The Belgian First Division A, Belgian Pro League or 1A Pro League since the 2015–16 season, is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 18 clubs since 2020–21 season, reduced to 16 teams for 2023–24 season, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian First Division B. Seasons run from early August to late April, with teams playing 34 matches each in the regular season, and then entering Play-offs I or Play-offs II according to their position in the regular season. Play-offs I are contested by the top-four clubs in the regular season, with each club playing each other twice. Play-offs II are contested by teams ranked 7 to 16 joined by six teams from the Belgian First Division B and divided into four groups of four teams. The team finishing in 18th place is relegated directly. However, the 17th place will battle for promotion-relegation play-off against 2nd place of Challenger Pro League.
Koninklijke Beerschot Antwerpen Club, simply known as Beerschot AC, was a Belgian football club based in southern Antwerp. Beerschot played in the Belgian Pro League from 1999–2000 until 2012–13, when they were relegated not only through their league position, but also lost their professional licence through financial issues, being officially declared bankrupt on 21 May 2013 – one week after the season had ended.
Royal Antwerp Football Club, often referred to as Royal Antwerp or simply Antwerp, is a Belgian football club based in the city of Antwerp. Founded around 1880 as Antwerp Cricket Club by English students residing in Antwerp, 15 years before the creation of the Royal Belgian Football Association, Antwerp is regarded as the oldest club in Belgium. At first there was no organised football played by its members, until 1887 when the football division was founded with an own board, named Antwerp Football Club. Being the oldest active club at the time, it was the first club to register to the Association in 1895. Consequently, when matriculation numbers were introduced in 1926, the club received matriculate number one.
Association football is the most popular sport in Belgium, which has been played since the end of the 19th century. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport. The first match of the Belgium national team was played on 1 May 1904, a 3–3 draw against France.
Faris Haroun is a Belgian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian First Division A. He has also played for the Belgian national football team.
The Vrouwen Eredivisie, also known as the Pure Energie Eredivisie Vrouwen due to a sponsor contract until the 2023–2024 season, is the highest professional women's football league in the Netherlands. Organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) it was established in 2007 and then played for five seasons until 2012 when the leagues of the Netherlands and Belgium merged forming a single combined league. After three seasons the BeNe League folded and the Eredivisie was restarted in the 2015–16 season. The league winner receives a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The Beerschot Tennis Club, now known as the Royal Beerschot Tennis and Hockey Club is a field hockey and tennis club founded in 1899 in Kontich, Belgium, located in neighboring Antwerp. It hosted the tennis events for the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Kontich FC is a Belgian women's football club from Kontich. The club colours are red and yellow. Starting in 2010 the club was a joined venture of Kontich FC and Germinal Beerschot. The next year renamed to Beerschot AD, the following year, in 2013 the club was moved to Antwerp as the new ladies department of R.Antwerp FC. As from 2014 the club was moved back again to Kontich as K. Kontich FC.
The 2013–14 season of the Women's BeNe League is the second season of the Belgium and Netherlands' women's football top level league. The defending champion is FC Twente. The season started on 30 August 2013 and is played in a single division contrary to last season.
The 2014–15 BeNe League was the third and last season of the Belgium and Netherlands' women's football top level league. The defending champion was FC Twente. The season started on 29 August 2014 and was played in a single division. The season finished on 8 May 2015.
Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbalclub Antwerpen, or simply Beerschot, is a Belgian professional football club located in Antwerp, that competes in the second-tier First Division B after relegating from the top tier in the 2021–22 season. In 2013, KFCO Wilrijk decided to integrate the identity of Beerschot AC when they were relegated in the 2012–13 season, not only through their league position but also due to losing their professional licence through financial issues, being officially declared bankrupt on 21 May 2013 and folding shortly afterwards. The club colours are purple and white, they play their games on the club's home ground the Olympic Stadium often referred to as 't Kiel.
Gunther Jozef Hofmans is a former Belgian professional footballer who spent his entire career in Belgium playing as an attacking midfielder and striker for Germinal Ekeren and Germinal Beerschot. He also represented the Belgium national team, winning one cap. He currently works as a team manager for Royal Antwerp, since 2011, having previously worked in the same position, at one of his previous clubs, Germinal Beerschot, from 2008 to 2011.
Danique Kerkdijk is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie club Twente and the Netherlands national team.
The 2020–21 Belgian First Division A was the 118th season of top-tier football in Belgium. As part of a proposal by the Jupiler Pro League's board of directors accepted by the General Assembly on 15 May 2020, the 2020–21 season would involve shortened playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the top four teams would play for the title, while teams five through eight would play for the remaining ticket into Europe. The league fixtures were announced on 8 July 2020.
The 2021–22 Belgian First Division A was the 119th season of top-tier football in Belgium.
The 2020–21 season was the 117th season in the existence of Royal Antwerp F.C. and the club's fourth consecutive season in the top flight of Belgian football. In addition to the domestic league, Antwerp participated in this season's editions of the Belgian Cup, of which they were the reigning champions, the Belgian Super Cup and participated in the UEFA Europa League. The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
The 2021–22 season was the 118th season in the existence of Royal Antwerp F.C. and the club's fifth consecutive season in the top flight of Belgian football. In addition to the domestic league, Antwerp participated in this season's editions of the Belgian Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
Marlies Verbruggen is a Belgian footballer, who has represented the national side on 41 occasions. At club level, she most recently played for Anderlecht.
The 2021–22 season is the 123rd season in the existence of K Beerschot VA and the club's second consecutive season in the top flight of Belgian football. In addition to the domestic league, K Beerschot VA will participate in this season's edition of the Belgian Cup.
