The odd year out was 2025, when Pirates defeated Stellenbosch FC 3-0 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, one of only six venues to have been used in the 19 seasons of the top-eight competition.
Such has been the flock to Durban down the years that 10 of the last 14 MTN8 deciders have been staged there.
The only other venues used in that time were Orlando Stadium in 2019 for the final between SuperSport United and Highlands Park, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2015 for Ajax Cape Town’s win over Kaizer Chiefs, and Mbombela Stadium in 2016, when Bidvest Wits thumped Sundowns 3-0, and again in 2025. The PSL confirms that the 2015 final was played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, while the 2016 decider was at Mbombela.
In all, the Moses Mabhida Stadium has staged the final on 11 occasions since 2008, including this season, comfortably the most, with Orlando Stadium next on the list with three deciders and Mbombela Stadium with two.
FNB Stadium, Kings Park and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium are the only other venues to have hosted the final in that time.
The Peter Mokaba Stadium, Cape Town Stadium, Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace and Free State Stadium, all 2010 FIFA World Cup venues, have not had a sniff.
Generally, a final venue is chosen as a neutral venue and this has largely been the case, except for 2022 when Pirates defeated AmaZulu at the latter’s home ground in the decider, though predictably Buccaneers fans considerably outnumbered Usuthu supporters. The 2022 final was indeed played at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Pirates are seeking to lift the MTN8 trophy for an unprecedented fifth time in a row.
This will be the eighth time they contest the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, having won five of the previous seven deciders. They lost there to Platinum Stars in 2013 and, perhaps most painfully, Kaizer Chiefs the following year.
Add to that last year’s final in Nelspruit and the 2011 decider at FNB Stadium, and they have won seven of their nine finals since 2008.
MTN8 final venues
2008: Kings Park, Durban
2009: Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg
2010: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2011: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
2012: Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg
2013: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2014: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2015: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
2016: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
2017: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2018: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2019: Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg
2020: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2021: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2022: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2023: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2024: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
2025: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
2026: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Final venues tally
11 – Moses Mabhida Stadium
3 – Orlando Stadium
2 – Mbombela Stadium
1 – FNB Stadium, Kings Park, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Cities to have hosted
12 – Durban
4 – Johannesburg
2 – Nelspruit
1 – Gqeberha
MTN8 title wins since 2008
7 – Orlando Pirates
2 – Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United
1 – Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits, Cape Town City, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Platinum Stars