PSL Fixtures: Which Teams Have The Toughest Start To The 2025/26 Season?

We have three new teams in the top-flight division and each of the 16 teams will have different aspirations and objectives for the season ahead – ranging from survival, a top-eight finish, qualification for CAF competitions and winning titles.

Whatever their goals may be, one thing is clear: every team will be looking for a strong start.  This marks the 30th PSL season, and the importance of a good start has been proven over nearly three decades.

The Toughest Starts

Steve Barker and Stellenbosch FC might want to look away. Based on these rankings, the Western Cape club faces the toughest start to the season. They open with a home game against Kaizer Chiefs, travel to Magesi FC, then a trip to Soweto to face Orlando Pirates, and back to back home games against Marumo Gallants and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. In the last three seasons, they have managed to collect 6, 6 and 8 points respectively in their opening five games.

Chippa United and Magesi also have the 2nd and 3rd toughest starts to the season, with the former opening their account against defending champions Sundowns. There are big expectations for Chiefs and life doesn’t get easier for Nasreddine Nabi. After the Nedbank Cup final last season, a strong push will be expected as they look to close the gap on their rivals higher up the table. They face the fourth toughest start with their first five games against Stellenbosch FC, Polokwane City, Richards Bay, Sundowns and Golden Arrows. Chiefs have collected 6, 7 and 7 points in their first five fixtures over the last three seasons.

On the other hand, one may wonder when the latest start to a PSL season was. COVID disruption in 2019/20 pushed the next campaign back dramatically. The 2020/21 MTN 8 quarter-finals only kicked off on 17 October, with the league following a week later. Those remain the latest competitive starts in PSL records. Two other recent seasons crept toward late August: 2010/11 and 2016/17, but neither went into the last week. Compared to those anomalies, early August feels timely.

The Easiest Starts

Adnan Beganovic starts this season at the helm of TS Galaxy and will be pleased that his team has been handed a favorable start. They kick off on Sunday, 10 August against a newly promoted side in Durban City FC, followed by matches against Sekhukhune United, Chippa United, Siwelele FC and Orbit College

Sundowns (8th) and Orlando Pirates (10th) have mild starts (neither easy nor hard),. with Masandawana facing Chippa (away), AmaZulu FC (home), Magesi FC (away), Chiefs (away) and Stellenbosch FC (away). The Bucs on the other hand, face Sekhukhune (home), Marumo Gallants (away), Stellenbosch (home), Orbit College (home) and Chippa (away).

All teams will be hoping for a strong start to their campaign as fixture congestion will play a big part in the early part of the season – and even more for teams playing CAF competitions. The season will be cut in half, 15 league games being played before mid-December 2025 to accommodate AFCON before continuing again in February 2026 with league and Nedbank Cup fixtures.