Zamalek Attends Egyptian Premier League Draw for a Historic Season

Zamalek's official delegation attended the Egyptian Premier League draw for the upcoming 2025–2026 season, held at the National Teams Center in 6th of October City. Representing the club were Sporting Director John Edward and Football Director Abdel Nasser Mohamed—marking the club’s commitment to carefully preparing for the new season both technically and administratively.

21 Clubs Competing in an Unconventional Edition

This season is shaping up to be exceptional, with 21 clubs taking part instead of the usual 18. This increase comes after three clubs were promoted from the second division and the cancellation of relegation last season. The expanded roster is expected to intensify the competition, increase the number of matches, and present new logistical and technical challenges.

New Format Kicks Off in August

The Professional Clubs Association has announced that the new season will officially begin on August 8, 2025. The league will adopt a two-phase format for the first time:

• Championship Group: Comprising the top-ranking teams, competing for the league title and continental qualifications.

• Relegation Group: Consisting of the lower half of the table, fighting to avoid relegation.

The first phase will be played as a single round-robin with 20 rounds per team. This new structure aims to maintain excitement and competitive balance while reducing the total number of games.

Technical Seeding of Clubs for the Draw

To ensure fairness, the 21 clubs have been seeded into three tiers based on their standings from last season:

• Tier 1: Al Ahly, Zamalek, Pyramids, Al Masry, National Bank, Ceramica Cleopatra, Pharco.

• Tier 2: Petrojet, Haras El Hodoud, ZED FC, El Gouna, Tala'ea El Gaish, ENPPI, Future FC.

• Tier 3: Al Ittihad Alexandria, Smouha, Ismaily, Ghazl El Mahalla, Arab Contractors, Wadi Degla, Kahrabaa Ismailia.

This technical seeding plays a crucial role in ensuring balanced scheduling during the early rounds.

Updated Discipline Regulations and Fines

In continuation of its efforts to enforce discipline, the league will maintain its policy of fines for yellow cards, introduced last season. The updated penalties are as follows:

• First yellow card: EGP 1,000

• Second yellow card: EGP 2,500

• Third yellow card: EGP 5,000 + one-match suspension

These measures are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at curbing player misconduct and promoting sportsmanship.

High Expectations and Fierce Competition Ahead

Egyptian football fans are anticipating a highly competitive and technically elevated season. The diverse makeup of clubs, along with the new league format, will likely push teams to adopt new strategies in squad rotation and preparation.

Newly promoted teams are expected to fight hard to prove themselves among the elite, while traditional powerhouses will look to reclaim past glory—setting the stage for a thrilling kickoff from the very first round.