Al Ahly drawn to face Pyramids FC early in 2025-26 Egyptian Premier League campaign

Al Ahly will face a challenging early test in the upcoming 2025-26 Egyptian Premier League season, with a high-profile encounter against Pyramids FC scheduled for the fifth round of fixtures.

The official draw for the new league season took place on Sunday at the Al-Hadaf Project headquarters in 6th of October City, with representatives from all participating clubs in attendance.

The new campaign is set to kick off on 8 August 2025 and will conclude at the end of May 2026.

Al Ahly’s opening fixture will see them travel to Modern Sport before returning home in the second round to host Pharco.

The third round will see the Cairo giants sit out due to a bye, before returning to face Ghazl El Mahalla in round four.

One of the season’s most eagerly anticipated matchups will come in round five when Al Ahly host Pyramids.

The two clubs, fierce competitors in recent years, are expected to deliver another intense contest as they each push for an early advantage in the title race.

Al Ahly’s full first-stage schedule includes key fixtures such as the Cairo derby against Zamalek in round nine and a closing series of matches against El-Gouna, Smouha, ZED, and Arab Contractors.

Al Ahly’s 2025-26 league fixtures:

• Round 1: Modern Sport vs. Al Ahly
• Round 2: Al Ahly vs. Pharco
• Round 3: Bye
• Round 4: Ghazl El Mahalla vs. Al Ahly
• Round 5: Al Ahly vs. Pyramids
• Round 6: Enppi vs. Al Ahly
• Round 7: Al Ahly vs. Ceramica Cleopatra
• Round 8: Haras El Hodoud vs. Al Ahly
• Round 9: Al Ahly vs. Zamalek
• Round 10: Ismailia Electricity vs. Al Ahly
• Round 11: Al Ahly vs. Al Ittihad Alexandria
• Round 12: Petrojet vs. Al Ahly
• Round 13: Al Ahly vs. Al Masry
• Round 14: Al Ahly vs. Ismaily
• Round 15: Tala’ea El Gaish vs. Al Ahly
• Round 16: Al Ahly vs. Wadi Degla
• Round 17: Al Ahli Bank vs. Al Ahly
• Round 18: Al Ahly vs. El Gouna
• Round 19: Smouha vs. Al Ahly
• Round 20: Al Ahly vs. ZED
• Round 21: Arab Contractors vs. Al Ahly

This season’s format introduces significant changes, following the Egyptian Football Association’s decision to cancel relegation last year.

As a result, the league will feature 21 clubs competing in a single round-robin first stage.

Following this phase, the top seven teams will enter a championship group to determine the league winner, while the remaining 14 sides will be placed in a separate group to contest relegation.

At the end of the campaign, four clubs will drop to the Second Division A League.

The revised format adds a new level of competitiveness and pressure, with every fixture in the first stage potentially impacting both title ambitions and survival hopes.