2025–26 Challenger Pro League

Challenger Pro League
Season2025–26
Matches96
Goals265 (2.76 per match)
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 2 November 2025.

The 2025–26 season of the Challenger Pro League is scheduled to begin in August 2025 and end in May 2026. It will be the fourth season under its new name after being renamed from First Division B.

Team changes

This season, two teams will be automatically promoted to Belgian Pro League and promotion play-off winner will be matched against last placed top tier team with no direct relegation due to top tier's expansion to 18 teams from 2026–27 onwards.

Incoming

  • Olympic Charleroi and Jong KAA Gent were promoted from the 2024–25 Belgian Division 1, respectively as ACFF (Francophone) and VV (Flemish) champions. Olympic Charleroi return to the second tier after 17 years absence, while Jong KAA Gent make their debut at this level.
  • Beerschot and Kortrijk were relegated from the 2024–25 Belgian Pro League. Beerschot immediately returned after just one season at the top level, while Kortrijk had been continuously at this level since 2008, ending their streak after 17 seasons.

Outgoing

Name change

  • RWDM announced on 6 June 2025 that it would change name to Daring Brussels, a reference to the former now defunct club Daring Club de Bruxelles.[1] However, following large protests by the fans, the club reinstated the letters RWDM and renamed itself again just one month later, to RWDM Brussels.[2]
  • Lokeren-Temse announced on 1 July 2025 that it would change its name to KSC Lokeren, reverting to the original name by which the former club K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen was initially known. While maintaining close cooperation with neighbors Temse, the two municipalities diverged in their football club support, with the supporters of Temse predominantly choosing to support SV Blauw Wit Temse, a club founded in 2020 when KSV Temse and K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen merged to form the current team.[3]

Jong Genk

By the end of February 2025, the Pro League voted in favor of a new competition format for the coming seasons, with part of the haggling between club presidents resulting in a new rule for the then ongoing season (2024–25 Challenger Pro League) which entered with immediate effect, stating that a minimum of four U23 would always need to be present in the Challenger Pro League. At the time of the decision, there were still seven matchdays to play and Jong Genk was in a relegation spot, but due to this rule the club was anyhow spared of relegation. In the end, Jong Genk did finish in a relegation spot and was officially reported as being relegated, due to the fact that the new proposal had not yet passed all instances for approval. By the end of June approval was given and the club was officially spared. On 1 July 2025 however, Francs Borains, Lokeren and Seraing together launched a formal appeal against the reform citing it unfair that U23 cannot be relegated whilst non-U23 teams can. Meanwhile the new calendar, including Jong Genk, was already released on 3 July 2025.[4] The Belgian Competition Authority ruled that they have a fair point, but somehow still ruled against them. Another similar appeal by Belgian champions Union SG is still open. On 9 October 2025, Francs Borains, Lokeren, and Seraing launched a new appeal, now with the Belgian Authority for Sports Arbitration.[5]

Team information

Stadiums and locations

Locations of the 2025–26 Challenger Pro League teams

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Beveren 18 15 3 0 38 13 +25 48 Promoted to Pro League
2 Kortrijk 18 13 3 2 35 17 +18 42
3 Beerschot 18 10 3 5 28 20 +8 33 Qualification for promotion play-offs
4 Lommel 18 9 5 4 38 28 +10 32
5 Eupen 18 8 6 4 26 19 +7 30
6 RFC Liège 18 9 2 7 25 20 +5 29
7 Patro Eisden Maasmechelen 18 8 5 5 21 17 +4 29
8 Jong KAA Gent[a] 18 7 3 8 24 23 +1 24
9 Lokeren 18 6 6 6 25 25 0 24
10 Lierse 18 6 5 7 20 22 −2 23
11 RWDM Brussels 18 5 5 8 30 31 −1 20
12 Francs Borains 18 5 5 8 18 24 −6 19[b]
13 Jong Genk[a] 17 4 4 9 21 33 −12 16
14 RSCA Futures[a] 18 3 7 8 24 31 −7 16
15 Seraing 17 2 6 9 15 28 −13 12
16 Olympic Charleroi 18 2 6 10 16 36 −20 12 Relegated to National Division 1
17 Club NXT[a] 18 1 4 13 15 32 −17 7
Updated to match(es) played on 21 December 2025. Source: Challenger Pro League
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 made.[7]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c d Ineligible for promotion or promotion play-offs; cannot be relegated unless a U23 team from the same wing (ACFF/VV) finishes in the top three of Division 1.
  2. ^ For not complying with the rules of financial stability, in February 2025 it was announced that Francs Borains were to be deducted 1 point from the start of the 2025–26 season.[6]

