Sundowns Face Gruelling 2025/26 Season as Club and Country Commitments Pile Up

Rival fans of Mamelodi Sundowns could finally have reason to hope for a more open Betway Premiership title race in the coming 2025/26 season, while Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup qualification campaign also faces new challenges. The reason? An unusually compressed football calendar that promises to push players to their physical and mental limits.

Following Sundowns’ exposure at the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, there is widespread belief that the Tshwane giants will raise their level even higher when they resume domestic action. However, the tight scheduling ahead could become their toughest hurdle yet in retaining their league crown.

With the Premier Soccer League (PSL) preparing for one of its shortest domestic seasons in years, coupled with Bafana Bafana’s critical World Cup qualifiers, the workload on Sundowns’ core players looks set to intensify. The Betway Premiership will kick off just weeks before Bafana return to action in September and again in October, with back-to-back World Cup qualifiers.

Adding further complexity to the season is the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to start in December. The PSL will likely pause for the continental showpiece, creating even more fixture congestion when the league resumes.

If Bafana Bafana, under coach Hugo Broos, secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the demands will grow even greater. The global tournament starts on 11 June next year, and Broos will undoubtedly call for an extended preparation camp, further shrinking the PSL calendar.

Sundowns and Orlando Pirates legend Teko Modise has weighed in on the looming challenge, pointing out the physical toll such a season could take. Speaking on The Pitchside Podcast, Modise said, “It’s going to be a long season. I think it’s gonna be longer than the one we had last season. But it’s a privilege to be in such spaces where you regularly play football and big tournaments.”

He added, “Other footballers around the world envy you. Yes, it’s a lot of load on the players, but that’s what is expected when you’re playing for a team of Sundowns’ calibre. The technical team and management will need to be very mindful of the load the players have had throughout the season.”

Modise also highlighted how the congested schedule could affect the national team’s preparations. “It’s gonna be tricky,” he admitted. “A lot of players will be in the national team, and that will be a concern for both Sundowns and Bafana.”

As head coach Miguel Cardoso maps out the new campaign, squad rotation, injury management, and conditioning will become crucial. For Sundowns’ title rivals, the demanding schedule might present an opportunity to close the gap in the domestic race, while for Bafana Bafana, keeping key players fresh and injury-free could be the difference between qualifying for the World Cup or missing out.