• Jordan Pro League won’t resume before January; current season deemed exceptional

The month of January 2026 is expected to mark an intense start to local football competitions in Jordan, with balanced schedules to be set for the Premier League, Jordan Cup, and Shield Tournament

Sports analyst Haitham Daraghmeh confirmed that the current football season in Jordan is one of the most complex and exceptional in recent years, due to the busy calendar of national teams and clubs competing in continental tournaments—causing the local league’s kickoff to be delayed until early next year

Shield Cup first… League delayed

Daraghmeh explained that the Jordan Football Association Shield Cup will officially begin on November 20, with only four rounds scheduled until December 11, while the date of the final round is yet to be set but expected to follow soon after the fourth

He added that the Jordan Football Association (JFA) has not yet announced the full schedule for the final round but aims to conclude the tournament before the long international break

The JFA is working on a comprehensive program that accounts for Jordanian clubs’ Asian commitments and the national team’s participation in the Arab Cup,” Daraghmeh said. That’s why the league was postponed until early January

Jordan Cup after the Arab Cup

Regarding the Jordan Cup, Daraghmeh noted that the identity of the eight quarterfinalists will be determined after the Shield Cup ends and once the national team concludes its Arab Cup campaign in December

He also indicated that the postponed match between Al-Wehdat and Al-Baqa’a is likely to take place before the end of December to avoid overlapping with continental fixturesAl-Hussein will play their Asian matches on November 25 and December 23, while Al-Wehdat will play on December 24 in the same tournament

League won’t resume before January

Daraghmeh said he doesn’t expect any Jordan Pro League matches to be held before the U-23 national team finishes its AFC Asian Cup campaign, which begins on January 7, 2026

After that, the JFA will implement an intensive schedule to complete all 17 league rounds by the end of April 2026

The season will be extremely busy,” Daraghmeh added. “The Jordan Cup semifinals and final are expected before May 10, allowing the national team to start preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Multiple breaks and fixture congestion

Daraghmeh highlighted an international break in March, during which Al-Nashama (the national team) will play friendly matches in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers. He explained that these commitments make this season “unlike any other,” adding that fixture congestion will heavily impact clubs, especially those with key international players, making squad rotation and fitness management more challenging

An exceptional season by all standards

Daraghmeh described the current season as exceptional by all standards

The calendar is overcrowded, and preparations for continental and global competitions have created a new reality for Jordanian football, he said. This has made local scheduling far more complicated than usual

He warned that the two-and-a-half-month league suspension will directly affect the rhythm of competition and the fitness levels of clubs, adding that technical and administrative staffs face a serious challenge in maintaining readiness

Three-phase league format: postponed idea

Daraghmeh concluded by expressing his support for introducing a three-phase league format in future seasons, saying it would boost competitiveness and fan engagement, thus raising the technical level of the championship

It’s an excellent idea that would create more excitement and competition,” he said, “but it’s currently impossible due to the packed calendar and World Cup preparations. Hopefully next season will be more consistent, allowing such a system to be applied

Outlook for the upcoming stage

January 2026 is expected to bring an intensive start to domestic football, with balanced scheduling across the Premier League, Jordan Cup, and Shield Tournament. Observers believe the success of this phase will depend on the JFA’s ability to coordinate between domestic and international commitments—especially as Jordanian clubs are becoming increasingly prominent in Asian football