TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 25 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2026
GREAT CHANCES TO WIN ON INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND!
There’s no top-flight club soccer in most parts of the world for the next two weekends, but several international clashes will provide absorbing entertainment this weekend when opportunities abound to win vast amounts of cash with a TAB soccer bet, most notably Saturday’s R11.5-million carryover Soccer 13.
SOCCER 13 SET TO OFFER MEGA R20-MILLION POOL
The huge carryover virtually guarantees a pot of R20-million plus for all-13-correct entries and it’s on the cards that the bet will produce a bumper payout, given that the 13 games comprise two international clashes and a mix of English League One and Two matches which inevitably yield upsets.
And the outcomes of the two international encounters aren’t straightforward, although recent World Cup winners Spain should beat England at Wembley in a UEFA Nations League clash in League A, especially given that English mainstay Declan Rice is taking a deserved and much-needed rest.
Spain have an excellent record in Nations League, having reached the final of the last three editions (one win, two defeats), so expect manager Luis de la Fuente to field his best team.
England do have home advantage though and have lost only one competitive match at Wembley since 2020, plus this is a game they would love to win. Spain beat them 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final and England’s recent third-place finish in the World Cup didn’t match the expectations of their supporters, who are still blaming manager Thomas Tuchel’s substitutions for the defeat to Argentina in the semis.
Best advice for the Soccer 13 though is to banker a Spanish victory, as well as home victories for Plymouth, Stockport County and Fleetwood in the league clashes.
SEVERAL COUNTRIES SPORT NEW MANAGERS
What’s going to be fascinating to monitor through this international window and beyond is the impact of several new managers. Former top player Roberto Mancini, who won several league titles as manager of Inter Milan and Manchester City, is back at the helm of the Italian national team, a position he held from 2018 to 2023. He will be in charge for the first time since his return when Italy play Belgium tonight.
France, away to Turkey tonight, also have a new manager in national hero Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest players of all time and winner of a treasure chest of trophies both as a player and later as manager of Real Madrid.
He now makes his managerial debut on the international stage, having taken over from Didier Deschamps who managed France from 2012 until stepping down after the last World Cup. Zidane has said he’s both proud and intensely emotional about his new role and you can bet he’s going to demand maximum effort from his squad.
Other managerial changes include former Barcelona superstar playmaker Xavi taking over as manager of Holland and Jurgen Klopp replacing Julian Nagelsmann in Germany.
Both made their international managerial debuts last night in a controversial clash in which Holland netted a late goal to level the contest at 1-1.
Xavi, a legendary midfielder, was the master of Tika-Taka, a style of football comprising short passes, possession and lots of movement off the ball while waiting for a gap to appear in the defence instead of attacking directly. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona virtually perfected it, as did Manchester City when he was in charge.
Klopp, one of the world’s top managers, is a disciple of “gegenpressing”, an intense style of play that aims to recover control of the ball virtually immediately after losing possession rather than falling back.
Whether Xavi and Klopp can stamp their individual brands on Holland and Germany respectively remains to be seen, but fans of both countries will be hoping they succeed.
PITSO NEEDS WINNING START AT BAFANA BAFANA
South African also presents a new coach this weekend in Pitso Mosimane, who started his second proper stint as manager of the national team following Hugo Broos’ departure after the World Cup. Mosimane was caretaker coach for just seven games in 2007 before Carlos Parreira took over and then had the job on a full-time basis from 2010 to 2012.
That did not go well. Bafana failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and then made a poor start in qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Mosimane was sacked after a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in June 2012.
There’s much water under the bridge since then. