The Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates, coached by Abdeslam Ouaddou, and Kaizer Chiefs, managed by Fernando da Cruz, will be played in front of a full house on 31 October at 15:30 at the FNB Stadium. Former France international Thierry Henry is expected.
Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium will be full for the Soweto Derby, which pits Orlando Pirates against Kaizer Chiefs on 31 October at 15:30, according to Flipboard and the Mail & Guardian. More than half a century after its first edition, the fixture remains one of the flagship events of South African football.
On the benches, two coaches face each other: Abdeslam Ouaddou leads the Pirates, Fernando da Cruz the Chiefs. Before the match, the former praised his counterpart, according to Flipboard. In the stands, Thierry Henry is expected at the Soweto Derby, according to the same source.
What awaits both sides
Kick-off is set for 31 October 2026 at 15:30 at the FNB Stadium, for a derby announced as a sell-out. The Pirates will therefore host their opponents in front of a full stadium.
But history leans towards the Chiefs: across more than 180 meetings in all competitions since 1970, Kaizer Chiefs hold the historical advantage. For Abdeslam Ouaddou and his players, the task is therefore to reverse a trend entrenched for more than half a century.
On Fernando da Cruz’s side, the praise from his Pirates counterpart, reported by Flipboard, sets the tone for a duel in which both coaches respect each other publicly.
A rivalry born of a split
Kaizer Chiefs was founded by Kaizer Motaung after he left Orlando Pirates. The rivalry began on 24 January 1970, seventeen days after that creation. The first match ended 6-4 to the Pirates, according to the Mail & Guardian.
The derby went through periods of violence in past decades. It has since become a safer and more festive spectacle, which the Mail & Guardian highlights in discussing its evolution.
A derby followed well beyond Soweto
Modern derbies regularly attract more than 80,000 spectators, with fans coming from all provinces, but also from Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
On television, the derby regularly dominates local audiences, even surpassing major rugby Tests in viewer numbers. The Mail & Guardian presents it as a living showcase of the roots of South African football, a fixture that is already sure of a crowd before kick-off.