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The 2025-26 Nedbank Cup saw a major upset on Saturday as Casric Stars, a Championship side, eliminated Orlando Pirates in a dramatic penalty shootout. The match, ending 0-0 after regulation and extra time, culminated in a 5-4 victory for Casric Stars, sending shockwaves through South African football. Meanwhile, Lamontville Golden Arrows secured their place in the quarter-finals with a narrow win over Stellenbosch.

The defeat marks a significant setback for Orlando Pirates, one of South Africa’s most prominent clubs. The Nedbank Cup offered a potential route to silverware, but Casric Stars proved to be a resilient opponent, ultimately forcing the match to penalties. This result highlights the growing competitiveness of South African football and the potential for upsets in cup competitions.

Casric Stars Stun Pirates in Penalty Shootout

The match between Orlando Pirates and Casric Stars was a tense affair, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock during normal time. According to reports from VAVEL.com, the game remained goalless after 120 minutes of play. The penalty shootout proved to be a nerve-wracking experience for both sets of supporters, with Casric Stars ultimately emerging victorious with a 5-4 scoreline. News24 described the victory as a result of “death by penalties.”

Arrows Advance After Tight Contest

Lamontville Golden Arrows also progressed to the quarter-finals, securing a hard-fought victory over Stellenbosch. Details of the match scoreline were not immediately available, but reports confirm Arrows’ advancement in the competition.

Nedbank Cup Quarter-Finals Beckon

Casric Stars’ victory represents a significant achievement for the Championship side, demonstrating their ability to compete with top-tier teams. The result will undoubtedly boost morale within the club and provide momentum for their league campaign. Orlando Pirates, will demand to regroup and refocus their efforts on other competitions. Flashscore.com highlighted the shock felt by many following Pirates’ exit from the tournament.

The quarter-final draw for the Nedbank Cup is anticipated to take place soon, with fans eagerly awaiting to see which teams will compete for a place in the semi-finals. The competition continues to provide exciting moments and unpredictable results, showcasing the passion and talent within South African football.

The next round of the Nedbank Cup promises further excitement as the remaining teams battle for a place in the semi-finals. Fans will be keen to see how Casric Stars fare against higher-ranked opposition, and whether Orlando Pirates can bounce back from this disappointing defeat. Share your thoughts on these results and predictions for the quarter-finals in the comments below.

FIFA’s ambitious push to expand its club competitions is running into headwinds, with the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup revealing challenges in attracting both broadcast partners and significant sponsorship revenue. Although Arsenal claimed the first title in the competition on February 1, 2026, defeating Corinthians 3-2 after extra time at Emirates Stadium, the path to establishing these tournaments as financially viable entities appears fraught with difficulty.

The launch of the revamped Club World Cup last year, and now the Women’s Champions Cup, represents a significant strategic shift for FIFA, aiming to capitalize on the growing global interest in club football. However, initial enthusiasm hasn’t translated into robust commercial backing, forcing the governing body to rely heavily on a single media partner and navigate a complex sponsorship landscape.

DAZN emerged as a key player, acquiring global media rights to both the men’s Club World Cup for $1 billion and securing a deal to broadcast the Women’s Champions Cup globally with a free-to-air feed, supporting FIFA’s goal of expanding viewership. However, FIFA deviated from the men’s model by excluding DAZN’s global coverage in the four home markets of participating teams, leading to separate agreements with Sky Sports in the UK, CazéTV in Brazil, and TelevisaUnivision in the United States. Notably, no domestic broadcaster was announced in Morocco, highlighting a broader hesitation in the market, and these partnerships were finalized just 13 days before the tournament’s kickoff in England.

The financial picture on the sponsorship front is similarly muted. Kynisca was announced as the presenting partner on January 22, 2026, but the tournament only secured a total of three sponsorship deals by the start of the competition. Visa, building on its long-term commitment to women’s soccer since becoming the first sole sponsor of UEFA women’s soccer in 2018, joined the portfolio, as did Aramco. However, the latter partnership has drawn criticism, with over 100 women’s soccer players signing an open letter in 2024 urging FIFA to end its relationship with the Saudi Arabian energy company.

Attendance Figures Raise Questions

The final between Arsenal and Corinthians, held at Emirates Stadium, drew a crowd of 25,031 spectators, representing just 41.2% of the stadium’s capacity. This is particularly noteworthy given Arsenal Women’s success in attracting high attendance figures in the Women’s Super League (WSL), averaging 34,110 fans per match at the Emirates Stadium last season, with a season-high of 56,700 for their match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Prize Money Disparity

FIFA invested $3.95 million in prize money across the six participating teams in the 2026 Champions Cup, with Arsenal receiving $2.3 million as the champions. This figure, while substantial, pales in comparison to the investment in the men’s Club World Cup, where Chelsea received £85 million ($115.5 million) and all 32 competing clubs were guaranteed £28 million ($38 million). To position this in perspective, Arsenal earned €500,000 ($590,000) for winning the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League title.

Future Plans and Potential Challenges

FIFA plans to launch a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup in 2028. To match the financial investment of the men’s tournament, FIFA would need to allocate $500 million in prize money. However, given the current commercial landscape, this appears unlikely. The proposed January 2028 dates for the tournament have already drawn criticism from clubs concerned about the impact on domestic scheduling, potentially affecting up to five rounds of matches in the Women’s Super League.

Despite the initial challenges, FIFA remains committed to expanding its club competitions, viewing them as crucial to diversifying revenue streams beyond the four-year cycle of the FIFA World Cup. While the path to commercial success may be long, the organization believes that building the status and popularity of these tournaments will ultimately attract greater investment and solidify their place on the global football calendar.

The success of these tournaments will depend on FIFA’s ability to address concerns regarding scheduling, secure more robust sponsorship deals, and demonstrate a clear commitment to equity in investment between the men’s and women’s games. What comes next will be crucial in determining whether these new competitions can truly flourish.

What are your thoughts on FIFA’s new club competitions? Share your opinions in the comments below!