Brussels’ Union Saint-Gilloise could be crowned Belgian champions on Sunday, with the club’s EU fan base confident that, after the last few near-misses, this will finally be the year.
The 2024-2025 Jupiler Pro League season will come to an end this Sunday after the 10th and final day of the Champions Playoffs. Union Saint-Gilloise are hosting KAA Gent, and will be crowned Belgian champions if they match the result of Club Brugge, who are playing Antwerp at home.
Once again, Union are in the title race, but this time their destiny is in their own hands – if they can hold on. Recent end-of-season collapses have cruelly snatched the league from under their noses, largely due to the Pro League’s controversial play-off system, which is due to be scrapped in 2026.
Play-off pain
Most notably, fans will have lingering memories of the 2023 heartbreak, when Union's dreams were dashed by Antwerp’s 94th minute screamer to win the league with only seconds of the play-offs left.
“After the last few years, I have been prepared for anything to calm expectations. We saw that the last step is always the hardest to do,” says Miro, a Slovak fan and member of bEUnion supporters club.
“But it is true that the excitement is present, and Union has everything it needs to win the game,” he adds.
Union's players celebrate after scoring during a soccer match between Royal Antwerp FC and Union Saint-Gilloise, Saturday 17 May 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga
Leading with 53 points, Union could clinch the first division title for the 12th time – a full 90 years after their last victory. They are unbeaten with 25 points out of 27, and are set to break the playoffs points record if they win on Sunday.
Opponents Gent are having a disastrous play-offs campaign with eight defeats and a total of 29 goals conceded in nine games.
A Brugge win combined with a draw or defeat for Union would give Club Brugge their 20th league title. If Union and Bruges finish level on points, the title will go to the Blauw & Zwart as they finished ahead of Union in the regular season (2nd and 3rd).
Whatever happens on Sunday, this season marks another year for Union Saint-Gilloise at the helm of Belgian football, who had been in the lower leagues since 1972 until their promotion in 2021.
After their return, the club even went onto finish second in their first season back in the top flight. To the shock of most football fan, they were 1st for most of the season but fell short in the play-offs. The club even reached the quarter finals of the Europa League in 2023, and won its first trophy last season, the Belgian Cup – the first in 89 years.
'Looking for a community'
Since its newfound success, Union has a growing Brussels-based international fanbase increasingly attending games.
Many have been attracted by Union's traditionally working class, passionate and open-minded fan base, particularly the vociferous ultras who sit on the Marien stadium’s east stand. Interestingly, Union fans do not mock opposition fans.
“Being a fan of football fan culture, Union’s rich history and open-minded fan base, spoke to me,” bEUnion founder from Germany, Fabian, told The Brussels Times. “I also chose them as I did not know anybody when I first came to Brussels in 2018 and was looking for a community in Brussels.”
Most members had been fans since before the return to its previous glory days, but bEUnion was officially set up in 2021. It was initially for people working in the international institutions in Brussels, but has been since extended to others. On the board, there are 6 members – Portuguese, Belgian, Slovak and 3 Germans. "Well technically, one half-German, half-Spanish," Fabian adds.
bEUnion fans in Genk, 2025. Credit: bEUnion
The idea to set up an official supporters club was partly due to attend away games, which is only possible via a fanclub. This is due to a 'mandatory coach rule' which only allows fans to attend games through official channels which organise designated travel.
“After a few games, I decided to go to an away match – which is only possible through a fanclub,” fellow member Miro says. “I searched on the website and I asked bEUnion for a spot, as from their logo it looked like they would respond in English.”
Communications are done in English, and today the fanclub boasts of a 50-50 split between international and Belgian members, even if the “core” remains from outside of Belgium.
Yet the international character of Union Saint-Gilloise’s fans is easily apparent to anyone who goes to a game at the Joseph Marien stadium. On any match day, it is easy to hear French, Dutch, English, Spanish or even Greek being spoken among fans. There is also good integration with other local supporters clubs, in spite of some initial scepticism against bEUnion at the beginning. Today, both Miro and Fabian underline that they feel part of one big family.
“When I joined, first I thought that without knowing French there would be a barrier with other supporters, but as soon as they realised I don’t speak French they switched immediately to English,” Miro says. “They started to ask how I ended up at Marien and were very friendly. In the end, the more time I spend with Union, the more integrated I feel.”
'Many sick days'
Ahead of Sunday, all Union fans will be worried of another play-off undoing. Despite this, views on the controversial play-off system are also split among Union supporters.
“It was painful to see us lose the title twice because of this rule, and I have to say I feel bad for Genk this season [who finished 1st after the regular season],” says Miro. However, he concedes that, even without halving points, the Limburg side's performance in the play-offs has not been good enough for the title.
Union's players celebrate after winning a soccer match between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and RSC Anderlecht, Saturday 12 April 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Bruno Fahy
“The play-offs are not the fairest of all systems, but it does create incredibly intense match-ups at the end of each season. However, speaking for myself, I am happy when we move to a regular league system in 2026,” Fabian adds.
For the match itself, bEUnion are hosting their yearly end of season party in the heart of Saint-Gilles, where members will watch the match all together.
“Stress will be a factor for sure, but it basically is for every game in the playoffs, so I hope players can concentrate on it, " Miro says. “For the fans, we will try to enjoy the day as much as possible. If everything goes well, I am pretty sure many sick days will be taken on Monday.”
