Today witnessed the disclosure of important details regarding the launch of the professional national championship for the 2026-2027 season, where Abdelsalam Belqshour, President of the National Professional Football League, announced the start date of the competitions, in addition to a set of decisions aimed at developing Moroccan football both technically and administratively. This announcement came during the draw ceremony for the new season, emphasizing that these changes will inject new life into Moroccan clubs.
Among the most notable updates announced by Belqshour is the setting of September 24 as the date for the start of the first round of the new season, with matches continuing on the 26th and 27th of the same month. Some matches scheduled for September 25 were postponed to coincide with the Moroccan national team’s match against Gabon, reflecting coordination between club and national team schedules. This change comes as part of a comprehensive vision to ensure the best conditions for all parties involved.
In the context of financial support and motivation, the League President announced a historic decision to raise the financial reward for the team crowned champion of the league to one billion centimes, up from 600 million centimes in previous seasons. To ensure fair competition and encourage all clubs, financial grants will also be allocated to the clubs finishing in second, third, and fourth places based on their final rankings. The decisions also included financial incentives for clubs that integrate young players into their first team and those that strengthen their administrative staff, aiming to support player development and improve administrative infrastructure.
The changes were not limited to the financial aspect alone but extended to promotion and relegation conditions. Belqshour clarified that the sporting result alone will not be sufficient to guarantee promotion; clubs must comply with all the stipulations of the charter, especially concerning infrastructure and financial capabilities. He confirmed that the league will announce the clubs that do not meet the criteria before the season starts to ensure the highest levels of professionalism across all divisions of the professional national championship, from amateurs up to the first division.
