Denmark Series - Promotion Round 2024/25

The **Denmark Series** (Danish: Danmarksserien) occupies the fifth tier of the Danish football league system, positioned below the 3rd Division and above the regional leagues. Administered by the Danish Football Association (DBU), the competition was founded in 1965, with its inaugural season taking place in 1966. It replaced the Qualification Tournament (Kvalifikationsturneringen), which had served as the fourth tier from 1946 to 1965, to create a nationwide amateur structure.

The regular season comprises 40 teams divided into four regional groups of 10 teams each. Groups 1 and 2 cover East Denmark, including Zealand and Copenhagen, while Groups 3 and 4 cover West Denmark, comprising Funen and Jutland. The regular season follows a double round-robin format. After the regular season concludes, the top five teams from each group advance to the **Promotion Round** (Oprykningsspil). These 20 teams are split into two larger groups of 10: the Eastern Promotion Group and the Western Promotion Group.

The winner of each promotion group secures direct promotion to the 3rd Division. The runners-up from the East and West groups contest a two-legged playoff match for the third and final promotion spot. This specific two-stage promotion playoff involving runners-up distinguishes the system from other Scandinavian leagues, which typically rely on direct promotion for group winners without such cross-regional contests.

Relegation involves the bottom teams from the regular season groups dropping to local regional leagues, such as the Jutland Series or Zealand Series. Approximately eight teams are relegated annually, though this number fluctuates based on relegations from the 3rd Division. Reserve teams from higher divisions are eligible to participate but cannot be promoted to the 3rd Division. Historically, from 1966 until the 2000–01 season, the winners of the four regional groups competed in a national final tournament to determine an overall Denmark Series Champion. The first champion was Vejle Boldklub II in 1966, and the last was Næsby Boldklub in 2001. After 2001, the national final was abolished. In 2021, a major reform restructured the tiers above, demoting the Denmark Series from the fourth to the fifth tier as the 3rd Division was created as a new nationwide fourth tier. Unlike the 3rd Division, which is semi-professional and organized by the Division Association, the Denmark Series is fully amateur and organized directly by the DBU.