The new Motsepe Foundation Championship season will kick off on Friday, 21 August 2026, and conclude on 9 May 2027. 16 clubs will battle for promotion to the Betway Premiership in what promises to be another fiercely contested season.
REAL NATIVE FC STARTS NEW ERA
One of the biggest changes ahead of the new season is the rebranding of Casric Stars, who will now compete as Real Native FC.
The Mpumalanga club will begin the campaign at home against Cape Town City FC on the opening Friday. The league will also welcome promoted sides Hope FC and North-West University (NWU FC), who secured their places through the SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs.
The opening weekend fixtures are:
Friday, 21 August
- Real Native FC vs Cape Town City FC
- Venda FC vs Lerumo Lions FC
Saturday, 22 August
- Hope FC vs University of Pretoria
- Hungry Lions FC vs Gomora United FC
- Leicesterford City FC vs Orbit College FC
- Midlands Wanderers FC vs Magesi FC
- NWU FC vs Upington City FC
- The Bees FC vs Highbury FC
CAPE TOWN CITY EYE MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
With Kruger United and Milford FC promoted to the Betway Premiership last season, Cape Town City are widely tipped as favourites to win the Motsepe Foundation Championship title. The Citizens narrowly missed out on automatic promotion after finishing second in the previous campaign.
All Motsepe Foundation Championship matches will kick off at 15:00. The only exception is Orbit College’s home fixtures at Olympia Park Stadium, which will start at 19:30.
Teams now have just over three weeks to complete their preparations before the race for promotion gets underway.
Also read: Kruger United win promotion to the Betway Premiership
