Ajax's first preseason friendly of the summer against Panathinaikos was temporarily suspended just two minutes into the match on Saturday, July 4, 2026, after Ajax supporters ignited fireworks and flares along the sideline.
The incident occurred at the EFC '58 amateur club complex in Ermelo, Netherlands, where thick smoke quickly covered the pitch, severely limiting visibility.
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Referee Alex Bos halted the game, and players waited on the field for the smoke to clear before play resumed a few minutes later.
The match marked the unofficial debut of Ajax's new head coach, Míchel.
The club broadcast the fixture live via its official app, website, and YouTube channel, with former player Vurnon Anita serving as analyst alongside presenter Hein van den Bogaert.
For the opening match, the technical staff selected Maarten Paes in goal, with a defense of Lucas Rosa, Aaron Bouwman, Youri Baas, and Owen Wijndal.
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The midfield featured Youri Regeer, Oscar Gloukh, and Sean Steur, while Steven Berghuis, Don-Angelo Konadu, and Pharell Nash formed the attack.
Nash started in place of Mika Godts, who was unavailable due to private circumstances.
Several players missed the match squad entirely, including Caio Henrique, Kasper Dolberg, and Oliver Edvardsen, who were deemed unfit after missing training sessions during the week.
Following this opening fixture, Ajax has five more confirmed friendlies scheduled in July and August against AEK Larnaca, VfL Bochum, Olympiakos, Burnley, and FC Volendam.
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These preparatory matches precede Ajax's entry into the second qualifying round of the Conference League on July 23 against the loser of the FK Vojvodina and Ferencváros tie.
