Al Ahli’s troubled training camp overshadowed by defeats and fitness fears before 2026-27 kick-off

Al Ahli’s preparations for the 2026-27 season have been thrown into doubt as the Jeddah club continues to struggle in pre-season friendlies during their overseas training camp, with a run of poor results raising concerns inside the camp.

The team, known as “Al Raqi”, has yet to find momentum in its warm-up matches, extending a sequence of unconvincing performances that has become an unwelcome theme of their build-up to the new campaign.

Coaches and officials had hoped the camp would provide a platform to fine-tune tactics, build cohesion and regain confidence after last season, but the latest friendly defeat has instead underlined the scale of the task facing the squad before competitive football returns.

While pre-season scorelines do not carry points or trophies, the nature of the setbacks and the team’s inability to turn around this negative pattern have unsettled supporters, who are looking for signs that Al Ahli can compete strongly on all fronts in 2026-27.

Concerns over rhythm and readiness

The run of disappointing results has raised questions about Al Ahli’s sharpness at both ends of the pitch, with the side still searching for the balance and fluidity expected at this stage of preparation.

Within the camp there is an awareness that the current form, even if it comes in friendlies, risks seeping into the early weeks of the competitive season if not addressed quickly through tactical adjustments and improved execution on the field.

The club’s technical staff are using the remaining matches of the camp to test different combinations and approaches in an effort to halt the slide and restore a sense of stability before the squad returns home.

Pressure before the new campaign

With the start of the 2026-27 season approaching, the sequence of defeats has intensified pressure on the group to respond, particularly as expectations around Al Ahli remain high domestically and regionally.

Players and staff know that the results of friendlies will ultimately be forgotten if the team starts the league strongly, but the current pattern has added an extra layer of urgency to the final phase of their preparations.

Background: a difficult build-up

Al Ahli had entered this external camp aiming to leave behind previous frustrations and build a fresh platform for success, banking on intensive training, controlled match conditions and time away from daily distractions in Saudi Arabia.

Instead, the camp so far has been marked by a continuation of negative results, turning what was designed as a springboard into a demanding test of the squad’s mentality and resilience.

The club will now look to use the remaining days of the camp to correct course, rebuild confidence and ensure that the setbacks of pre-season do not become a storyline that follows Al Ahli into the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season.