South Sudan Football Federation Unveils Full Season Calendar for 2025–2026

(JUBA) – The South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) has officially released its national football calendar for the 2025–2026 season, outlining a structured programme that covers senior leagues, women’s competitions, youth development tournaments and national cup fixtures, all aligned with international football standards.

The calendar was launched on 25 July 2025, following the federation’s Extraordinary Executive Committee Meeting No. 7/2025, held in Juba and chaired by SSFF President Augustino Maduot Parek. The football season will span from August 2025 to May 2026.

According to the federation, the calendar represents “a positive step toward standardised, inclusive football development across the country,” and it has been carefully aligned with FIFA’s official match windows, reflecting a commitment to domestic growth while maintaining compatibility with the global football environment.

The South Sudan Premier League is scheduled to begin on 21 August 2025 and will run until 26 May 2026. Matches will be played each week from Thursday through Sunday, ensuring a consistent rhythm with seven competitive fixtures weekly. This format is expected to help clubs better manage logistics and enhance fan engagement.

In a move to promote inclusivity, the Women’s National League will begin on 22 September 2025 and continue until 23 March 2026, with a short break in December to allow for the mid-season transfer period. SSFF says the format will help ensure balanced competition while giving women’s clubs space to manage squad rotations and growth.

The national cup competition, known as the South Sudan Cup, will kick off on 1 December 2025 at the Sub-Football Association level. It will then progress through Zonal qualifiers and conclude with the Final Stage in January 2026. This structure is designed to provide grassroots teams across the country with a platform to compete for national recognition.

Youth football remains a core focus of the SSFF’s long-term strategy, with U15, U17, and U20 tournaments scheduled from October 2025 to May 2026 for both boys and girls. These competitions will serve as scouting grounds for emerging talent to feed into club academies and national teams.

To accommodate international commitments, the SSFF has synchronised its domestic football programme with FIFA international match windows. National teams will be available to compete in international friendlies and qualifiers during the September, October, and November 2025 windows, as well as in March 2026.

As a prelude to the competitive season, the 2025/2026 campaign will open with a traditional Super Cup fixture in early August. This annual event features a one-off match between the reigning Premier League champions and the previous season’s South Sudan Cup winners and serves as a ceremonial launch aimed at increasing fan interest.

SSFF has stated that detailed match schedules and fixture lists for each competition will be released in phases to allow clubs and supporters adequate time to plan their activities and travel.

The federation described the new calendar as a significant milestone in South Sudan’s sporting development, with emphasis on competitive fairness, gender inclusion and administrative transparency.

Simplified summary of key football events in South Sudan for the 2025–2026 season