Key Facts
- Result. Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the 186th Soweto derby, the clash of Soweto's two biggest clubs, at a sold-out FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 31 October 2026.
- Table. Pirates lead the Betway Premiership, South Africa's top league, with 25 points from nine matches; Chiefs are fifth.
- Next for Chiefs. Quarter-final of the Carling Knockout, a league cup, against Siwelele at FNB Stadium on 6 November; kick-off not confirmed.
- Next for Pirates. Home to Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on 28 November, 16:00 GMT (11:00 a.m. US Eastern Time, 18:00 South African time), per a fixtures website.
- Return derby. 13 March 2027 at FNB Stadium, with Chiefs as the designated home side; time not set.
Chiefs Face a Quick Cup Test
Kaizer Chiefs, one of the two Soweto clubs, host Siwelele in the Carling Knockout quarter-final at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 6 November. The kick-off time has not been confirmed, and our Soweto derby updates hub will carry it.
The tie comes six days after Chiefs lost the Soweto derby 2-1 to Orlando Pirates, their Soweto rivals. Chiefs' next league match is away to Chippa United, a Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, later in the month, with no date or time confirmed.
Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz blamed missed chances and what he called Pirates’ “12th man”, a jibe at the officiating. He refused to abandon Chiefs’ title hopes.
Chiefs had briefly eased the pressure with a 3-0 Carling Knockout win over TS Galaxy on Tuesday 27 October. Before that, sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr had publicly reaffirmed the club’s support for Da Cruz on 25 October.
The Table Shows Pirates on Top
Pirates moved top of the Betway Premiership, South Africa's top division, with 25 points from nine matches. Chiefs are fifth.
Pirates have now won six of their last seven league derbies. The loss also extended the Chiefs' winless league run to four games.
Pirates’ Yanela Mbuthuma scored first on 24 minutes, and Chiefs’ Pule Mmodi equalised on 30 after Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine failed to hold a shot from Mfundo Vilakazi. Tshepang Moremi scored the winner early in the second half.
Da Cruz Disputes the Officiating
Da Cruz said Pirates' opening goal should have been ruled offside. This was the coach's assessment of referee Luxolo Badi's decision, not a ruling that has been independently established.
He also said Chiefs should have killed the game off and could have led 2-0 or 3-0 at half-time, but faded in the second half. Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou conceded that his plan to use Deon Hotto, a Namibian international, at right-back had not clearly worked.
Thapelo Mokobodi, a Pirates midfielder, was named man of the match in his first Soweto derby.
The Next Fixed Dates for Pirates
Pirates are due to host Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on 28 November, with kick-off at 16:00 GMT (11:00 a.m. ET, 18:00 South African time). That date comes from a fixtures website and should be checked against the official league calendar.
The return league derby is set for 13 March 2027 at FNB Stadium, with Chiefs as the designated home side. No kick-off time has been announced.
What It Means for US Readers
South Africa is seven hours ahead of US Eastern Time in November, so an evening kick-off in Soweto lands around lunchtime in New York. Pirates v Golden Arrows would start at 11:00 a.m. ET.
No kick-off times are confirmed yet for the Chiefs fixtures on 6 November and 13 March 2027. We will add Eastern Time once the league publishes them.
What Is Not Known
No poll by a named institute and no prediction-market odds on the derby or the title race were found. No Premier Soccer League (PSL) disciplinary action or review of Da Cruz's offside claim has been reported.
The attendance at the 31 October derby has not been confirmed. The kick-off times for Chiefs v Siwelele on 6 November and for the return derby on 13 March 2027 are also unknown.
The date and time of Chiefs' away match at Chippa United are not confirmed. The 28 November Pirates fixture rests on a single fixtures website.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Kaizer Chiefs play next?
Chiefs host Siwelele in the Carling Knockout quarter-final at FNB Stadium on 6 November. The kick-off time has not been confirmed, and our Soweto derby updates hub will carry it.
Where do Pirates and Chiefs stand in the league?
Pirates lead the Betway Premiership with 25 points from nine matches. Chiefs are fifth.
When is the next Soweto derby?
The return league derby is set for 13 March 2027 at FNB Stadium, with Chiefs as the designated home side. The kick-off time has not been announced.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief