Belgian football league system

The Belgian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Belgium.

Men's system

The league system underwent restructuring which was approved by the Royal Belgian Football Association. One important step was the introduction of a national fifth level for the first time. Its implementation took effect as of the 2016–17 season. Changes since 2016:

The Belgian Second Division, founded in 1909, was replaced by the Proximus League in 2016.
From the 2020–21 season on:
the third, fourth and fifth level were renamed due to the negative connotation of the word Amateur. The First Amateur Division, Second Amateur Division and Third Amateur Division were rebranded respectively as National Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3.
the First Division B no longer involved all eight teams playing two separate round-robin competitions with the two winners playing off for the title, but rather involved all teams playing each other four times.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belgian First Division A was expanded temporarily from 16 to 18 teams.
From the 2022–23 season, the two highest leagues were renamed, from First Division A and First Division B to Pro League and Challenger Pro League respectively. Furthermore, the Challenger Pro League expanded to 12 teams and now included as well four U23-teams. Also in the National Division 1 and Division 2 U23 teams were added.
The Pro League again reverted to 16 teams from the 2023–24 season, with a new playoff system similar to the pre-COVID period, but most importantly now with two teams directly relegating and a third one playing a play-off to avoid it. The Challenger Pro League expands to 16 teams.
From the 2024–25 season, the highest non-professional level (Belgian National Division 1) was split into two separate divisions, one for VV and ACFF each, with the number of clubs expanding from 18 to 28 (16 VV + 12 ACFF).
During the 2025-26 season, it was decided that at least four U23 must always play in the Challenger Pro League (second tier). One season later, this rule was determined to be illegal. A solution is yet to be found.
In April 2026, ACFF was renamed FFA.
From 2026–27 season, the Belgian Pro League will again expand to 18 teams, without play-offs. This decision was made in conjunction with the four U23 teams in second tier rule, while the expansion to 18 will go through, the U23 rule will need to be abolished. As a result the expansion to 18 teams in the top tier is being legally challenged (as of April 2026).
From the 2027-28 season, the French-speaking amateur divisions will change, with the Division 2 splitting into two groups of 12, and the Division 3 splitting into three groups of 12. All with playoffs after a regular season.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | Level

! colspan="2" width="96%" | League(s)/Division(s)

|-style="background:#efefef;"

| colspan="1" width="4.6%" align="center"|

| colspan="18" width="95.4%" style="text-align:center;" |Professional Leagues

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 1

| colspan="2" width="96%" align="center" |

Belgian Pro League

16 clubs (18 clubs from 2026–27) ↓ 2 relegations + 1 relegation play-off (1 relegation play-off for 2025–26)

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 2

| colspan="2" width="96%" align="center" |

Challenger Pro League

17 clubs (for 2025–26) ↑ 2 promotions + 1 promotion play-off ↓ 2 relegations

|-style="background:#efefef;"

| colspan="1" width="4.6%" align="center"|

| colspan="18" width="95.4%" style="text-align:center;" |Semi-/Non-Professional Leagues

|-----

! rowspan="2" colspan="1" width="4%" | 3

| colspan="2" width="50%" align="center" |

Belgian Division 1

| width="50%" align="center" |

Flemish Division 1 VV

16 clubs ↑ 1 Promotion spot, ↓ 2 Relegation spots

| width="50%" align="center" |

Walloon Division 1 FFA

12 clubs ↑ 1 Promotion spot, ↓ 3 Relegation spots

|-----

! rowspan="2" colspan="1" width="4%" | 4

| colspan="2" width="50%" align="center" |

Belgian Division 2

| width="64%" align="center" |

Flemish Division 2 VV

32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16 ↑ 2 Promotion spots, ↓ 4 Relegation spots

| width="30%" align="center" |

Walloon Division 2 FFA

18 clubs (24 clubs divided in 2 series of 12 from 2027–28) ↑ 1 Promotion spot, ↓ 3 Relegation spots

|-----

! rowspan="2" colspan="1" width="4%" | 5

| colspan="2" width="50%" align="center" |

Belgian Division 3

| width="50%" align="center" |

Flemish Division 3 VV

32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16 ↑ 4 Promotion spots, ↓ 6 Relegation spots

| width="50%" align="center" |

Walloon Division 3 FFA

33 clubs divided in 2 series, one of 16 and one of 17 (36 clubs divided in 3 series of 12 from 2027–28) ↑ 4 Promotion spots, ↓ 6 Relegation spots

|-style="background:#efefef;"

| colspan="1" width="4.6%" align="center"|

| colspan="18" width="95.4%" style="text-align:center;" |Amateur Leagues

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 6

| colspan="2" width="96%" |

(All divisions run in parallel)

