October 2, 06:45IOL

MTN8 Final Between Pirates and Sundowns to Take Place in Durban on October 10

The MTN8 tournament final is scheduled for October 10 and will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban between the Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns teams. These two giants of South African football are expected to attract a large football audience in Durban, based on the scale of previous MTN8 finals.

Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the match at 18:00, and ticket sales will begin online on Friday. The city council anticipates that over 50,000 fans and visitors will arrive in eThekwini to attend the final.

Experience of Past Finals

This figure is significant considering that Moses Mabhida Stadium has hosted major cup finals in recent years. When Pirates and Sundowns met in the MTN8 final in 2023 at this venue, approximately 60,000 spectators attended in Durban. The municipality calculated that this event generated 43 million rand in direct spending and added another 108 million rand to the local GDP.

Ticket demand was also enormous. The 2023 final sold out within just 18 hours of sales starting: tickets were released on Thursday at 15:00 and were sold out by 9:00 the following morning.

In the following year, the MTN8 final between Pirates and Stellenbosch at Moses Mabhida Stadium attracted over 60,000 viewers and was also completely sold out. KwaZulu-Natal officials reported that hotels and accommodation in eThekwini were fully booked as fans traveled from other provinces to attend the final.

Ticket demand in 2024 was even faster: the PSL confirmed that tickets for the Pirates versus Stellenbosch final sold out within four hours.

Examples of Economic Impact

The Nedbank Cup 2025 final between Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates demonstrated another example of interest in major football events in Durban. According to the ticket sales process report, 41,000 tickets available to the public were sold in approximately 90 minutes. Economic impact forecasts were also substantial: the 2025 final was expected to generate over 93 million rand in direct economic effect, with the total contribution to Durban's GDP, including indirect and induced effects, exceeding 230 million rand.

Therefore, fans planning a trip to Durban for this current final should prepare in advance. Tickets cost 150 rand and will be sold exclusively online via Open Tickets starting at 10:00 on Friday. Subscribers can purchase a maximum of four tickets per transaction, with an online queue expected due to projected demand.

After securing tickets, accommodation may become the next issue, especially for fans traveling from outside KwaZulu-Natal. The city has urged visitors to plan their trips well in advance and use public transport wherever possible, confirming that it is coordinating with the PSL, stadium administration, law enforcement, and emergency services regarding the match organization.

Full details regarding transport, traffic management, fan parks, and other match-day activities have not yet been announced. However, previous finals have shown that MTN8 has the potential to turn Durban into a hub for football and tourism for the weekend, as fans spend money on accommodation, restaurants, transport, entertainment, and other local businesses. As Pirates and Sundowns meet again in the final—just three years after their previous clash at the same stadium—the city is preparing for another potentially grand football weekend.

Similar stories

iol.co.zaSeptember 30, 06:50

MTN8 Final Between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns to be Held in Durban, Economic Growth Expected

Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the MTN8 2026 tournament final on October 10th. The match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns is expected to attract over 50,000 fans and visitors to the city of Durban.

The Professional Soccer League (PSL) has officially confirmed Moses Mabhida Stadium as the venue for the final match, scheduled to begin at 18:00. This game will mark the tenth MTN8 final to be held at the stadium in Durban.

Opportunities for Local Business

Mayor Ethekwini, Cyril Shaba, stated that hosting the final will create favorable conditions for the growth of local businesses. This includes traders, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs), hotels, transport operators, and creative workers.

Shaba noted that visitors coming to the city for the match will have the opportunity to explore the beaches, tourist attractions, hospitality offerings, restaurants, and other local commercial establishments. He added that he expects more than 50,000 fans and guests in Ethekwini and urges them not only to attend the game but also to extend their stay to explore all the tourism products and attractions that Ethekwini offers.

Municipal Expenses

Despite the city highlighting the expected economic benefits from hosting the final, it did not provide a total figure for the expenses the Ethekwini municipality will incur to organize the event. The municipality reported that it is preparing for an increased demand for services in security, traffic management and transport, emergency and medical assistance, waste management, cleanliness, and crowd control.

Previous Finals in Durban

Previous MTN8 finals demonstrate why the city views this match as an opportunity for the local economy. When Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns met in the MTN8 2023 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Ethekwini estimated that about 60,000 football fans arrived in Durban. The municipality calculated that this event generated 43 million rand in direct spending, as well as an additional contribution of 108 million rand to the local GDP.

More recently, Ethekwini projected that the Nedbank Cup 2025 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium would generate over 93 million rand in direct economic impact and over 230 million rand including indirect and induced effects.

iol.co.zaSeptember 29, 14:44

MTN8 2026 Final to Draw Attention to Durban, Municipality Reports

The city of Durban is preparing to host fans from across South Africa in connection with the final match of MTN8 2026 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The mayor of the municipality, Ethekwini, Councillor Kirill Shaba, welcomed the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) decision to hold the final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at Durban's iconic stadium.

Speaking at a press briefing at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Shaba noted that the successful experience of hosting major football competitions has helped position Ethekwini as a venue for significant sporting events.

The municipality stated its readiness to host the final and announced that it is working with the PSL, stadium management, law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and other stakeholders to ensure all necessary conditions are met for match day.

The influx of visitors and fans is expected to create new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, traders, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs), hospitality businesses, transport operators, and creative workers.

For guests arriving in Ethekwini for the match, the final will also be an opportunity to explore the city beyond the stadium, including its tourist attractions, beaches, restaurants, and hospitality offerings.

Shaba emphasized that Moses Mabhida Stadium is not just a sports facility but an iconic place that has become part of the City's identity and continues to attract major sporting events to Ethekwini.

The mayor urged fans traveling to Ethekwini to plan their trips in advance, use public transport where possible, and follow the instructions of officials to ensure a safe and enjoyable match day. The municipality continued coordination efforts with the PSL, stadium management, and other partners in preparation for the expected surge in visitors.