Carling Knockout 2026-27: Dates, Fixtures, Tickets and all you need to know

Orlando Pirates will begin their Carling Knockout title defence against newly-promoted Milford FC on October 27 following the draw conducted on Wednesday, October 14.

The 2026 Carling Knockout will kick off on October 24 and end on December 9 when the final is played as Pirates look to defend their trophy.

Pirates finally ended their Carling Knockout hoodoo when they beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 to win the trophy in 2025, having eluded them since 2011.

The Soweto giants had only won the trophy once in the competition’s 41-year history, with painful losses experienced along the way, but on Saturday December 6, 2025, they banished those bad memories in the final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, when they beat Marumo Gallants 1-0.

Sundowns and Chiefs’ Carling Knockout opponents

They will hope to do the same this year but they must first overcome Milford in the Round of 16 at the Orlando Amstel Arena (19:00) in what is the fourth season since the tournament was rebranded when Carling Black Label revived the former Telkom Knockout.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns, beaten finalists in 2024, will kick off against Marumo Gallants on also on October 27 at Loftus Versfeld, while 13-time winners Kaizer Chiefs host TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium the very day.

Stellenbosch, the 2023 champions, will play away to Durban City on Wednesday October 28 at Chartsworth Stadium, two days after Kruger United and AmaZulu face off at Mbombela Stadium.

Golden Arrows will host Chippa United on October 24 at King Zwelithini Stadium, the same day that Polokwane City entertain Siwelele FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium while on October 25, Richards Bay will play Sekhukhune United at New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Carling Knockout Round of 16 Fixtures  

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Golden Arrows vs Chippa United (15:00) – King Zwelithini Stadium

Polokwane City vs Siwelele FC (18:00) – New Peter Mokaba Stadium

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Kruger United vs AmaZulu (15:00) – Mbombela Stadium

Sekhukhune United vs Richards Bay (18:00) – New Peter Mokaba Stadium

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Marumo Gallants (19:00) – Loftus Versfeld

Orlando Pirates vs Milford FC (19:00) – Orlando Amstel Arena

Kaizer Chiefs vs TS Galaxy (19:00) – FNB Stadium

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Durban City vs Stellenbosch FC (19:00) – Chartsworth Stadium.

Carling Knockout Results

The opening round of the Carling Knockout will kick offat the Round of 16 on October 24. Keep it Afrik Foot for the results.

Carling Knockout Cup prize money 

Orlando Pirates pocketed R6.85 million for winning the 2025 Carling Knockout with the runner-up Marumo Gallants walking away with R2.85 million.

On the other hand, the semi-finalists received R1.35 million, the quarter-finalists earned R850,000, and the teams knocked out in the last 16 only gained R550,000.

There is still no indication over whether that will change in 2026.

Carling Cup Previous Winners

Kaizer Chiefs is by far the most successful side in the history of the Carling Cup, South Africa’s own version of the League Cup with 13 victories, more than three times as many as the next best, though the last triumph came all the way back in 2010.

A total of 18 clubs have been champions in its various guises since it was first played in 1982, though only one has managed to get into double figures and stands head and shoulders above the rest on the winners’ list.

Team	Title(s) Won
Arcadia Shepherds	1982
Durban Bush Bucks	1987
Dynamos	1991
AmaZulu	1992
Qwaqwa Stars	1994
Orlando Pirates	2011, 2025
Bloemfontein Celtic	2012
SuperSport United	2014
Cape Town City	2016
Baroka	2018
Stellenbosch	2023
Umtata Bush Bucks	1993, 1996
Ajax Cape Town	2000, 2008
Jomo Cosmos	2002, 2005
Platinum Stars	2006, 2013
Bidvest Wits	1985, 1995, 2017
Mamelodi Sundowns	1990, 1999, 2015, 2019
Kaizer Chiefs	1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010
Magesi	2024

Carling All-Star Team Voting

Once again, this year’s winners of the Carling Knockout will get to face a Carling All-Star team that will be made up of players from the 15 other premier division clubs.

Voting details will be provided in due course.

The All-Star team will be made up of six premier division players and five from the Diski teams. This pits upcoming stars against the game’s current stars.

Carling All Stars XI

Carling All Stars XI

Carling Black Label Cup

The Carling Black Label Cup details will also be provided later.

The match will be broadcast on SuperSport TV and SABC.

Fans Take Charge

Carling Knockout Tickets

Ticketing details will also be provided later.

• General Access Tickets: TBC
• Purchase Limit: TBC

The PSL urges supporters to buy tickets only through official channels. Tickets purchased from third parties will be invalid and will not grant entry into the stadium.