The 2026 MTN8 final is expected to return to Durban, with Moses Mabhida Stadium earmarked to host the showpiece between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, IOL understands.
The Premier Soccer League is holding the MTN8 final draw on Monday evening, with the draw set to determine the home-and-away designation for the October 10 final.
However, IOL understands that Moses Mabhida Stadium is expected to be the venue for the final, although the PSL has yet to officially confirm it.
Should the PSL lock in the venue, it will mark a milestone tenth MTN8 final for the venue, further extending its record as the most-used ground in the competition’s history.
The potential return of the MTN8 final to Durban comes at an interesting time for the iconic stadium, which has undergone a period of refurbishment and rehabilitation work.
Work on the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium began in 2024, with the eThekwini Municipality claiming the cost of the broader project at an estimated R284 million.
The stadium’s pitch has also undergone rehabilitation work as part of efforts to restore the facility to international standards.
The stadium has had a relatively quiet start to the 2026/27 football season and has not been part of the regular PSL fixture rotation.
It’s only competitive football appearance this season, according to the available fixture record, came when Durban City hosted Burundian side Rukinzo in the CAF Confederation Cup on September 6.
That continental fixture was significant because Moses Mabhida was the only venue in KwaZulu-Natal approved for CAF international competition at the time.
Now it could be set for one of the biggest domestic fixtures of the season.
Pirates booked their place in the MTN8 final after eliminating Sekhukhune United on aggregate, while Sundowns progressed after their dramatic semi-final against Golden Arrows.
For Pirates, the final represents another opportunity to extend their remarkable dominance of the competition as they chase a fifth successive MTN8 title.
Sundowns, meanwhile, will be looking to stop that run and add another domestic trophy to their growing collection.
The final draw takes place on Monday night, but Moses Mabhida is understood to be the venue being lined up for the October 10 showdown.
