Fiery Launch of the "Zain League" Premier Division

The draw for the 2026-2027 season of the Zain Premier League football competition has set the stage for a fiery start for Kuwait, the defending champion for the past five seasons, who will face their Arab runners-up in the opening round scheduled for August 25 and 26, before taking on Qadsia in the second round on August 30 or 31.

The league draw was held on Monday at the St. Regis Hotel in Kuwait, attended by representatives of the participating clubs.

The football association has returned to the traditional format of the competition (a two-division league), after increasing the number of teams to 12 by abolishing relegation last season and promoting two teams from the First Division, whose competitions are currently underway.

According to the schedule, the competition will conclude on May 30, 2027. Two rounds will be held in August, one in September, four in October, three in November, and one in December, which will conclude the first section.

In the new year, 2027, no rounds will be held in January due to the Kuwait national team’s participation in the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Three rounds will be played in February and two in March.

In April 2027, three rounds will be held, and the same number in May.

Dr. Hamed Al-Shaibani, Director of Competitions at the football association, confirmed that the competition system stipulates the relegation of the teams finishing in eleventh and twelfth places in the next edition to the First Division, while the top two teams from the First Division will be promoted in the following season.

He noted that the stoppage periods during the season were factored into the competition schedule, in line with national team commitments and upcoming fixtures, including the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup. He added that detailed schedules and specific match dates would be sent to the clubs within the next two days, wishing everyone a successful and distinguished sporting season.

Dr. Sattam Al-Sahli, Director of Media at the football association, revealed that the General Authority for Sports would be responsible for preparing and equipping the stadiums for the season’s launch. He expressed satisfaction with the presence of three television broadcast trucks equipped with VAR technology, which would allow for the broadcast of three matches daily and enable each round to be played over two days.

For his part, Hamad Al-Musaybih, Executive Director of the Relations and Communications Sector at Zain Kuwait, stated that the company is proud to continue its support and sponsorship of the Kuwaiti League, driven by its belief in the importance of sports and their role in society, and its commitment to standing by young people and athletes.

Al-Musaybih said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Kuwait Football Association and sponsor the Kuwaiti League, a partnership that spans years and reflects Zain’s commitment to supporting Kuwaiti sports and contributing to their development. We believe that football represents an important part of the fabric of Kuwaiti society, given its great popularity and widespread fan following.”

He added: “We have always been keen for Zain to be a genuine partner of Kuwaiti sports, not only through sponsorship but also by supporting national initiatives and talents and contributing to creating a distinctive sporting experience for fans. We hope that this partnership will continue to achieve its goals and that we will witness seasons full of competition, excitement, and success.”