Belgian Provincial Leagues, First Level

Eerste Provinciale Antwerpen – 16 clubs

Eerste Provinciale Brabant (Flemish) – 16 clubs

Première Provinciale Brabant (Francophone) – 16 clubs

Première Provinciale Hainaut – 16 clubs

Première Provinciale Liège – 18 clubs

Eerste Provinciale Limburg – 16 clubs

Première Provinciale Luxembourg – 14 clubs

Première Provinciale Namur – 16 clubs

Eerste Provinciale Oost-Vlaanderen – 16 clubs

Eerste Provinciale West-Vlaanderen – 16 clubs

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 7

| colspan="2" width="96%" |

(All divisions run in parallel)

Belgian Provincial Leagues, Second Level

Tweede Provinciale Antwerpen – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Tweede Provinciale Brabant (Flemish) – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Deuxième Provinciale Brabant (Francophone) – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Deuxième Provinciale Hainaut – 48 clubs divided in 3 series of 16

Deuxième Provinciale Liège – 46 clubs divided in 3 series; 2 of 15 teams and 1 of 16 teams

Tweede Provinciale Limburg – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Deuxième Provinciale Luxembourg – 42 clubs divided in 3 series of 14

Deuxième Provinciale Namur – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Tweede Provinciale Oost-Vlaanderen – 48 clubs divided in 3 series of 16

Tweede Provinciale West-Vlaanderen – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 8

| colspan="2" width="96%" |

(All divisions run in parallel)

Belgian Provincial Leagues, Third Level

Derde Provinciale Antwerpen – 48 clubs divided in 3 series of 16

Derde Provinciale Brabant (Flemish) – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Troisième Provinciale Brabant (Francophone) – 32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16

Troisième Provinciale Hainaut – 64 clubs divided in 4 series of 16

Troisième Provinciale Liège – 64 clubs divided in 4 series of 16

Derde Provinciale Limburg – 48 clubs divided in 3 series of 16

Troisième Provinciale Luxembourg – 72 clubs divided in 6 series; 4 of 14 teams and 2 of 13 teams

Troisième Provinciale Namur – 48 clubs divided in 3 series of 16

Derde Provinciale Oost-Vlaanderen – 80 clubs divided in 5 series of 16

Derde Provinciale West-Vlaanderen – 48 clubs divided in 3 series of 16

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 9

| colspan="2" width="96%" |

(All divisions run in parallel)

Belgian Provincial Leagues, Fourth Level

Vierde Provinciale Antwerpen – 82 clubs divided in 5 series; 3 of 16 teams and 2 of 17 teams

Vierde Provinciale Brabant (Flemish) – 96 clubs divided in 6 series of 16

Quatrième Provinciale Hainaut – 115 clubs divided in 8 series; 5 of 14 teams and 3 of 15 teams

Quatrième Provinciale Liège – 112 clubs divided in 8 series; 3 of 13 teams, 2 of 14 teams and 3 of 15 teams

Vierde Provinciale Limburg – 52 clubs divided in 8 series; 2 of 17 teams and 1 of 18 teams

Quatrième Provinciale Namur – 78 clubs divided in 6 series of 13

Vierde Provinciale Oost-Vlaanderen – 72 clubs divided in 5 series; 3 of 16 teams and 2 of 17 teams

Vierde Provinciale West-Vlaanderen – 52 clubs divided in 3 series; 1 of 16 teams and 2 of 18 teams

Men's league historical timeline

The timeline below lists the evolution of the men's tiers and leagues related to the Belgian FA since 1895. The provincial leagues often span multiple tiers.

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

ImageSize = width:1500 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1889 till:2030

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = left:20 right:150 bottom:50 top:20

Legend = left:20 top:20 columnwidth:50

Colors = id:barcolor

id:line value:pink

id:bg value:white

id:tier1 value:dullyellow legend:Tier-1

id:tier2 value:gray(0.8) legend:Tier-2

id:tier3 value:yellow2 legend:Tier-3

id:tier4 value:skyblue legend:Tier-4

id:tier5 value:coral legend:Tier-5

id:tier6 value:yellowgreen legend:Tier-6

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:tier1 from:01/07/1895 till:30/06/1900 text:Coupe de Championnat (1895–1900)

bar:2 color:tier1 from:01/07/1900 till:30/06/1914 text:E(e)re Afde(e)ling (1900–1914 & 1919-1939 & 1941–1944 & 1945–1952)

bar:2 color:tier1 from:01/07/1919 till:30/06/1939 text:

bar:3 color:tier1 from:01/07/1940 till:30/06/1941 text:Ere Afdeling (unofficial) (1940–1941)

