2025–26 Belgian Pro League
121st season of top-tier football in Belgium
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The 2025–26 Belgian Pro League (officially known as the Jupiler Pro League due to sponsorship reasons) is the 123rd season of top-tier football in Belgium.
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 25 July 2025 – 24 May 2026 |
| Matches | 135 |
| Goals | 362 (2.68 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Nicolo Tresoldi (12 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Union SG 5–0 OH Leuven (3 August 2025) |
| Biggest away win | Cercle Brugge 0–4 Royal Antwerp (31 January 2026) Dender EH 1–5 Club Brugge (14 December 2025) |
| Highest scoring | Club Brugge 5–5 Westerlo (24 September 2025) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 9 matches Union SG |
| Longest winless run | 14 matches Dender EH |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 1 February 2026. | |
Format change
The Belgian Pro League will expand to 18 teams for the 2026–27 season, after completion of the relegation play-offs, no teams will be relegated automatically and last team will be required to play a promotion/relegation decider against the winner of the 2025–26 Challenger Pro League promotion play-offs. The winner of this decider will play in the 2026–27 Belgian Pro League.[1]
Teams
Zulte Waregem and La Louvière were promoted respectively as champions and runners-up of the 2024–25 Challenger Pro League. Zulte Waregem returned to the top level after just two seasons, while La Louvière play in top tier for the first time in their history for this season since folding of RAA Louviéroise (including four seasons playing at the third level). If counting the predecessor, they returned after a 19 year absence. They replaced Beerschot and Kortrijk who were relegated at the end of previous season.
Stadiums and locations
Number of teams by area
| # | Province or region | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Antwerp | Antwerp, Mechelen and Westerlo |
 West Flanders | Cercle Brugge, Club Brugge and Zulte Waregem | |
| 2 |  Brussels | Anderlecht and Union SG |
 East Flanders | Dender EH and Gent | |
 Hainaut | Charleroi and La Louvière | |
 Limburg | Genk and Sint-Truiden | |
| 1 |  Flemish Brabant | OH Leuven |
 Liège | Standard Liège | |
Personnel and kits
| Club | Manager | Captain | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt sponsors (front) | Shirt sponsors (back) | Shirt sponsors (sleeve) | Shorts sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderlecht |  Jérémy Taravel (caretaker) [n 1] |
 Colin Coosemans |
Joma | Sunweb | Napoleon Sports & Casino | None | None |
| Antwerp |  Joseph Oosting [n 2] |
Vincent Janssen |
Stanno | Circus Daily | Heylen Vastgoed, Ghelamco | None | None |
| Cercle Brugge |  Lars Friis [n 3] |
Hannes Van der Bruggen |
Puma | Golden Palace News, Volvo Automobilia | Callant Insurance | Golden Palace Casino Sports | voetbalshop.be, Autoverhuur Meerschaert, Callant Insurance, Rodenbach |
| Charleroi | Mario Kohnen |
 Aiham Ousou |
Kipsta | Napoleon Score | Unibet, QNT Sport | None | |
| Club Brugge |  Ivan Leko [n 4] |
Hans Vanaken |
Castore | Betsson.sport | Allianz | None | None |
| Dender EH | Yannick Ferrera (caretaker) [n 5] |
Kobe Cools |
Mills | STAR SPORT TV | Star Casino, Valckenier | None | None |
| Genk | Nicky Hayen [n 6] |
Bryan Heynen |
Nike | Beobank, Wilms NV | STAR SPORT TV, Carglass | STAR SPORT TV | Cegeka, Carglass |
| Gent | Rik De Mil [n 7] |
Davy Roef |
Craft | baloise | |||
| La Louvière | Frédéric Taquin |
 Marcos Peano |
Puma | Golden Palace News, Wanty | |||
| Mechelen | Frederik Vanderbiest |
 Fredrik Hammar |
Erreà | Telenet | |||
| OH Leuven | Felice Mazzù [n 8] |
Mathieu Maertens |
Stanno | STAR SPORT TV | Tegelconcept, banqup | Star Casino | None |
| Sint-Truiden | Wouter Vrancken |
 Shogo Taniguchi |
Olympic Sportswear | Maruhan, DMM.com | All Ads, PepperMill Casino | STAR SPORT TV | Septeni, Pauli Beton |
| Standard Liège | Vincent Euvrard [n 9] |
 Marlon Fossey |
Macron | Circus Daily | None | None | None |
| Union SG | David Hubert [n 10] |
 Christian Burgess |
Nike | Lotto | |||
| Westerlo | Issame Charaï |
 Doğucan Haspolat |
Nike | Soudal | Keukens Van Lommel | ||
| Zulte Waregem | Steve Colpaert [n 11] |
Jelle Vossen |
Patrick | _lamett, Elindus | DL Chemicals, Nollens |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gent |  Danijel Milićević |
Sacked | 30 June 2025[2][3][4] | Pre-season | Ivan Leko |
5 June 2025[2] |
| Standard Liège | Ivan Leko |
Signed by Gent |  Mircea Rednic |
16 June 2025[5] | ||
