Season 2016–17 Location Belgium Matches played 191 | Dates 29 Jul 2016 – 1 May 2017 Goals scored 525 | |
 | ||
Similar 2015–16 Belgian Pro Leag, 2014–15 Belgian Pro Leag, 2012–13 Belgian Pro Leag, 2009–10 Belgian Pro Leag, 2016–17 Swiss Super Le | ||
The 2016–17 season of the Belgian First Division A is the 114th season of top-tier football in Belgium and the first following the structural changes in the Belgian football pyramid, reducing the number of professional teams to 24. It began on 29 July 2016 and will finish in May 2017. The fixtures were announced on 8 June 2016. Club Brugge are the defending champions.
Contents
Team changes
Europa League play-offs
Group A of the play-offs will consist of the teams finishing in positions 7, 9, 12 and 14 during the regular season and the first and third placed team in the qualifying positions in the 2016–17 Belgian First Division B. The teams finishing in positions 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 will join the second placed qualifier from the 2016–17 Belgian First Division B in group B.
Semi-final
The winners of both play-off groups compete in one match to play the fourth-placed or fifth-placed team of the championship play-offs for a spot in the final. This match will be played on the field of the highest ranked team in the regular competition. The winner of the semi-final will advance to the final to play for a spot in the third qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.
Final
The winner of the Europa League play-off semi-final and the fourth-placed or fifth-placed team of the championship play-offs (depending on cup winner) will play one match to determine the Europa League play-off winner. The winner qualifies for the third qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.