Cliftonville have opened the new Northern Ireland Premiership season with a 2-1 win over Crusaders at Solitude.
The verified match record lists the north Belfast fixture as taking place on Friday 7 August 2026, with a 7.45pm local kick-off. It was recorded as the first fixture in round one of the 2026-27 league campaign.
The result gives Cliftonville all three points from the opening match of the season. Crusaders leave Solitude without a point after the derby, with the official record showing the home side ahead by one goal at the finish.
The NIFL Premiership fixture programme also lists Cliftonville at home to Crusaders at Solitude in round one on 7 August, confirming the fixture’s place in the opening series of matches for the new campaign.
No scorer details, attendance figure or disciplinary information are included in the supplied match record. The confirmed facts are the venue, date, kick-off time, final score and the award of three points to Cliftonville.
The game brings the Premiership back with a Belfast derby before the rest of the opening round continues. For Cliftonville, the season begins with a home win; for Crusaders, the first league outing of 2026-27 ends in defeat away from home.