| OH Leuven |  Chris Coleman |
Sacked | David Hubert |
16 June 2025[6] | ||
| Westerlo | Timmy Simons |
Mutual consent | Issame Charaï |
17 June 2025[7] | ||
| Cercle Brugge |  Bernd Storck |
Onur Cinel |
19 June 2025[8] | |||
| Antwerp | Andries Ulderink |
End of contract | Stef Wils |
22 June 2025[9] | ||
| Dender EH | Vincent Euvrard |
Signed by Standard Liège | 27 August 2025[10] | 16th | Frédéric Stilmant & Steve Colpaert (caretakers) |
27 August 2025[11] |
| Standard Liège | Mircea Rednic |
Sacked | 8th | Vincent Euvrard |
27 August 2025[10] | |
| Dender EH | Frédéric Stilmant & Steve Colpaert (caretakers) |
Caretakers replaced | 6 September 2025[12] | 16th | Hayk Milkon |
6 September 2025[12] |
| Union SG | Sébastien Pocognoli |
Signed by Monaco | 9 October 2025[13] | 1st | David Hubert |
13 October 2025[14] |
| OH Leuven | David Hubert |
Signed by Union SG | 13 October 2025[14] | 15th | Hans Somers (caretaker) |
13 October 2025[14] |
| Hans Somers |
Caretaker replaced | 26 October 2025[15] | 15th | Felice Mazzù |
26 October 2025[15] | |
| Antwerp | Stef Wils |
Sacked | 23 November 2025[16] | 14th | Faris Haroun & Robert Molenaar (caretakers) |
23 November 2025[16] |
| Faris Haroun & Robert Molenaar (caretakers) |
Caretakers replaced | 27 November 2025[17] | 14th | Joseph Oosting |
27 November 2025[17][n 12] | |
| Club Brugge | Nicky Hayen |
Sacked | 8 December 2025[18] | 3rd | Ivan Leko |
8 December 2025[18] |
| Gent | Ivan Leko |
Signed by Club Brugge | 8 December 2025[18] | 7th | Rik De Mil |
10 December 2025[19] |
| Charleroi | Rik De Mil |
Signed by Gent | 10 December 2025[19] | 12th | Hans Cornelis[n 13] |
10 December 2025[21] |
| Genk | Thorsten Fink |
Sacked | 15 December 2025[22] | 7th | Domenico Olivieri (caretaker) |
15 December 2025[22] |
| Domenico Olivieri (caretaker) |
Caretaker replaced | 22 December 2025[23] | 7th | Nicky Hayen |
22 December 2025[23] | |
| Anderlecht |  Besnik Hasi |
Sacked | 1 February 2026[24] | 4th | Edward Still (caretaker) |
1 February 2026[24] |
| Edward Still |
Signed by Watford | 9 February 2026[25] | 4th | Jérémy Taravel (caretaker) |
9 February 2026[25] | |
| Dender EH | Hayk Milkon |
Sacked | 25 February 2026[26] | 16th | Yannick Ferrera |
26 February 2026[27] |
| Zulte Waregem | Sven Vandenbroeck |
Sacked | 9 March 2026[28] | 12th | Steve Colpaert[n 14] |
9 March 2026[28] |
| Cercle Brugge | Onur Cinel |
Sacked | 18 March 2026[30] | 15th | Jimmy De Wulf (caretaker) |
18 March 2026[30] |
| Jimmy De Wulf |
Caretaker replaced | 20 March 2026[31] | 15th | Lars Friis |
20 March 2026[31][n 15] | |
| Charleroi | Hans Cornelis |
Sacked | 7 April 2026[32] | 5th (Europe play-offs) | Mario Kohnen (caretaker) |
7 April 2026[32] |
Regular season
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union SG | 30 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 50 | 17 | +33 | 66 | Qualification for the Europa League and Champions' play-offs[a] |
| 2 | Club Brugge | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 59 | 36 | +23 | 63 | Qualification for the Champions' play-offs |
| 3 | Sint-Truiden | 30 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 47 | 35 | +12 | 57 | |
| 4 | Gent | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 45 | |
| 5 | Mechelen | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 39 | 37 | +2 | 45 | |
| 6 | Anderlecht | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 44 | |
| 7 | Genk | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 42 | Qualification for the Europe play-offs |
| 8 | Standard Liège | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 35 | −8 | 40 | |
| 9 | Westerlo | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 39 | |
| 10 | Antwerp | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 31 | 32 | −1 | 35 | |
| 11 | Charleroi | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 34 | |
| 12 | OH Leuven | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 32 | 43 | −11 | 34 | |
| 13 | Zulte Waregem | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 32 | Qualification for the Relegation play-offs |
| 14 | Cercle Brugge | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 31 | |
| 15 | La Louvière | 30 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 31 | |
| 16 | Dender EH | 30 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 51 | −27 | 19 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.[33]
Notes:
- The regular season winners will qualify for the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League if not earning a 2026–27 UEFA Champions League place in the playoff.
