Birkirkara, Gzira United, Hamrun Spartans and Mosta will be the last four teams to make their first appearance in the VBET Malta Premier 2026/27 as the last four matches from match-day 1 take place at the Centenary Stadium on Monday.
In the first match, Birkirkara take on Gzira United.
Following a most disappointing season, the Stripes made wholesale changes to the squad led by coach Paul Zammit. They signed Malta internationals Rashed Al-Tumi, Zach Muscat and Aleandro Garzia, Under-21 international Jake Vassallo along with Louis Pahama, Shaft Brewer, Fernandinho, JP Iseppe, Fabrice Ondoa, Frazan, Aleksandar Djordjevic, Amarildo, Kadu, Yago and Jefferson Vinicius.
Miguel Angel Martinez, Macula, Shaun Dimech, Leandro Lacunza, Alessandro Coppola, Manuel Morello, Fran Lopez, Luis Cordova, Roni Santos, Geoffrey Acheampong, Donovan Makoma, Macula, Sebastian Viveros, Jacques Bayo and Jere Vrcic left the club or were released. Shelom Magri and Nathan Cross were loaned to other clubs.
Challenging for honours will definitely the main objective for the Stripes.
Gzira United, who will be led once again by Darren Abdilla, signed a number of young local players, including Nathan Joyce, Antiago De Flavia, Justin Pena Serna, Kayden Pace along with six foreigners – Albion Pllana, Dinis Djadjo, Filip Maio, Luisinho, Francisco Saldanha and Jonathan Farias.
Stasa Bastic, Luis Riascos, Santiago Martinez, Chrisnovic N’Sa, Kante, Mihajlo Stojanovic and Johan Bonilla were not retained while Clayton Failla decided to hang his boots.
Their objective will be to do better than last season after finishing twice in the Bottom 6.
In the second match, Hamrun Spartans take on Mosta.
After remaining empty-handed last season, Hamrun hope to bounce back this year and challenge for honours.
Led by new coach Marco Amelia who took over from Stefano Sanderra just a couple of weeks ago, this summer, the Spartans were strengthened with the signing of Jake Grech, Ante Ćorić, Marcelo, Lucas Villela, Jack Ipalibo, Tobias Bjørnstad, Gonzalo Virano, Saliou Thioune and Messie Biatoumoussoka.
However, Henry Bonello and Joseph Mbong left the club while Jonny, Mouad El Fanis, Blessing Eleke, Ivan Inzoudine and Michele Carboni were not retained.
Mosta, on the other hand, will be aiming to do better than last year when they avoided relegation after defeating rivals Naxxar Lions in the relegation play-offs.
Led once again by coach Joseph Grech, the Blues signed Lydon Seychelles, Emmanuel Ugwu, Nathan Cross, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, Thiaguinho, Hogan Ukpa, Geoffrey Acheampong, PJ Ohaka, Eugene Ebere, Ernest Agyiri, Godwin Chinemerem, Wanderson Gothinia and welcomed back Prince Afriyie and Jamie Scerri.
However Jake Vassallo, Nathan Agius, Gianluca Sciberras and Zachary Brincat moved elsewhere along with Cheikh Diamanka, Leo Fernandes, Prince Emmanuel, Matthew Bolanos and Willian Salomao.
| Mon 17-Aug-2026 | Birkirkara FC vs Gzira United FC | 18:00 | Centenary Stadium |
| Mon 17-Aug-2026 | Hamrun Spartans FC vs Mosta FC | 20:30 | Centenary Stadium |