The 2024–25 Belgian Division 3 was the ninth season of the division in its current format, placed at the fifth tier of football in Belgium.
Team changes In Promoted from the Belgian Provincial Leagues were: Champions for each of the provincial leagues: Bevel (Antwerp), Sporting Bruxelles (Brabant ACFF), Rotselaar (Brabant VV), St-Ghislain Tertre Hautrage (Hainaut), Geer (Liège), Achel (Limburg), Harre-Manhay (Luxembourg), Biesme (Namur) In East-Flanders, Drongen took over the promotion spot of champions Munkzwalm, who did not ask for a license and were hence ineligible for promotion. In West-Flanders, provincial league champion K.S.V. Diksmuide merged with neighbours Oostende who ceased to exist after going bankrupt. The new club continues with the matricule number of Diksmuide under the name Diksmuide-Oostende. Due to teams folding or voluntarily relegating at this and higher levels, extra spots opened up: Two extra teams were promoted from Liège: Aubel and Eupen 1963 One extra team was promoted from West-Flanders: Lauwe. Winner of the interprovincial round on VV side: De Kempen. Winners of the interprovincial round on ACFF side: Buzet, Evere, Libramont, Loyers, Tilff and R.A.FC Oppagne-Weris Clubs relegated based on their finishing position in the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2: City Pirates, Hamoir, Londerzeel, Mandel United, Overijse, Rebecq and Wetteren.
Out The four division champions were directly promoted to the Belgian Division 2: Westhoek (VV A), Termien (VV B), Onhaye (ACFF A) and Union Hutoise (ACFF D). Also promoted via promotion play-offs were Aywaille, Berg en Dal, Crossing Schaerbeek, Habay-la-Neuve, Manageoise, Ostiches-Ath, Raeren-Eynatten, Pelt, Roeselare and Wellen. To increase the number of U23 teams in the Belgian Division 2 Seraing II were also promoted. Relegated to the Belgian Provincial Leagues based on their finishing position were: Aalter, Couvin-Mariembourg, Diest, Eksel, Herstal, Longlier, Pepingen-Halle, Symphorinois, Tamines, Wambeek Ternat, Wanze/Bas-Oha, Witgoor and Wolvertem Merchtem.
Belgian Division 3 VV A
League table
Period champions First period: Wetteren (23 Points) Second period: Mandel United (25 Points) Third period: Mandel United (24 Points)
Results
Belgian Division 3 VV B
League table
Period champions First period: Londerzeel (22 Points) Second period: Londerzeel (20 Points) Third period: Nijlen (26 Points)
Results
Belgian Division 3 ACFF A
League table
Period champions First period: Sporting Bruxelles (25 Points) Second period: Flénu (21 Points) Third period: Braine (20 Points)
Results
Belgian Division 3 ACFF B
League table
Period champions First period: Richelle United (25 Points) Second period: Elsautoise (22 Points) Third period: Richelle United (24 Points)
Results
Promotion play-offs Promotion play-offs VV The play-offs feature eight teams, the two second-place finishers in divisions VV A and VV B as well as from each division the winners of each of the three periods (for periods won by overall champions or runners-up the highest team not yet qualified takes the spot instead). The eight teams play a knockout tournament, with the top two teams being promoted, all teams were unseeded when setting up the draw.
Qualified teams: Diksmuide-Oostende (highest place finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division VV A) Hamme (runner-up division VV A) Kalken (2nd highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division VV A) Nijlen (runner-up division VV B) Overijse (highest place finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division VV B) Rotselaar (3rd highest place finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division VV B) Schoonbeek-Beverst (2nd highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division VV B) Wetteren (winner of the first perpiod in division VV A)
Normally, three extra promotion places are available on VV-side through the promotion-playoffs, but due to the fact that two teams in the Division 2 folded or restarted at the bottom-of the football pyramid, the number of extra places increased to five. As a result, the four round one winners all gained promotion, while the four losing teams continued to play for the fifth and final promotion spot.
Round 1
Diksmuide-Oostende, Hamme, Kalken, and Nijlen all got promoted to the Belgian Division 2. The four losing teams moved to the consolation round to determine who got the final promotion spot.
Consolation Round
Rotselaar and Wetteren moved to the 5th/6th place match to determine who got the final promotion spot. Overijse and Schoonbeek-Beverst were eliminated.
5th/6th place
Wetteren got promoted to Belgian Division 2. Because Jong Genk was ultimately not relegated to Division 1, Rotselaar was also promoted to Division 2.
Promotion play-offs ACFF The play-offs feature eight teams, the two second-place finishers in divisions ACFF A and ACFF B as well as from each division the winners of each of the three periods (for periods won by overall champions or runners-up the highest team not yet qualified takes the spot instead). The eight teams play a knockout tournament, with the top two teams being promoted, all teams were unseeded when setting up the draw.
Qualified teams: Arquet (highest place finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division ACFF A) Du Geer (2nd highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division ACFF B) Elsautoise (runner-up division ACFF B) Evere (2nd highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division ACFF A) Flénu (runner-up division ACFF A) Sporting Bruxelles (highest place finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division ACFF A) Sprimont (highest place finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division ACFF B) Tilff (3rd highest place finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division VV B)
Round 1
Round 2
3rd/4th place
Due to uncertainty whether Binche would be awarded a license to play in the Belgian Division 2, it was not clear whether a third team (besides Flénu and Tilff) was going to be promoted. In case Binche was denied a licence, the winner of the match would be promoted.
Sporting Bruxelles won the match for 3rd place and in June received the good news that a spot in the Division 2 will become available because RFC Seraing U-23 withdraw from competition. As a result, Sporting Bruxelles will also promoted to Division 2.
Round 3
As both Flénu and Tilff had already secured promotion to Belgian Division 2, the match was not played.
Relegation play-offs VV The two teams finishing 13th play-off in a single match to determine the order in case any extra relegations are necessary. ASV Geel was drawn at home.
Prior to the match, it was still unclear whether an extra team would be relegated, as the proposed league reform still needed to be voted. As a result, the winner of the match would be spared of relegation, while to loser would need to await the vote and could still be spared if the reform was not approved. As such, after the game, ASV Geel was saved while Wervik remained uncertain at which level they would play the coming season.
ACFF The two teams finishing 13th play-off in a single match to determine the order in case any extra relegations are necessary. RCS Libramontois was drawn at home.
Both teams remained in Division 3.
References