Sundowns get upper hand for competition debut
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Mamelodi Sundowns will enter the FIFA Intercontinental Cup guaranteed of at least R16 million and carrying an advantage for their first match on Saturday.
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Sundowns get upper hand for competition debut
Sep 14, 2026 – 11:59 am
By Lovemore Moyo
Mamelodi Sundowns’ first-ever match in the FIFA Continental Cup on Saturday will be played with the host team carrying the benefit of having an uninterrupted week of preparations, unlike their opponents.
Sundowns face the 2025/26 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League winners Al Ahli Saudi FC.
This match will play out as the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, and according to Article 51 of the Regulations for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026, there will be medals and a trophy presented after the game.
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The winners will then proceed to play in the Challenger Cup against either Mexican club Toluca (2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners) or the 2026 Copa Libertadores champions to be determined on November 28.
Whoever then wins that match will meet European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
For now, it is Sundowns up against Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Brazilians were on the road over the weekend to KuGompo City, where they drew 1-1 with Chippa United on a greasy surface.
Miguel Cardoso will then have all week to prepare for Al Ahli.
Unfortunately for the Saudis, that will not be the case for them.
Before getting on the flight to OR Tambo Airport, Ahli must first get their defence of the Asian Champions League underway on Monday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Their first opponents will be Pakhtakor FC from the Uzbekistan Super League – the lowest-ranked team in the Western Region of the competition.
Their travels – if on a commercial flight – will be via another destination, pushing their travel time to 15 hours.
Through all that time, Sundowns will be at their base in Chloorkop.
Marino Pušić, the Ahli coach, will have Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, English striker Ivan Toney, and Portuguese forward Francisco Trincão as the notable names travelling in his squad.
Based on what was paid last year, to which FIFA is yet to announce changes, there will be at least USD1 million (approx. R16,2 million) on offer for the Tshwane giants.
If they get past Ahli, then they will double their earnings.