Football leagues prepare for new seasons in Egypt and Tunisia

The Egyptian Premier League 2026-2027 season is set to begin on August 21, featuring 20 teams. The Egyptian Professional Clubs Association has announced a multi-stage format: a first stage consisting of 190 matches, followed by a final stage starting March 8, 2027. The final stage will split into two groups: a six-team group competing for the title and a 14-team group to determine relegation. Matches during the holy month of Ramadan will be scheduled for 9:30 PM Cairo time, with scheduled breaks during the first two days of Ramadan and the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

In Tunisia, the upcoming football league season faces several challenges ahead of its August 21 start date. These include a scheduling error by the Tunisian League Association regarding the match calendar, the expiration of referee supervisor Jamal Himoudi's contract, and financial licensing issues. Specifically, clubs must settle outstanding disputes to comply with new CAF regulations, with major club Etoile du Sahel working to secure 1 million Tunisian dinars to avoid potential exclusion from the league.