All tickets for the eagerly awaited Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have been snapped up, the host club confirmed.
The match is set for May 3 at Johannesburg’s iconic FNB Stadium, promising another chapter in South Africa’s most storied football rivalry.
This encounter marks the 182nd official meeting between the two Soweto powerhouses, whose fierce competition has gripped South African football fans for decades.
Kaizer Chiefs lead the historical tally with 74 victories, while Orlando Pirates have claimed 48 wins. A further 54 matches have ended in stalemates, and five others were abandoned.
Beyond the win-loss record, Chiefs also boast the superior goal count, having found the net 230 times to Pirates’ 197.
The margins reflect a rivalry that has been close, dramatic, and often unpredictable.
The last derby clash, played on February 1 at the Calabash, ended in late heartbreak for Chiefs.
A 96th-minute penalty calmly slotted home by Patrick Maswanganyi secured a dramatic win for the Buccaneers, extending their recent dominance in the fixture.
The excitement surrounding the upcoming match is further heightened by the fact that the sides are due to face off again just a week later.
On May 10, they will contest the Nedbank Cup final at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Anticipation for that encounter is just as intense, with tickets expected to sell out in record time due to the fixture’s magnitude and the high stakes involved.
With both teams vying for silverware and local bragging rights, the back-to-back clashes promise to be defining moments in their respective seasons.
The Soweto derby has long been more than just a football match—it’s a cultural event that resonates across South Africa, drawing fans from all walks of life into its passionate orbit.
As May approaches, attention will turn to the team sheets, tactics, and form guides.
But if history has shown anything, it’s that when Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates take to the pitch, the form book is often tossed aside in favour of raw intensity, moments of brilliance, and unforgettable drama.
📢📢 Announcement📢📢
The Soweto Derby scheduled for the 03rd of May 2025 at FNB Stadium is now SOLD OUT!!!!#Amakhosi4Life #SowetoDerby #AlwaysHome pic.twitter.com/4mEZZvmQvR
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) April 18, 2025
