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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belgian First Division A has expanded temporarily from 16 to 18 teams, with the intention to return to 16.

Pre-2016 structure

Until the end of the 2015–16 season, the structure was as follows. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which often differs radically from its official name) and number of clubs is given. The winner(s) of each division promoted to the division(s) directly above them and relegated to the division(s) that lie directly below them.

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 depending on the province.

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
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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:30/06/2016 text:Eerste Klasse (1952–2016)
bar:5 color:tier1 from:01/07/2016 till:end text:Eerste Klasse A (2016–present)

bar:6 color:tier2 from:01/07/1896 till:30/06/1909 text:Eerste Afdeeling (1896–1909)
bar:7 color:tier2 from:01/07/1909 till:30/06/1914 text:Promotion (1909–1914 & 1919-1926)
bar:7 color:tier2 from:01/07/1919 till:30/06/1926 text:
bar:8 color:tier2 from:01/07/1926 till:30/06/1931 text:Eerste afdeeling (1926–1931)
bar:9 color:tier2 from:01/07/1931 till:30/06/1939 text:Eerste afdeeling A & B (1931–1939 & 1941-1944 1945-1952)
bar:9 color:tier2 from:01/07/1941 till:30/06/1944 text:
bar:9 color:tier2 from:01/07/1945 till:30/06/1952 text:
bar:10 color:tier2 from:01/07/1952 till:30/06/2016 text:Tweede Klasse (1952–2016)
bar:11 color:tier2 from:01/07/2016 till:end text:Eerste Klasse B (2016–present)

bar:12 color:tier3 from:01/07/1898 till:30/06/1900 text:Tweede Afdeeling (1898-1900 & 1901–1909)
bar:12 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:

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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.

References

External links

League321.com
- Belgian Football League Tables, Records & Statistics Database.
Belgian Football League summary
flashscore)

{{League systems

Belgium