First Division, held hostage by stadiums! AFF postpones the draw for the 2026-2027 season

AFF holds the Superiore draw, but the First Division remains on hold. Stadium licensing delays the release of the schedule, with some clubs still without an approved venue.

The Albanian Football Federation will organize on Monday, July 13, the draw ceremony for the calendar of the new season of the “Abissnet Superiore” championship 2026-2027.

According to the official announcement from the Communication Department, the ceremony will take place at the “House of Football”, starting at 11:00, where the schedule for the 88th edition of Albania’s top football division will be determined. However, the FSHF announcement makes no reference to the draw for the First Division, a championship that is scheduled to begin on September 5.

“Panorama Sport” has learned exclusively that the First Division draw will not be held for the moment. The main reason is related to the stadium licensing process, as not all infrastructure requirements for the normal development of the championship have yet been met. The Federation has given clear tasks to the organizing clubs for improving their sports facilities, but not all of them are able to fulfill them within the deadlines.

Some teams do not have stadiums that meet the licensing criteria, while others are forced to share the same venue. One of the most notable cases is the “Redi Maloku” stadium in Fushë-Krujë, where both Iliria and Kastrioti play their home matches.

Meanwhile, Besa has continued for several seasons to be without its own stadium in Kavajë. Although the project for the reconstruction of the venue has been approved, work has not yet started. The Kavajë club’s leaders are making efforts to license the training facility, known as “Fusha e Vjetër”, with the aim of playing their home matches there and avoiding relocations to other stadiums, as has happened in recent seasons with the Luzi venue. The situation also requires a solution for the three teams promoted from the Second Division.

Oriku, Besëlidhja, and Sopoti have received specific tasks from the FSHF to meet the required standards and license their stadiums for the new season.

For this reason, the Federation is not expected to hold the First Division draw until the licensing process for the stadiums where the 12 participating teams will play their home matches is completed. Only after the officially licensed stadiums have been determined will the date for the 2026-2027 season calendar draw be set.

“KORÇA BOOM”