Challenging PSL Schedule: Which Teams Face the Rough Beginning in the 2025/26 Season?
Challenging Starts for Sundowns and Pirates in the 2025 PSL Season
The upcoming 2025 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season promises an exciting and challenging start for many teams, with some facing tougher opening fixtures than others.
Mamelodi Sundowns, last season's Premiership winners, and Orlando Pirates, who finished second, are likely to have the toughest starts. Sundowns, who begin their campaign as defending champions, face a challenging start including a key early match against AmaZulu, who have been described as "upbeat" and competitive. Orlando Pirates, with multiple new signings and a new coach, start their campaign in the MTN8 quarterfinals against Polokwane City, which could be tricky as it’s a knockout format where a loss means elimination.
On the other hand, teams like Richards Bay, who finished eighth last season, may have an easier start. While facing the champions is tough on paper, as eighth place team, their upcoming Premiership fixtures may be more manageable compared to teams coming fresh off high-pressure knockout matches or having recently changed coaching staff.
The season officially begins with the MTN8 quarterfinals on August 2-3, featuring the top eight teams from last season seeded according to their league position. Orlando Pirates, second last season, have a demanding MTN8 start away against Polokwane City (7th) but have new players and a new coach, which adds uncertainty. Mamelodi Sundowns begin with the pressure of defending champions and a competitive fixture against AmaZulu.
Other fixtures and full season schedules have been announced, but a detailed match difficulty analysis across all fixtures isn’t fully available from current search data. It's worth noting that Orlando Pirates, Orbit College, Chippa United, and Sekhukhune United are part of TS Galaxy's schedule in the first five games of the season. TS Galaxy starts the season with a favorable schedule, beginning against Durban City FC on August 10. Orlando Pirates also has a mild start, facing Sekhukhune (home), Marumo Gallants (away), Stellenbosch (home), Orbit College (home), and Chippa (away).
The fixtures for the early part of the season will play a significant role in fixture congestion. The season will resume again in February 2026 with league and Nedbank Cup fixtures. The latest competitive starts in PSL records were in the 2020/21 season, with the MTN 8 quarter-finals starting on 17 October and the league following a week later.
In the past three seasons, Chiefs have collected 6, 7, and 7 points in their first five fixtures, while Stellenbosch FC managed to collect 6, 6, and 8 points respectively in their opening five games. Magesi FC has the third toughest start, with their first five games against Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC, Orlando Pirates, Marumo Gallants, and Golden Arrows. Stellenbosch FC, on the other hand, has the fourth toughest start, with their first five games against Kaizer Chiefs, Polokwane City, Richards Bay, Sundowns, and Golden Arrows.
The 2022-2023 PSL season is the 30th top-flight division season, and the 2025-2026 season will have 15 league games played before mid-December 2025 to accommodate AFCON. The COVID disruption in 2019/20 pushed the next campaign back dramatically. The 2022-2023 PSL season is starting earlier compared to the 2010/11 and 2016/17 seasons, which crept toward late August but neither went into the last week.
In conclusion, the initial knockout fixtures for top teams like Sundowns and Pirates suggest the hardest starts, while mid- to lower-placed teams may have comparatively easier league fixture beginnings but tougher MTN8 assignments. Complete fixture difficulty would need more detailed analysis of the full season schedule and form of all teams.
Read also:
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Commemoration of 200 Days of American Resurgence Unveiled
- Minister Bärbel Bas expresses doubts about her tenure as a minister following a recent interview during the summer.
- Politicians from both Republican and Democratic parties are urging President Trump to maintain the security agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom.
