Moroccan Professional League Set to Kick Off

Moroccan media reports reveal that the National Professional Football League has set the start date for the competitions of the first and second divisions for the 2026/2027 sports season, following a period of anticipation regarding the kickoff and the competition schedule.

According to reports from Morocco, citing the president of one of the clubs in the first professional division, the president of the National Professional Football League, Abdel Salam Belkashour, stated that the new season's competitions will commence on October 12 or 13. The draw for the league will take place on Friday, August 28, to reveal the match schedule.

Reports indicate that the start of the league this season has been delayed due to the parliamentary elections scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, which necessitated a rearrangement of the local competition calendar.

The National Professional Football League has decided, during its preparatory meeting for the new season, to maintain the current championship system without any modifications, despite recommendations from several coaches and the Professional Players Association, headed by Mustapha Haddawi, to increase the number of teams in the first professional division to 20.

The Professional League will include 16 clubs in the new season, namely: RS Berkane, Raja Casablanca, Ittihad Tanger, Kawkab Marrakech, Hassania Agadir, Royal Army, FUS Rabat, Wydad Casablanca, MAS Fez, Nahdat Zemamra, Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, Ittihad Amel Tiznit, Meknes Club, Moghreb Tétouan, Wydad Témara, and Ittihad Tawraka.

The second professional division will also witness the participation of 16 teams, which are: Olympique Khouribga, Olympique Safi, Ittihad Yaacoub Al-Mansour, Stade Marocain, Wydad Fes, Ittihad Islamic Oujda, Chabab Al-Massira, Chabab Atlas Khénifra, Chabab Salmi, Mouloudia Oujda, Chabab Ben Guerir, Chabab Mohammedia, Club Kénitra, Ittihad Abi J'ad, Ittihad Zamouri Khemisset, and Olympique Dcheira.

The draw on August 28 is expected to reveal the outlines of the new season's program, as clubs continue their preparations in anticipation of the tournament's kickoff on October 12 or 13, according to Moroccan reports.