Difficult Openings for Teams in 2025/26 PSL: Who Faces the Rough Initial Matches?
In the world of sports, the anticipation for the upcoming season is always high, and that's no different for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and South African football leagues. Let's take a look at some interesting facts about the upcoming PSL season, PSL 11, and the starts of the 2022-2023 South African football season.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11
The exact starting date for PSL 11, scheduled for April–May 2026, has not been revealed yet, differing from past seasons. The season will consist of 34 matches, with the details of various fixtures yet to be fully disclosed publicly. One team, the Multan Sultans, will commence their campaign on April 12, 2026, against the Karachi Kings. With several home matches scheduled in Multan, the Sultans may benefit from strong home support, which could be an advantage in their start.
South African Football Leagues
The 2022-2023 South African football season marks the 30th top-flight division season. The league will start earlier than the 2010/11 and 2016/17 seasons, which began in late August. This earlier start feels timely compared to the past anomalies.
Several teams in the South African football league have interesting starts to the season. Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have mild starts, with Sundowns facing Chippa (away), AmaZulu FC (home), Magesi FC (away), Chiefs (away), and Stellenbosch FC (away). On the other hand, Stellenbosch FC has the toughest start, with games against Kaizer Chiefs, Magesi FC, Orlando Pirates, Marumo Gallants, and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the first five games. Chiefs have the 4th toughest start, with games against Stellenbosch FC, Polokwane City, Richards Bay, Sundowns, and Golden Arrows in the first five games.
TS Galaxy starts the season with a favourable schedule, facing Durban City FC, Sekhukhune United, Chippa United, Siwelele FC, and Orbit College in the first five games. Chippa United has the 2nd toughest start, opening against defending champions Sundowns. Magesi FC has the 3rd toughest start, while Orlando Pirates faces Sekhukhune (home), Marumo Gallants (away), Stellenbosch (home), Orbit College (home), and Chippa (away) in the first five games.
All PSL teams aim for a strong start to the season due to fixture congestion in the early part. In the last three seasons, Chiefs have collected 6, 7, and 7 points in their first five fixtures, while Stellenbosch FC has managed to collect 6, 6, and 8 points respectively in their opening five games.
As we wait for more detailed PSL 2026 fixture data and expert previews, these facts provide a glimpse into the upcoming seasons of the Pakistan Super League and South African football leagues. With the anticipation building, fans are eagerly awaiting the start of these exciting competitions.
In contrast to the South African football leagues that are set to kick off earlier in the 2022-2023 season, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, scheduled for April–May 2026, has not yet announced its exact starting date. The PSL season will feature several fixtures involving various teams, with the Multan Sultans starting their campaign on April 12, 2026, against the Karachi Kings. Meanwhile, some South African football teams, such as Stellenbosch FC, face challenging starts with matches against defending champions and powerhouse clubs early on in the season.
