Mohammad Abdullah, a Senior Sports Reporter with extensive experience covering major international sporting events including the FIFA World Cup, Cricket World Cup, and Formula One, reports on the start of the 2026-2027 UAE Pro League season.
The new season officially explodes into action this Friday, with Al Nasr and Ittihad Kalba getting the ball rolling. The opening day of the competition will feature two matches, with the second game seeing Al Wahda take on Ajman at 8:45pm at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Nasr finished the previous campaign in the sixth spot, five places above their rivals Kalba. Both clubs are entering the new season with a fresh start in mind. Serbian head coach Milos Milojevic confirmed that Al Nasr are fully prepared to begin their campaign on a positive note with a win at Al Maktoum Stadium.
Milojevic noted that the team is looking forward to a strong start, particularly with the opening game being played at home in front of their supporters. “The opening match is always challenging, but our objective is to secure all three points and deliver a strong performance in front of our fans at home,” Milojevic said.
Reflecting on their preparations, he added, “The team had a good pre-season training camp in Austria, where they played four friendly matches of different levels. The camp helped the players improve their fitness and overall performance ahead of the start of the competitive season. It is important that we remain focused from the first round, as we are looking to turn the positive pre-season preparations into a strong performance and a winning start in the league.”
Al Nasr goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh also backed the players’ determination to start the season strongly and deliver a successful campaign. “Our objective is to win our opening match at home and deliver a strong performance that makes our fans proud. We are aiming for a better and different season, taking it one game at a time as we work towards achieving our ambitions,” Shambieh stated.
Meanwhile, Kalba are entering the new season with a new look, having bolstered their squad with several signings to launch an assault on the title. The club recently roped in left-back Alejandro Vergaz as part of their preparations for the 2026-2027 season. Vergaz’s arrival is part of the club’s efforts to strengthen the team and enhance the coaching staff’s tactical options.
Kalba also bolstered their defence with the signing of French defender Ibrahim Cisse for one season. Cisse is likely to play a vital role in the defence, as Kalba are historically notorious for leaking too many goals, and the club hopes he will make a valuable contribution to their defensive stability.
In the other fixture, Al Wahda and Ajman will look to start their season with a victory. Al Wahda coach Pericles Chamusca is confident of a winning start against Ajman, who finished the last season in seventh spot. Buoyant by their victory in the ADIB Cup final against Pro League champions Al Ain, Al Wahda enters the match with significant confidence.
“This is our first match of the season against Ajman and the result will reflect on our preparation during the break,” said coach Chamusca. “I am very happy with what players showed during our pre-season camp in Germany and I have a great trust in players. We are making efforts to develop a strong squad. We are looking forward to starting on a winning note and building success gradually.” Al Wahda player Alaa Zuhair also expressed his confidence in the squad ahead of the opening match.
