Round 14 of League III Season 2026 brought plenty of action in Group B, with 13 matches producing 36 goals. The round featured several important clashes between teams near the promotion play-off positions, while some lower-ranked sides picked up valuable victories against higher-ranked opposition.
With 50 rounds in the season, Round 14 leaves 36 rounds still to play. The battle for promotion is therefore far from decided, but every point is becoming important.
As a reminder:
- 🥇 1st place: Automatic promotion to League II
- 🥈–9️⃣ 2nd–9th: Promotion play-offs for the second promotion spot
- 🔟 10th: Friendly Cup
- 1️⃣1️⃣–1️⃣2️⃣ 11th–12th: King's Cup
- 🚫 No relegation from League III
⚽ Round 14 Results
AFC Unirea Slobozia 3–2 RC Celta de Vigo
AFC Unirea Slobozia opened the round with an important 3–2 victory over Celta de Vigo.
Slobozia entered the match ranked 19th, while Celta were 3rd, making this one of the round's biggest upsets. Celta had been sitting in an excellent position for the promotion play-offs, but Slobozia's home victory denied them valuable points.
For Slobozia, defeating a top-three opponent could provide a major confidence boost as they attempt to climb the table.
Result: Slobozia 3–2 Celta de Vigo
FC Dinamo București 4–1 Rayo Vallecano
FC Dinamo București produced one of the round's most convincing performances, defeating Rayo Vallecano 4–1.
Dinamo began the round in 11th, just outside the King's Cup qualification positions, while Rayo were ranked 6th and comfortably inside the promotion play-off zone.
The four-goal performance gives Dinamo a major boost and puts pressure on the teams above them.
Result: Dinamo București 4–1 Rayo Vallecano
Hidroivare 2–1 Villarreal CF
Hidroivare earned a valuable 2–1 victory against Villarreal.
Hidroivare started the round in 18th, while Villarreal occupied 4th. Once again, a team from the lower portion of the table managed to defeat a promotion contender.
Villarreal will be disappointed to leave the match without points, while Hidroivare can celebrate a major upset.
Result: Hidroivare 2–1 Villarreal
AC Horsens 2–2 S.L. Benfica
AC Horsens and Benfica shared the points after a 2–2 draw.
Horsens entered the match in 5th, while Benfica were 7th, making this an important battle between two teams involved in the promotion play-off race.
Neither side was able to take full advantage, but the point keeps both teams in contention.
Result: AC Horsens 2–2 Benfica
FC Helsingør 3–2 FC Daugavpils
FC Helsingør edged FC Daugavpils 3–2 in another close contest.
Helsingør entered the round in 23rd, while Daugavpils were 24th, so this was an important match between two teams in the lower part of the table.
Helsingør's three points could prove useful as they attempt to climb toward the middle of Group B.
Result: Helsingør 3–2 Daugavpils
KAA Gent 2–1 Rēzeknes FA/BJSS
KAA Gent defeated Rēzeknes FA/BJSS 2–1.
Gent entered the match in 26th place, while Rēzeknes were 20th. It was therefore a valuable victory for the team at the bottom of the table.
Although there is no relegation from League III, Gent will certainly be hoping this result marks the beginning of a climb up the standings.
Result: KAA Gent 2–1 Rēzeknes FA/BJSS
Royal Charleroi S.C. 2–1 SK Super Nova
Royal Charleroi collected three points with a 2–1 victory over SK Super Nova.
Charleroi began the round in 17th, while Super Nova were 10th. The result is another example of a lower-ranked side taking down a team sitting around the Friendly Cup qualification position.
Super Nova missed an opportunity to strengthen their position in the top half.
Result: Charleroi 2–1 Super Nova
Africa Sports FC 3–5 Royal Antwerp FC
The highest-scoring game of Round 14 saw Royal Antwerp defeat Africa Sports FC 5–3 in an eight-goal thriller.
Africa Sports entered the match in 12th, while Antwerp were 25th. Despite the difference in their starting positions, Antwerp produced a spectacular attacking display.
For Africa Sports, the defeat is costly because they began the round just outside the King's Cup positions and within striking distance of the play-off places.
Result: Africa Sports FC 3–5 Royal Antwerp FC
Monaco FC 2–2 FC Gloria Buzău
Monaco FC and FC Gloria Buzău finished level at 2–2.
Monaco started the round in 8th, meaning they were inside the promotion play-off positions. Gloria Buzău were 22nd.
Monaco will probably view the draw as two points dropped, particularly against a team positioned much lower in the standings.
Result: Monaco 2–2 Gloria Buzău
Águilas Doradas 4–1 Violette Athletic Club
Águilas Doradas delivered a dominant 4–1 victory over Violette Athletic Club.
Águilas began the round in 14th, while Violette were 21st. The three points give Águilas a chance to move closer to the teams competing for the King's Cup and Friendly Cup positions.
