The Kreisliga (English: District League), along with the Kreisoberliga (English: District Premier League) and the Kreisklasse (English: District Class), are the lowest set of divisions in the German football league system, set at step 8 and below.

[1] Whereas the top amateur divisions are organised by the 21 state football associations of the German Football Association, the bottom divisions fall under the jurisdiction of their subsidiary bodies, being more than 400 district football associations that organise their divisions mostly following the borders of the corresponding policial districts.

Therefore, in the league pyramid, the Kreisliga ranks below the superior state association's divisions, typically being the Verbandsliga, the Landesliga and depending on the state association's structure also the Bezirksliga.

The Kreisliga exists within all associations in varying numbers and form.

Several associations also run a Kreisoberliga (English: District Premier League) as their top flight above the Kreisliga or Kreisklasse.