Zamalek handed demanding start as Al Ahly derby arrives in sixth round

Zamalek will begin their Egyptian Premier League title defence against Al Ittihad Alexandria on 21 August, while the first Cairo derby of the 2026-27 season will see them face Al Ahly in round six on 11 October.

The fixture was confirmed after the league schedule was drawn using artificial intelligence, setting up an early meeting between the two traditional rivals.

Zamalek’s opening run starts with Al Ittihad Alexandria before they take on National Bank of Egypt in the second round on 26 August. Their third match is against Petrojet on 31 August.

The champions will then face Abu Qir Fertilizers in round four on 8 September, followed by a meeting with Ghazl El Mahalla in the fifth round on 16 September.

That sequence means Zamalek will have five league matches before the visit of Al Ahly in the sixth round. The derby is scheduled for 11 October and represents the first meeting between the two sides in the new campaign.

The draw also placed the match between Zamalek and Pyramids FC in round 13. That game will be played on 28 December.

Zamalek, Al Ahly and Pyramids FC were given different opening schedules in the draw for the 2026-27 Egyptian Premier League. The arrangements will determine the early shape of the season for the three leading clubs, with the title holders facing a series of fixtures before the first major derby.

Zamalek’s initial programme is therefore clearly defined from the opening day through to the round-six meeting with Al Ahly. They will start against Al Ittihad Alexandria on 21 August, return to action against National Bank of Egypt five days later, and then meet Petrojet on 31 August.

The fourth-round fixture against Abu Qir Fertilizers follows on 8 September, while the clash with Ghazl El Mahalla is set for 16 September. After those matches, attention will turn to the Al Ahly game at the start of October.

The later meeting with Pyramids FC gives Zamalek another significant fixture before the end of the calendar year, with the two clubs due to play on 28 December in the 13th round.

The schedule was produced through an artificial-intelligence-assisted draw, which also confirmed the date of the latest edition of the Al Ahly-Zamalek rivalry. The competition will begin with Zamalek as holders and with the league’s major fixtures already mapped out through the opening 13 rounds.