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each round, with postponed matches and points deductions included only when they occur. Teams with fewer matches played are shown with their position underlined, with each line representing one fewer match.
Colored cells refer to being in Champions' Play-offs (green), in Europe Play-offs (blue), or Relegation play-offs (red).
Results
Play-offs
Champions' play-offs
The champions' play-offs decide the overall league champion. The top six teams of the Regular season play a round-robin tournament, with each team starting with half the points obtained during the regular season. The starting points are rounded up, in case of ties in standings at the end of the champions' play-offs, any half points gained at the start are deducted first. The points of Club Brugge, Sint-Truiden, Gent, and Mechelen were rounded up, and thus in the event of a tie on points, Union SG and Anderlecht would always be ranked ahead of those four teams.
The teams finishing in the top three positions after conclusion of the champions' play-offs qualify for European football, with the team in position four facing the winner of the Europe play-offs for the final ticket, unless the winner of the Belgian Cup (Union SG or Anderlecht) finishes in one of the top four positions, in which case the fifth team will take part instead.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | USG | CLU | STR | AND | GNT | MEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union SG (X) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 46 | Qualification for the Champions League league phase | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | 24 May | 0–0 | 10 May | |
| 2 | Club Brugge (X) | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 44 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round | 17 May | — | 9 May | 4–2 | 24 May | 6–1 | |
| 3 | Sint-Truiden | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 36 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round | 2 May | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | 16 May | 24 May | |
| 4 | Anderlecht | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 28 | Qualification for the European competition play-off | 1–3 | 3 May | 21 May | — | 3–1 | 17 May | |
| 5 | Gent | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 26 | 21 May | 0–2 | 0–0 | 10 May | — | 1–1 | ||
| 6 | Mechelen | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 24 | 0–1 | 21 May | 1–4 | 1–2 | 3 May | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Regular season finishing position.[35]
(X) Assured of at least Europa League
Europe play-offs
The Europe play-offs will be played by the teams in positions 7 through 12 at the conclusion of the Regular season. Teams will play round-robin tournament, with each team starting with half the points obtained during the regular season. The starting points are rounded up, in case of ties in standings at the end of the Europe play-offs, any half points gained at the start will be deducted first. The points of Westerlo and Antwerp were rounded up, and thus in the event of a tie on points, Genk, Standard Liège, Charleroi and OH Leuven would always be ranked ahead of those three teams.
The winner of the Europe play-offs will face the team finishing fourth in the champions' play-offs to decide which team qualifies for European football.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | GNK | WES | STA | ANT | CHA | OHL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genk | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 30 | Qualification for the European competition play-off | — | 10 May | 1–1 | 19 May | 1–1 | 0–0 | |
| 2 | Westerlo | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 29 | 1–2 | — | 19 May | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2 May | ||
| 3 | Standard Liège | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 27[a] | 16 May | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 23 May | 8 May | ||
| 4 | Antwerp | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 27[a] | 1–2 | 23 May | 3 May | — | 10 May | 2–0 | ||
| 5 | Charleroi | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 2 May | 16 May | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 19 May | ||
| 6 | OH Leuven | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 18 | 23 May | 0–2 | 1–3 | 15 May | 0–2 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Regular season finishing position.[36]
Notes:
- Standard ahead as Antwerp gained half a point due to rounding at the start of play-offs
European competition play-off
A single match will be played between the fourth-place finisher of the Champions' play-offs and the winner of the Europe play-offs, with home advantage for the team from the Champions' play-offs. The winner will qualify for the Conference League second qualifying round.
