2026/27 PSL season: Key dates, cup finals, CAF fixtures and FIFA windows

The 2026/27 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season is set to follow a much smoother calendar, with no lengthy interruption for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Unlike previous campaigns, the continental tournament will be held after the domestic season, running from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

The campaign will feature only two significant breaks: a short festive recess, with the final fixtures of 2026 taking place on 23 December before action resumes on 5 January, and an extended FIFA international window from 21 September to 6 October. Aside from those pauses, the league schedule remains largely uninterrupted.

The Betway Premiership season gets underway on 1 August, although the official fixture list is still to be released by the PSL. One week later, attention shifts to the MTN8, with the quarter-finals scheduled for 8-9 August.

The MTN8 semi-finals will be played over two legs on 22 August and 29 August, while the final is set for 10 October after the completion of CAF preliminary rounds and the September/October FIFA international break.

The Carling Knockout begins with the Last 16 between 24 and 27 October. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place during November before the final, currently scheduled for 12 December. However, the PSL has left room to move the decider to 9 December should a finalist still be competing in CAF interclub competitions.

CAF commitments once again take priority over domestic fixtures. The group stages of both the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup begin on 27-29 November, with the first three matchdays taking place in December and the remaining fixtures completed in January.

South Africa will be represented by Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League, while Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Before the group stages begin, Mamelodi Sundowns will also contest the CAF Super Cup against Algeria’s USM Alger on 7 November.

The Nedbank Cup starts with the Last 32 on 27 January, while the final has been brought forward to 1 May to avoid clashing with the latter stages of CAF’s continental competitions.

The CAF Confederation Cup final is scheduled across the weekends of 7-9 May and 14-16 May, while the CAF Champions League final will be played over 21-23 May and 28-30 May.

Those dates once again create the possibility of a scheduling conflict with the Betway Premiership finale on 22 May, particularly if Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates reach another continental final.

PSL regulations require all final-day league fixtures to kick off simultaneously, but those rules have been adjusted in recent seasons to accommodate Sundowns’ deep runs in the CAF Champions League.

The PSL Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs begin on 23 May and conclude on 9 June, while a FIFA international window from 7 to 15 June will serve as the final international break before the start of AFCON 2027.

Key dates: 2026/27 Premier Soccer League season