Cairo International Stadium is set for a different schedule over the coming weeks after it was decided that the venue will not host club matches until the Egyptian Premier League derby between Al Ahly and Zamalek.

The decision means that Egypt Capital Cup matches originally scheduled to take place at the stadium will have to be moved elsewhere, while Cairo Stadium focuses on its upcoming commitments with the Egyptian national team.

The stadium had been expected to host two matches in the opening round of the Egypt Capital Cup group stage: Zamalek against ZED FC and Modern Sport against National Bank of Egypt. However, neither match will now be played there following the temporary suspension of club fixtures at the venue.

Cup alternatives

Clubs have already started looking for alternative stadiums. Zamalek have contacted Arab Contractors Stadium as a possible venue for their Egypt Capital Cup match against ZED FC.

The Zamalek-ZED match is scheduled for October 7 after the Egyptian Pro League decided to bring the fixture forward. Al Ahly will also face Petroleum Assiut on the same day in the competition.

As a result, Cairo Stadium will remain outside the Egypt Capital Cup schedule during this period, while preparations continue for the national team's upcoming matches.

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Derby return

Although club matches have been temporarily suspended at Cairo Stadium, the venue will continue to host Egypt's national team.

Egypt are scheduled to face Angola at Cairo Stadium on Friday, September 25, in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The stadium will then host Egypt's friendly against South Africa on October 4 as part of the national team's international break programme.

After those international fixtures, club football is expected to return to Cairo Stadium with one of the biggest matches in Egyptian football, as Al Ahly face Zamalek on October 11 in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

The current schedule therefore gives Cairo Stadium a clear sequence of major matches, starting with Egypt's fixtures against Angola and South Africa before the venue returns to club action with the Cairo derby.

While Egypt Capital Cup teams will have to find alternative venues for their scheduled matches, Cairo Stadium is preparing for a high-profile return when Al Ahly and Zamalek meet on October 11.