Georgios Donis is preparing to ask for an extra seven days of preparation with the Saudi Arabia national team before the 27th Gulf Cup, a request that could force changes to the domestic fixture list and put the Roshn Saudi League meeting between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad 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 currently scheduled to start on 17 September. That round includes the highly anticipated fixture between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.
According to sources reported by Al-Riyadiyah, Donis intends to submit a formal request in the coming period to bring forward the national team’s preparation 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 competitions department of the Saudi Pro League to consider moving the eighth round of the league to a later date.
Any agreement would lead to further talks with the competitions department of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Those discussions would focus on the last-16 matches of the King Cup, which are scheduled to be played on 19 and 20 October.
However, making the proposed changes would be difficult because the Saudi football calendar is already crowded with domestic, continental and international commitments.
A senior official told Al-Riyadiyah that approval for an additional week of preparation appeared unlikely because of the pressure on the fixture list and the limited time available to make alterations.
The official said postponing the eighth round and rearranging its matches would present a major challenge. Clubs are already committed to a number of competitions throughout the season, while there are only a small number of dates available to stage any postponed fixtures.
The possible effects would extend beyond the Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad fixture. Al-Ahli are also due to face South African side Mamelodi Sundowns on 19 September, provided they overcome New Zealand club Auckland City in the 2026 Intercontinental Club Championship.
That match would add to the congestion around the same period and could further complicate any attempt to move league fixtures.
Donis’ proposed request therefore has the potential to affect several parts of the domestic schedule, although the final decision will depend on whether the relevant authorities believe there is sufficient room to accommodate the changes. At present, the league round remains scheduled for 17 September, with the Gulf Cup beginning six days later in Jeddah.