Defending champions Al Sadd will face off against Al Ahli in their opening match of 2026-2027 season Doha Bank Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday, August 22, 2026. The kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Both teams go into the contest with high enthusiasm given the start of the league and the new season. Al Sadd will expectedly aim for a robust start under their new Romanian coach Razvan Lucescu. 

Al Sadd recently won the Al Ahrar Cup by defeating Mouloudia Club (MC Alger) 2-0.

Al Ahli will be a challenging opponent given that most of their players are fit and available. They are looking to deliver a strong performance against Al Sadd under their new Spanish coach Borja Jimenez.

Al Ahli have strengthened their squad with the inclusion of several key players, most notably Luis Martin, Suhaib Gannan, Dutchman Don O’Niel and Frenchman Benjamin Bourigeaud.