Hossam Hassan’s drive to get Egypt ready for the 2026 World Cup has triggered an early start to the domestic football season.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that the new Premier League campaign will now begin on 8 August, one week earlier than planned.
The change came after a meeting involving EFA leaders, the clubs’ association, and officials from all 21 participating teams. According to the EFA’s official statement, the rescheduling aligns with Hassan’s request to give national players more time on the pitch before reporting for international duty in September.
This extra game time is key as Egypt continues its World Cup qualifying journey, sitting at the top of their group. By allowing players to feature in at least three or four league matches, the coaching team believes they can assess form and fitness more accurately ahead of crucial fixtures.
Hassan has also urged that the league wraps up early to give the national team the best possible run-in before the global showpiece. The move shows his intent to build a squad that’s sharp and ready.
