This week marks the start of the new season of the Jupiler Pro League, the top tier of Belgian football. This year will be the 123rd edition of the championship. Can reigning champions Union secure the title for a second consecutive year? Will runners-up Club Brugge strike back on the pitch? Or will another club rise to the top? Read all about it in this article.
Jupiler Pro League 2025–2026
The Belgian football association has been organizing a championship for the top-tier Belgian clubs since 1895. Each season, the battle for the national title kicks off, and it currently belongs to Union Saint-Gilloise. Teams that fall just short of winning the title still have the opportunity to earn a European ticket, giving them a chance to compete in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League next season.
Format
Union’s successor will have to prove itself over 30 matchdays, where each team faces its 15 opponents once at home and once away. As always, a win earns 3 points, and a draw 1 point. Based on the standings at the end of the regular season, various playoffs are organized.
The top 6 teams enter the Champions’ Play-offs or Play-off 1, while teams ranked 7th to 12th compete in the Europe Play-offs or Play-off 2. These playoffs begin with the points halved.
Additionally, the Relegation Play-offs or Play-downs are played among the remaining 4 teams. In this case, the points are not halved.
This season will also serve as a transitional year for the next. Starting from the 2026–2027 season, the Jupiler Pro League will feature 18 teams instead of 16, and the playoffs will be abolished. Therefore, this season, the teams finishing in 14th and 15th place will remain in the Jupiler Pro League after the Relegation Play-offs. The lowest-ranked team will face a play-off against the winner of the Promotion Play-offs from the Challenger Pro League. The top two teams from that league will automatically move up to the Jupiler Pro League.
Title Contenders
It’s been since 1935 that Union last won back-to-back titles. At the time, the Brussels club was one of the most dominant forces in Belgium, claiming 11 titles between 1903 and 1935. That golden era seems long gone, but Union shouldn’t be ruled out as a serious contender. The champions had a shaky start, losing the Super Cup to Club Brugge, but are confident they can kick off the season strong against Antwerp.
Club Brugge, on the other hand, are in a highly successful period. The runners-up have won 6 of the last 10 league titles and have shown impressive form on the European stage. Despite losing key players like Chemsdine Talbi and Maxim De Cuyper, Club remains one of Belgium’s top sides.
KRC Genk ended the regular season with a commanding 9-point lead over Club Brugge. Thorsten Fink’s team were clear title favorites, but their campaign fell apart in the Play-offs. Still, the Limburg club has high ambitions and could maintain their performance all the way this season.
Other Belgian top clubs are facing more uncertainty. Anderlecht, for instance, made significant investments in new players but still need to build team chemistry. The pieces of the puzzle are there, but they need to fit. Antwerp and Gent opted for a fresh approach, which is still in development, while Standard mainly focused on quantity in their transfer window.
Promoted Teams
RAAL La Louvière returns to the Jupiler Pro League after 20 years and will kick off the season with a Walloon derby against Standard. A big test right from the start for the Wolves. Luckily, with fewer teams being relegated this season, they have a better chance of staying in the top flight.
Zulte-Waregem also returns after two seasons in the second tier, having won the Challenger Pro League. While Essevee may not be among the strongest teams in the league, they believe they can hold their own in the competition. The format change should also work in their favor.
Fixture Schedule
As mentioned, there are 30 matchdays, starting on July 25 with the fixture Antwerp vs. Union. The reigning champions won’t open at home but will visit the Great Old. That weekend also features key clashes like Anderlecht vs. Westerlo, Club Brugge vs. Genk, and STVV vs. Gent.
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