Kick-off dates emerge for exciting new PSL campaign

Betway Premiership. Photo credit: Betway/X

The 2025/26 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season is set for an exhilarating start, with the start dates now circulating among clubs.

Pan-Africa Football has seen a document confirming the kick-off dates for the upcoming campaign, a development first reported by FARPost.

The 2025/26 South African football season will get underway with the MTN8 tournament, set to begin on August 1, 2025. The top-eight competition will see top clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch FC, Sekhukhune United, TS Galaxy, AmaZulu FC, Polokwane City FC, and Richards Bay FC battling it out for early silverware.

Defending champions Pirates will be aiming for their fourth consecutive MTN8 title, having secured their most recent trophy in October 2024 with a 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC in the final .

The Betway Premiership follows swiftly, with its opening matches scheduled for August 8, 2025. And all eyes will be on Sundowns, who have dominated the league with eight consecutive titles and will be eager to extend their remarkable run to a ninth.

The Motsepe Foundation Championship begins on August 22, as teams vie for promotion to the top-tier league. Last season, Durban City FC earned automatic promotion by winning the championship, while Orbit College also secured a spot in the Premiership after navigating the gruelling PSL Promotional/Relegation Playoffs.

Their success meant relegation for Cape Town City FC, who finished 15th in the top flight.

In addition, youth development will take centre stage with the DStv Diski Challenge, which is slated to commence on September 6. Last season, Kaizer Chiefs made history by winning the DDC title for the very first time.

A PSL document circulated to all chairpersons and chief executive officers of member clubs of the National Soccer League, dated June 30, 2025, confirmed these dates. NSL Circular No. 124/2025 outlined that the 2025/26 season will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with specific kick-off dates for each competition:

MTN8 competition: Weekend of August 1, 2025

Betway Premiership fixtures: August 8, 2025

Motsepe Foundation Championship: August 22, 2025

DSTV Diski Challenge: September 6, 2025