Al Ahly and Zamalek could meet in the knockout stages of the 2026-27 Egypt Cup after Thursday’s round-of-32 draw placed the two Egyptian giants in the same half of the competition.
The draw, held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, set out the opening ties and the possible routes through to the final. It also confirmed the first opponents for several of the country’s leading clubs as they begin their bids for the trophy.
Al Ahly will face the winner of the tie between El Nasr and El Sekka El Hadid, while Zamalek will play the team that progresses from the match between Misr Insurance and Pharco.
Defending champions Pyramids will start their campaign against either El Dakhleya or El Tersana. Elsewhere, Al Masry face Misr Lel Makkasa, ZED take on the winner of Samanoud and Baladiyat El Mahalla, and Ceramica Cleopatra meet Abu Qair Semad.
The remaining round-of-32 fixtures include National Bank of Egypt against the winner of El Rabat & El Anwar and Borfoo’d, Tala’ea El Gaish versus Petrol Asyut, and Smouha against the winner of El Minya and Tahta.
Wadi Degla will play the winner of Tanta and Electricity Ismailia. In the other half of the draw, ENPPI meet the winner of Proxy and Diamond FC, while El Gouna face the winner of Aluminium and Ittihad El Shorta.
Al Ittihad Al Sakandary play Ghazl El Mahalla, and Petrojet take on the winner of Delphi and Mega Sport. Al Mokawloon Al Arab face the winner of Nogoom Misr and Al Masrya Lel Etصالات, while Modern Sport meet El Qanah.
The preliminary rounds had already brought an early exit for some established clubs. Ismaily were eliminated in the third preliminary round after losing 1-0 to El Rabat & El Anwar.
Pyramids are the current holders after beating ZED 2-1 in last season’s final. The victory secured the club’s second Egypt Cup title.
Egypt Cup round-of-32 draw
Route one
– Pyramids v winner of El Dakhleya and El Tersana
– National Bank of Egypt v winner of El Rabat & El Anwar and Borfoo’d
– Al Masry v Misr Lel Makkasa
– Tala’ea El Gaish v Petrol Asyut
– ZED v winner of Samanoud and Baladiyat El Mahalla
– Smouha v winner of El Minya and Tahta
– Wadi Degla v winner of Tanta and Electricity Ismailia
– Ceramica Cleopatra v Abu Qair Semad
Route two
– Zamalek v winner of Misr Insurance and Pharco
– ENPPI v winner of Proxy and Diamond FC
– El Gouna v winner of Aluminium and Ittihad El Shorta
– Al Ittihad Al Sakandary v Ghazl El Mahalla
– Al Ahly v winner of El Nasr and El Sekka El Hadid
– Petrojet v winner of Delphi and Mega Sport
– Al Mokawloon Al Arab v winner of Nogoom Misr and Al Masrya Lel Etصالات
– Modern Sport v El Qanah
