FOOTBALL – THE 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League kicks off tonight with the first two fixtures of matchweek one.
The kingdom’s top-tier football competition features 12 clubs, and it will be played in a double round-robin, at the end of which will emerge this season’s title winners in Bahrain.
Muharraq head into this campaign as two-time defending champions. They captured the 2025-26 crown following a tight, two-horse race against chief challengers Al Khaldiya, with only a single point separating the pair after 22 matchweeks.
Muharraq are not in action today, but Khaldiya will be taking to the pitch against Al Najma at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz. Najma staved off relegation at the end of the previous campaign and will be looking for an improved run this time.
In the evening’s other fixture, Malkiya lock horns with Sitra at the National Stadium in Riffa. Both games are scheduled for simultaneous 7pm kick-offs.
Two matches will also be held tomorrow and Saturday as part of the opening round of play.
Muharraq will begin their quest for a championship ‘three-peat’ when they face off with long-time rivals Al Ahli at the National Stadium.
East Riffa, who are returning to the top flight for 2026-27 after gaining promotion from the as runners-up from last season’s Bahrain First Division, will go head-to-head with Hidd in the other game at Ahli.
On Saturday, Riffa, who finished third behind Muharraq and Khaldiya, will face off with Al Ettifaq at the National Stadium. Ettifaq were the 2025-26 Bahrain First Division champions, earning their climb into the premiership.
A’ali will take on Manama, another side that gained promotion, at Ahli. All four games tomorrow and Saturday are also scheduled to kick off at 7pm.
Following the opening three days of action, matchweek two in the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League will be played from September 2 to 5, to be followed by the third matchweek from September 10 to 12.
This year’s Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League is one of several competitions being organised by the BFA for 2026-27.
There are also the His Majesty the King’s Cup, the kingdom’s richest annual tournament, which kicks off on December 14; the Bahrain First Division, starting on September 13; the age-group leagues, kicking off on September 10; the Khalid bin Hamad Cup, to be played from December 12; and the single-game Bahrain Super Cup, slated for December 29.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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