstanäs SK
• Enskede IK
• Falu BS
• IK Franke
• FC Gute
• Helges IF
• Korsnäs IF
• Kungsängens IF
• IFK Lidingö
• Skiljebo SK
• Sunnersta AIF
• Täby FK
• Viggbyholms IK

Södra Svealand

• IF Eker Örebro
• FoC Farsta
• Fittja IF
• BK Forward
• IFK Haninge
• Karlslunds IF
• Nacka FC
• Nyköpings BIS
• Örebro Syrianska IF
• Rågsveds IF
• IK Sleipner
• Smedby AIS
• IF Sylvia
• Syrianska FC

Norra Götaland

• Ahlafors IF
• Grebbestads IF
• Herrestads AIF
• Husqvarna FF
• IF Karlstad Fotbollsutveckling
• IFK Kumla
• Lidköpings FK
• Motala AIF
• Skara FC
• IFK Skövde
• Stenungsunds IF
• IK Tord
• Vänersborgs FK
• Vänersborgs IF

Västra Götaland

• Åstorps FF
• BK Astrio
• IF Böljan Falkenberg
• Dalstorp IF
• Galtabäcks BK
• Hestrafors IF
• Jonsereds IF
• IK Kongahälla
• Landvetter IS
• Lindome GIF
• Onsala BK
• Qviding FIF
• Torslanda IK
• Västra Frölunda IF

Södra Götaland

• IFK Berga
• IFK Karlshamn
• FK Karlskrona
• Lilla Torg FF
• Linero IF
• Nosaby IF
• Oskarshamns AIK
• Österlen FF
• Räppe GoIF
• Sölvesborgs GIF
• Staffanstorp United FC
• Torns IF
• IFK Trelleborg
• Växjö Norra IF

Seasons

Second tier

• 1924–25
• 1925–26
• 1926–27
• 1927–28
• 1928–29
• 1929–30
• 1930–31
• 1931–32
• 1932–33
• 1933–34
• 1934–35
• 1935–36
• 1936–37
• 1937–38
• 1938–39
• 1939–40
• 1940–41
• 1941–42
• 1942–43
• 1943–44
• 1944–45
• 1945–46
• 1946–47
• 1947–48
• 1948–49
• 1949–50
• 1950–51
• 1951–52
• 1952–53
• 1953–54
• 1954–55
• 1955–56
• 1956–57
• 1957–58
• 1959
• 1960
• 1961
• 1962
• 1963
• 1964
• 1965
• 1966
• 1967
• 1968
• 1969
• 1970
• 1971
• 1972
• 1973
• 1974
• 1975
• 1976
• 1977
• 1978
• 1979
• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986

Third tier

• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005

Fourth tier

• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025
• 2026

Player of the year awards

Ever since 2003 the online bookmaker Unibet have given out awards at the end of the season to the best players in division 2. The recipients are decided by a jury of sportsjournalists, coaches and football experts.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014