Georgios Donis request could put Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad derby at risk

Georgios Donis is preparing to ask for an additional seven days of preparation for the Saudi Arabia national team before the 27th Gulf Cup, a request that could force changes to the domestic schedule and put the Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad derby at risk of postponement.

The 27th Gulf Cup is due to begin in Jeddah on 23 September, while the eighth round of the Roshn Saudi League is scheduled to take place from 17 September. That round includes one of the biggest fixtures in Saudi football, between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.

According to sources cited by Al-Riyadiyah, Donis intends to submit a formal request in the coming period to bring forward the start of the national team’s training camp. The proposed change would give Saudi Arabia seven additional days to prepare for the tournament.

If the request is made, discussions would then take place with the Saudi Pro League Competitions Department to examine the possibility of moving the eighth round of the league to a later date.

Any approval would also require further coordination with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Competitions Department. That would be necessary because the last-16 ties in the King’s Cup are currently scheduled for 19 and 20 October, meaning any rearrangement to the league calendar could have consequences for the wider domestic fixture list.

However, the proposal is not expected to be straightforward. The Saudi football calendar is already heavily congested, with clubs involved in domestic, continental and international competitions throughout the season.

A source described as official told Al-Riyadiyah that approving an extra week for the national team’s camp would be difficult because of the number of matches already scheduled and the limited space available for changes.

The source said moving the eighth round and rearranging its fixtures would present a major challenge. Clubs have commitments across several competitions, while there are only a small number of suitable dates available to stage postponed matches.

The possible impact would not be limited to the Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad fixture. Al-Ahli are also due to face Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on 19 September, should they overcome Auckland City of New Zealand in the 2026 Intercontinental Club Cup.

That means any decision over the national team’s proposed preparation period could affect several clubs and competitions, rather than only the league’s headline fixture. The Saudi authorities will therefore need to assess whether there is sufficient room in the schedule to accommodate the request without creating further clashes later in the season.