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EZEKIEL PHALANA
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South African football’s premier knockout competition is back, with MTN and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) officially launching the 2026 MTN8 under the powerful campaign theme, “There Can Only Be One.” The tournament promises another thrilling spectacle as the country’s top eight clubs battle for the first major trophy of the new football season.
Now in its 18th year, the MTN8 has become synonymous with high-intensity football, where every match is a winner-takes-all contest and every moment can define a team’s season. The 2026 edition will once again captivate millions of supporters as the nation’s finest clubs compete for knockout glory.
Launching the tournament, MTN South Africa’s General Manager for Brand and Communications, Kholofelo Magagane, said the MTN8 remains more than just a football competition.
“The MTN8 is more than just a football competition. It is a platform that brings South Africans together through their shared love of the beautiful game, while creating opportunities to reward our customers, celebrate our football heroes and make a positive impact in communities across the country.”
He said this year’s campaign, “There Can Only Be One,” perfectly reflects the spirit of the MTN8.
“The MTN8 has always been a tournament that rewards courage, consistency and excellence. Every match is a knockout encounter where one performance can define a season and one goal can change history. Only one team will ultimately lift the trophy. That relentless pursuit of excellence mirrors MTN’s own ambition to connect South Africans and empower them to seize every opportunity. We are proud to support a competition that celebrates resilience, ambition and the belief that when the moment arrives, you have one chance to make it count.”
Magagane added that MTN will continue to bring the WAFA WAFA spirit to life through exciting customer experiences, rewarding competitions and community-focused legacy initiatives throughout the tournament.
MTN Rewards Fans with R10 Million in Prizes
As South Africa’s top clubs compete on the pitch, MTN customers will also have an opportunity to be part of the excitement through the Recharge and Win campaign.
Prepaid customers who recharge with R30 or more daily can claim 500MB of free streaming data through the MTN App under My Gifts and automatically stand a chance of winning a share of R10 million in weekly prizes, including fan experiences, MTN MoMo vouchers, grocery vouchers and fuel vouchers. The streaming bundle provides access to DStv Stream, SABC+ and MTN OneTV.
The excitement extends even further through the Last Fan Standing competition, where one lucky MTN customer will walk away with the ultimate R1 million grand prize.
Football Making a Difference
Beyond the football, MTN continues to use the tournament as a platform to create a lasting social impact.
Through the Goals for Charity initiative, MTN will donate R20,000 for every goal scored during regulation time throughout the competition, transforming goals into meaningful contributions for charitable causes.
The tournament’s legacy programmes also include Last Legend Standing, Dream Bags, Last Fan Standing and Last Journalist Standing, initiatives designed to honour football legends, support schools with football and netball equipment, reward loyal supporters and recognise excellence in sports journalism.
South Africa’s Top Eight Ready for Battle
The 2026 MTN8 officially kicks off on 8 and 9 August, featuring South Africa’s top eight clubs.
Defending champions Orlando Pirates return to defend their title against a strong field that includes Mamelodi Sundowns, AmaZulu FC, Sekhukhune United FC, Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, Polokwane City FC, tournament newcomers Durban City FC, and the much-anticipated return of Kaizer Chiefs, who are back in the competition after missing out last season.
The quarter-final fixtures are:
Saturday, 8 August
Orlando Pirates vs Durban City FC – Amstel Arena (15:00)
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane City FC – Lucas Moripe Stadium (18:00)
Sunday, 9 August
AmaZulu FC vs Sekhukhune United FC – Chatsworth Stadium (15:00)
Kaizer Chiefs vs Lamontville Golden Arrows FC – FNB Stadium (18:00)
Throughout the tournament, supporters can also look forward to engaging digital content, regional fan activations, unforgettable match-day experiences and exclusive customer rewards that will bring them even closer to the game.
With fierce rivalries set to unfold, unforgettable moments waiting to be created and everything at stake from the opening whistle, the 2026 MTN8 is once again poised to deliver the passion, drama and excitement that define South African knockout football. In the MTN8, every match matters, every goal counts, and in the end, there can only be one.