bar:2 color:tier1 from:01/07/1941 till:30/06/1944 text:

bar:2 color:tier1 from:01/07/1945 till:30/06/1952 text:

bar:4 color:tier1 from:01/07/1952 till:30/06/2009 text:Eerste Klasse (1952–2009)

bar:5 color:tier1 from:01/07/2009 till:30/06/2016 text:Pro League (2009–2016) & (2022–present)

bar:6 color:tier1 from:01/07/2016 till:30/06/2022 text:Eerste Klasse A (2016–2022)

bar:5 color:tier1 from:01/07/2022 till:end text:

bar:7 color:tier2 from:01/07/1896 till:30/06/1909 text:Eerste Afdeeling (1896–1909)

bar:8 color:tier2 from:01/07/1909 till:30/06/1914 text:Promotion (1909–1914 & 1919-1926)

bar:8 color:tier2 from:01/07/1919 till:30/06/1926 text:

bar:9 color:tier2 from:01/07/1926 till:30/06/1931 text:Eerste afdeeling (1926–1931)

bar:10 color:tier2 from:01/07/1931 till:30/06/1939 text:Eerste afdeeling A & B (1931–1939 & 1941-1944 1945-1952)

bar:10 color:tier2 from:01/07/1941 till:30/06/1944 text:

bar:10 color:tier2 from:01/07/1945 till:30/06/1952 text:

bar:11 color:tier2 from:01/07/1952 till:30/06/2016 text:Tweede Klasse (1952–2016)

bar:12 color:tier2 from:01/07/2016 till:30/06/2022 text:Eerste Klasse B (2016–2022)

bar:13 color:tier2 from:01/07/2022 till:end text:Challenger Pro League (2022–present)

bar:14 color:tier3 from:01/07/1898 till:30/06/1900 text:Tweede Afdeeling (1898-1900 & 1901–1909)

bar:14 color:tier3 from:01/07/1901 till:30/06/1909 text:

bar:15 color:tier3 from:01/07/1926 till:30/06/1939 text:Promotion (1926–1939 & 1941-1944 1945-1952)

bar:15 color:tier3 from:01/07/1941 till:30/06/1944 text:

bar:15 color:tier3 from:01/07/1945 till:30/06/1952 text:

bar:18 color:tier3 from:01/07/1952 till:30/06/2016 text:Derde Klasse (1952–2016)

bar:19 color:tier3 from:01/07/2016 till:30/06/2020 text:Eerste Amateur (2016–2020)

bar:20 color:tier3 from:01/07/2020 till:end text:Eerste Nationale (2020–present)

bar:21 color:tier4 from:01/07/1952 till:30/06/2016 text:Promotion (or Vierde Klasse) (1952–2016)

bar:22 color:tier4 from:01/07/2016 till:30/06/2020 text:Tweede Amateur (2016–2020)

bar:23 color:tier4 from:01/07/2020 till:end text:Tweede Afdeling (2020–present)

bar:24 color:tier5 from:01/07/2016 till:30/06/2020 text:Derde Amateur (2016–2020)

bar:25 color:tier5 from:01/07/2020 till:end text:Derde Afdeling (2020–present)

bar:26 color:tier4 from:01/07/1904 till:30/06/1909 text:Provincial divisions (up to four tiers, depending on year and province)

bar:26 color:tier3 from:01/07/1909 till:30/06/1914 text:

bar:26 color:tier3 from:01/07/1919 till:30/06/1926 text:

bar:26 color:tier4 from:01/07/1926 till:30/06/1939 text:

bar:26 color:tier4 from:01/07/1941 till:30/06/1944 text:

bar:26 color:tier4 from:01/07/1945 till:30/06/1952 text:

bar:26 color:tier5 from:01/07/1952 till:30/06/2016 text:

bar:26 color:tier6 from:01/07/2016 till:end text:

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:1889

TextData =

fontsize:L

textcolor:black

pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)

text:

</timeline>

Women's system

From 2012/13 to 2014/15 the top teams played in the BeNe League, a joint league with clubs from the Netherlands. The Super League was created in 2015.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | Level

! colspan="12" width="96%" | League(s)/Division(s)

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 1

| colspan="12" width="96%" align="center" |

Super League

8 clubs

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 2

| colspan="12" width="96%" align="center" |

First Division

14 clubs

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 3

| colspan="12" width="96%" align="center" |

Second Division

(Nationwide league)

(3×12)36 clubs

|-----

! colspan="1" width="4%" | 4+

| colspan="12" width="96%" align="center" |

Provincial leagues

Men's system

Men's league historical timeline

Women's system

References