The Belgian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues

League system

A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...

 for club football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 in Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

.

The system

Below shows how the current system works. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which often differs radically from its official name) and number of clubs is given. Each division promotes to the division(s) that lie directly above them and relegates to the division(s) that lie directly below them.

Level	League(s)/Division(s)
1	Belgian First Division (Jupiler Pro League) 16 clubs
2	Belgian Second Division Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... (Exqi League) 18 clubs
3	Belgian Third Division Belgian Third Division The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...  A Belgian Third Division A The Belgian Third Division A is one of the two leagues at the third level of the Belgian football league system, the other one being the Belgian Third Division B. This division has existed since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs... (Nationwide league) 18 clubs						Belgian Third Division Belgian Third Division The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...  B Belgian Third Division B The Belgian Third Division B is one of the two leagues at the third level of the Belgian football league system, the other one being the Belgian Third Division A. This division has existed since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs... (Nationwide league) 18 clubs
4	Belgian Promotion Belgian Promotion The Belgian Promotion is the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. Since 1905, Promotion has been the name of the lowest nationwide level but it is the fourth one since 1952. There were already 4 leagues at the time . The champion of the Promotion is declared to be the winner of a...  A Belgian Promotion A The Belgian Promotion A is one of the four leagues at the fourth level of the Belgian football league system, the other ones being the Belgian Promotion B, C and D. This division exists since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs in each league.-The 2010-2011 clubs: — K.... (Nationwide league) 16 clubs			Belgian Promotion Belgian Promotion The Belgian Promotion is the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. Since 1905, Promotion has been the name of the lowest nationwide level but it is the fourth one since 1952. There were already 4 leagues at the time . The champion of the Promotion is declared to be the winner of a...  B Belgian Promotion B The Belgian Promotion B is one of the four leagues at the fourth level of the Belgian football league system, the other ones being the Belgian Promotion A, C and D. This division exists since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs in each league.-The 2010-2011 clubs: — K.... (Nationwide league) 16 clubs			Belgian Promotion Belgian Promotion The Belgian Promotion is the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. Since 1905, Promotion has been the name of the lowest nationwide level but it is the fourth one since 1952. There were already 4 leagues at the time . The champion of the Promotion is declared to be the winner of a...  C Belgian Promotion C The Belgian Promotion C is one of the four leagues at the fourth level of the Belgian football league system, the other ones being the Belgian Promotion A, B and D. This division exists since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs in each league.-The 2010-2011 clubs: — K.... (Nationwide league) 16 clubs			Belgian Promotion Belgian Promotion The Belgian Promotion is the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. Since 1905, Promotion has been the name of the lowest nationwide level but it is the fourth one since 1952. There were already 4 leagues at the time . The champion of the Promotion is declared to be the winner of a...  D Belgian Promotion D The Belgian Promotion D is one of the four leagues at the fourth level of the Belgian football league system, the other ones being the Belgian Promotion A, B and C. This division has existed since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs in each league.The season is divided into... (Nationwide league) 16 clubs
5	West Flanders 1 Provinciaal 16 clubs East Flanders East Flanders East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...  1 Provinciaal 16 clubs Antwerp Antwerp (province) Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...  Eerste Provinciale 16 clubs Limburg Limburg (Belgium) Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...  Eerste Provinciale 16 clubs Brabant Eerste Provinciale 16 clubs Hainaut 1 Provinciale 16 clubs Namur Namur (province) Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...  1 Provinciale 16 clubs Luxembourg 1 Provinciale 16 clubs Liège Liège (province) Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...  I Provinciale 16 clubs (All divisions run in parallel)
6	West Flanders 2 Provinciaal (2 parallel divisions) East Flanders East Flanders East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...  2 Provinciaal (3 parallel divisions) Antwerp Antwerp (province) Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...  Tweede Provinciale (2 parallel divisions) Limburg Limburg (Belgium) Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...  Tweede Provinciale (3 parallel divisions) Brabant Tweede Provinciale (3 parallel divisions) Hainaut 2 Provinciale (3 parallel divisions) Namur Namur (province) Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...  2 Provinciale (2 parallel divisions) Luxembourg 2 Provinciale (3 parallel divisions) Liège Liège (province) Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...  II Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
7	West Flanders 3 Provinciaal (3 parallel divisions) East Flanders East Flanders East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...  3 Provinciaal (5 parallel divisions) Antwerp Antwerp (province) Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...  Derde Provinciale (4 parallel divisions) Limburg Limburg (Belgium) Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...  Derde Provinciale (4 parallel divisions) Brabant Derde Provinciale (6 parallel divisions) Hainaut 3 Provinciale (5 parallel divisions) Namur Namur (province) Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...  3 Provinciale (3 parallel divisions) Luxembourg 3 Provinciale (5 parallel divisions) (Lowest in Luxembourg) Liège Liège (province) Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...  III Provinciale (5 parallel divisions)
8	West Flanders 4 Provinciaal (4 parallel divisions) East Flanders East Flanders East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...  4 Provinciaal (5 parallel divisions) Antwerp Antwerp (province) Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...  Vierde Provinciale (5 parallel divisions) Limburg Limburg (Belgium) Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...  Vierde Provinciale (4 parallel divisions) Brabant Vierde Provinciale (9 parallel divisions) Hainaut 4 Provinciale (8 parallel divisions) Namur Namur (province) Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...  4 Provinciale (4 parallel divisions) Liège Liège (province) Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its... IV Provinciale (6 parallel divisions)