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.

  • Mid-way through the previous season, Francs Borains was penalized one point for not complying with financial fair-play.[6]
  • The match between Jong Genk and RSCA Futures of 8 November (matchday 13) was postponed to 9 December (between matchdays 16 and 17) as Jong Genk had four players selected for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[8]

Colored cells indicate promotion (green), participation in promotion play-offs (yellow), or relegation play-offs (red). Note that U23 teams are ineligible for promotion and playoffs, and the coloring is adjusted accordingly. Furthermore, these teams can only relegate if at the same time another U23 team from the same wing (ACFF or VV) qualifies for promotion from the league below, or if the mother club is relegated from the level above, in which case the U23 would automatically take up one of the relegation spots as U23 teams always have to remain at least one level below their mother club. For simplicity, U23 teams in relegation spots are colored as if they can be relegated.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Beveren32221111111111111111
Kortrijk21112222222222222222
Beerschot5665433333333333333
Lommel7354344445655666644
Eupen4596555777566777755
RFC Liège16937666654444454576
Patro Eisden Maasmechelen61143777566777545467
Jong KAA Gent[a]17711998999998881010108
Lokeren131416161315151512131010111098989
Lierse15161214151112111112131310111198910
RWDM Brussels8410888988888991211111111
Francs Borains10889111313131414141414121012121212
Jong Genk[a]11131410101011121310111112131314131313
RSCA Futures[a]14101113141210101011121213141413141414
Seraing12151512121414141515151515151515151515
Olympic Charleroi17171717171717171717171716161616161616
Club NXT[a]912131516161616161616161717171717171717
  1. ^ a b c d ineligible for promotion and playoffs. Can only be relegated if they finish in a relegation spot, and at the same time, in the 2025–26 Division 1, a U23 team from the same wing (ACFF or VV) qualifies for promotion.
Updated to match(es) played on 21 December 2025. Source: vbal4.be

Results

Home \ Away BEV KOR BEE LOM EUP RFC PEM GNT LOK LIE RWD FRB GNK AND SER OLC NXT
Beveren 4–2 8 Feb 1–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 25 Jan 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 28 Feb 2–1
Kortrijk 1–3 14 Feb 4–2 1–0 27 Feb 2–0 1 Feb 1–0 2–0 23 Jan 5–2 1–0 1–1
Beerschot 1–1 1–2 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 22 Feb 4–1 6 Mar 27 Jan 18 Jan 7 Feb
Lommel 2–2 7 Mar 1–2 24 Jan 0–1 31 Jan 2–0 3–1 4–3 1–2 14 Feb 1 Mar 3–0
Eupen 17 Jan 7 Feb 1–2 2–0 0–0 6 Mar 27 Jan 2–2 21 Feb 2–1 1–0 2–2 2–1
RFC Liège 1–2 2–0 27 Jan 0–2 0–2 0–1 6 Feb 4–3 17 Jan 5–0 1–1 2–0 20 Feb
Patro Eisden Maasmechelen 22 Feb 17 Jan 0–2 0–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 6 Feb 0–0 2–2 27 Jan 2–1
Jong KAA Gent 28 Jan 2–3 1–1 2–1 27 Feb 1–3 0–0 0–2 25 Jan 0–0 0–1 3–1 15 Feb
Lokeren 8 Mar 1–1 24 Jan 21 Feb 3–3 0–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 7 Feb 3–2
Lierse 0–2 0–0 1 Feb 4–4 3–2 1–2 21 Feb 2–0 2–1 1–0 13 Feb 0–0 7 Mar
RWDM Brussels 0–2 1–2 0–1 3–3 1 Mar 0–3 24 Jan 31 Jan 14 Feb 1–3 1–1 5–0 3–3 3–1
Francs Borains 15 Feb 28 Feb 0–0 0–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 8 Feb 3–3 0–0 0–1 1–0
Jong Genk 1–2 1–3 0–2 16 Jan 30 Jan 14 Feb 1–4 28 Feb 27 Jan 3–1 3–2[a] 0–0 3–4
RSCA Futures 1–3 0–2 2–2 31 Jan 7 Mar 17 Jan 1–2 28 Jan 2–2 2–0 20 Feb 2–2 2–2
Seraing 21 Feb 1–2 2–3 0–1 24 Jan 0–2 1–1 1–1 16 Jan 8 Mar 7 Feb 3–1 1–0
Olympic Charleroi 0–5 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–4 0–1 7 Mar 31 Jan 0–2 23 Jan
Club NXT 27 Jan 3–1 0–2 0–2 13 Feb 0–4 18 Jan 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 28 Feb 30 Jan 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 21 December 2025. Source: Flashscore
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ The match between Jong Genk and RSCA Futures of 8 November (matchday 13) was postponed to 9 December (between matchdays 16 and 17) as Jong Genk had four players selected for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[8]


Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 6 November 2025.[9]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Lennart Mertens Beveren 8
2 Gaëtan Robail RWDM Brussels 7
3 Thierry Ambrose Kortrijk 6
Oumar Diouf RFC Liège
Lucas Schoofs Lommel
6 Aaron Bibout Jong Genk 5
Isaac Nuhu Eupen
Leandro Rousseau Patro Eisden Maasmechelen
Jannes Van Hecke Beveren
10 Bryan Adinany Lierse 4
Mohamed Salah Lommel
Ralf Seuntjens Lommel
Usman Simbakoli RWDM Brussels
Yentl Van Genechten Eupen
3 goals (14 players)
2 goals (28 players)
1 goal (63 players)
1 own goal (5 players)
2 own goals (1 player)

Number of teams by provinces

Number of teams Province or region Team(s)
3 East Flanders Beveren, Jong KAA Gent and Lokeren
Liège Eupen, RFC Liège and Seraing
Limburg Jong Genk, Lommel and Patro Eisden Maasmechelen
2 Antwerp Beerschot and Lierse
Brussels RSCA Futures and RWDM Brussels
Hainaut Francs Borains and Olympic Charleroi
West Flanders Club NXT and Kortrijk

Notes

See also

References

  1. ^ "Voetbalclub RWDM verandert van naam en wordt opnieuw Daring Brussels" (in Dutch). vrt.be. 6 June 2025.
  2. ^ "De gulden middenweg? RWDM gaat na heel wat ophef voor RWDM Brussels als nieuwe naam" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 7 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Back to the roots… KSC Lokeren" (in Dutch). sporting.be. 1 July 2025.
  4. ^ ""1B-competitie is niet eerlijk nu": Seraing, Francs Borains en Lokeren vechten hervorming aan" ["1B-league is now unfair": Seraing, Francs Borains and Lokeren appeal reform] (in Dutch). www.proleague.be. 1 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Tweedeklassers stappen nu ook naar BAS tegen competitiehervorming: "Heel jammer dat het zo moet lopen"" [Second division teams are now also approaching BAS against competition reform: "It's a shame it has to end this way."] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Les Francs Borains sanctionnés d'un point de pénalité et piégés au jeu de la recapitalisation : "Certains peuvent compter sur une manne providentielle…"" (in French). rtbf. 14 February 2025.
  7. ^ "General terms Belgian competition" (PDF). kbvb.be. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b https://www.proleague.be/nieuws/wk-u17-uitstel-van-jong-genk-rsca-futures-naar-9-december
  9. ^ "Spelersstatistieken". proximus11.be. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
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