Result: Águilas Doradas 4–1 Violette
Deportes Concepción 2–3 Canadian(URU)
Canadian(URU) came away with an impressive 3–2 away victory over Deportes Concepción.
Concepción entered the match in 14th, while Canadian were 13th, making this a relatively even mid-table contest.
The narrow victory gives Canadian an important three points in a very congested section of the standings.
Result: Deportes Concepción 2–3 Canadian
Internacional de Bogotá 1–1 Once Caldas
Internacional de Bogotá and Once Caldas played to a 1–1 draw.
This was a particularly important match because both teams entered the round inside the promotion play-off zone. Internacional were ranked 9th, while Once Caldas were 1st.
The league leaders therefore dropped two points, while Internacional earned a valuable point against the team at the summit.
Result: Internacional de Bogotá 1–1 Once Caldas
Independiente Medellín 3–3 Cúcuta Deportivo
The round ended with a thrilling 3–3 draw between Independiente Medellín and Cúcuta Deportivo.
Medellín started the match in 15th, while Cúcuta were 13th. Both teams were looking to push toward the upper half, but neither could claim all three points.
Six goals made this one of the most entertaining matches of the round.
Result: Independiente Medellín 3–3 Cúcuta Deportivo
🔥 The Promotion Race
The biggest result from the top of the table came at Internacional de Bogotá, where 1st-place Once Caldas were held to a 1–1 draw.
That gives the chasing pack an opportunity to close the gap.
The teams immediately behind the leaders did not all capitalize, however. Celta de Vigo, who started 3rd, suffered a shock 3–2 defeat to 19th-place Slobozia. Villarreal, ranked 4th, also fell 2–1 to Hidroivare.
Meanwhile, AC Horsens and Benfica drew 2–2 in a direct battle between play-off contenders, and Monaco FC could only manage a 2–2 draw against 22nd-place Gloria Buzău.
This means Round 14 was particularly favorable for teams looking to challenge the established leaders.
📈 Play-Off Battle
The race for positions 2–9 is wide open.
Several teams started the round in the play-off zone, but a number of them dropped points:
- Celta de Vigo: lost 3–2
- Villarreal: lost 2–1
- AC Horsens: drew 2–2
- Benfica: drew 2–2
- Monaco: drew 2–2
- Internacional de Bogotá: drew 1–1
At the same time, teams just outside the play-off positions have opportunities to make up ground. Dinamo București's 4–1 victory over 6th-place Rayo Vallecano is especially important.
🏆 Friendly Cup & King's Cup Race
The middle of the table also produced plenty of movement.
SK Super Nova, who began the round in 10th, lost 2–1 to Royal Charleroi. That leaves the Friendly Cup position vulnerable to the teams immediately below.
FC Dinamo București, starting 11th, took advantage of their opportunity with a dominant 4–1 victory over Rayo. A few more results like this could push Dinamo into the play-off conversation.
Africa Sports FC, starting 12th, suffered an eight-goal defeat against Royal Antwerp, while several teams below them picked up points.
The battle for the 10th–12th positions could therefore become just as interesting as the promotion race.
📊 Qualification Structure
| Position | Destination |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Automatic promotion to League II |
| 🥈–9️⃣ 2nd–9th | Promotion play-offs |
| 🔟 10th | Friendly Cup |
| 1️⃣1️⃣–1️⃣2️⃣ 11th–12th | King's Cup |
| 13th–26th | Remain in League III |
| ⬇️ Bottom positions | No relegation |
⭐ Round 14 Highlights
- 🔥 Royal Antwerp 5–3 Africa Sports was the highest-scoring match of the round.
- 💥 Toronto-style upset: Slobozia stunned 3rd-place Celta de Vigo 3–2.
- 🚨 Hidroivare defeated 4th-place Villarreal 2–1.
- 💪 Dinamo București crushed Rayo Vallecano 4–1, making a strong push toward the upper half.
- 👑 League leaders Once Caldas were held 1–1 by 9th-place Internacional de Bogotá.
- ⚔️ Horsens and Benfica drew 2–2 in a crucial play-off battle.
- 📉 Monaco could only draw 2–2 against 22nd-place Gloria Buzău.
- 📈 KAA Gent earned a 2–1 victory despite entering the round in last place.
- ⚽ Independiente Medellín and Cúcuta Deportivo produced a six-goal 3–3 thriller.
⏳ 36 Rounds Still To Go
After 14 of 50 rounds, Group B remains wide open. Once Caldas still occupy the summit, but their 1–1 draw gives the chasing teams hope. Meanwhile, defeats for Celta de Vigo and Villarreal demonstrate that even the strongest teams can be beaten on any given round.
The promotion play-off race is becoming increasingly crowded, and the Friendly Cup and King's Cup positions are also far from settled.
With 36 rounds remaining, there is still plenty of time for today's mid-table teams to become tomorrow's promotion contenders.
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