In case one of the teams finishing in the top four wins the 2025–26 Belgian Cup, this team will already be guaranteed a (better) European ticket, in which case the fifth team of the Champions' play-offs would be facing the winner of the Europe play-offs.
| 4th (or 5th) of Champions' play-offs | v | Winner of Europe play-offs |
|---|---|---|
Relegation play-offs
The bottom four teams after the regular season will play the relegation play-offs, a round-robin tournament in which they start with the full points obtained during the regular season. Due to the league reform and the expansion to 18 teams from the 2026–27 season, only the bottom team after the conclusion of the relegation play-offs has a chance of relegation, by having to play the winner of the promotion play-offs, with only the winner of that match playing in the 2026–27 Belgian Pro League.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | ZWA | CER | LAL | DEN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zulte Waregem | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 45 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 9 May | ||
| 2 | Cercle Brugge | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 41 | 2–3 | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | ||
| 3 | La Louvière | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | −10 | 31 | 0–2 | 9 May | — | 0–1 | ||
| 4 | Dender EH (Q) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 22 | Qualification for the promotion/relegation play-offs | 1–2 | 1–4 | 3 May | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Regular season finishing position.[37]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Promotion/relegation play-offs
The promotion/relegation play-offs will be contested by the four highest-eligible finishers who are not already promoted directly. Normally, this will be the teams in positions 3 to 6 in the 2025–26 Challenger Pro League, unless one of the U23-teams would end up in the top six positions, in which case the next eligible team will take their spot. These four teams are to meet in a knockout tournament with both quarter-finals and semi-finals over two legs, and the highest season finisher always has home advantage in the return leg. The winner of the semi-finals will play the 16th place finisher of the 2025–26 Belgian Pro League over two legs. The Belgian Pro League team will have home advantage in the return leg; the winner of the final will qualify to play in the 2026–27 Belgian Pro League, with the loser playing in the 2026–27 Challenger Pro League.
Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Patro Eisden Maasmechelen | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| 16 | Dender EH | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Beerschot (a.e.t.) | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | Beerschot | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Lommel | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Lommel | 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| 4 | RFC Liège | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
| Patro Eisden Maasmechelen | 1–1 | Beerschot |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Beerschot | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Patro Eisden Maasmechelen |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Semi-finals
Finals
| Winner Semi-final | v | Dender EH |
|---|---|---|
| Dender EH | v | Winner Semi-final |
|---|---|---|
Season statistics
- As of 25 April 2026
Despite teams not playing the same amount of matches due to the play-offs, goals during the play-offs do count in determining the top scorer.
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolo Tresoldi |
Club Brugge | 14 |
| 2 | Thorgan Hazard |
Anderlecht | 13 |
 Christos Tzolis |
Club Brugge | ||
| 4 |  Nacho Ferri |
Westerlo | 11 |
| Keisuke Gotō |
Sint Truiden | ||
 Wilfried Kanga |
Gent | ||
| 7 | Jeppe Erenbjerg |
Zulte Waregem | 10 |
| Daan Heymans |
Genk | ||
| Vincent Janssen |
Antwerp | ||
Notes
Besnik Hasi was the manager for matchdays 1 through 23, and 
Edward Still acted as caretaker manager on matchday 24.- Stef Wils was the manager for matchdays 1 through 15, Faris Haroun and
Robert Molenaar acted as caretaker managers on matchday 16. 
Onur Cinel was the manager for matchdays 1 through 29, Jimmy De Wulf was the caretaker manager on matchday 30.- Nicky Hayen was the manager for matchdays 1 through 17.
- Vincent Euvrard was the manager for matchdays 1 through 5, Frédéric Stilmant & Steve Colpaert were joint caretaker managers on matchday 6, Hayk Milkon was the manager for matchdays 7 through 26.
- Thorsten Fink was the manager for matchdays 1 through 18 and Domenico Olivieri was the caretaker manager on matchday 19.
- David Hubert was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10, Hans Somers was the caretaker manager on matchdays 11 and 12.
Mircea Rednic was the manager for matchdays 1 through 5.- Sébastien Pocognoli was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10.
- Sven Vandenbroeck was the manager for matchdays 1 through 28.
- While the announcement of Joseph Oosting's signature at Antwerp was already made on 27 November 2025, caretakers Haroun and Molenaar remained in charge as caretaker managers for the upcoming match three days later against Club Brugge. Oosting only officially took up the position on 1 December 2025.
- While the announcement of Lars Friis' signature at Cercle Brugge was already made on 20 March 20265, caretaker Jimmy De Wulf remained in charge as caretaker manager for the upcoming match two days later against Anderlecht. Friis only officially took up the position on 23 March 2026.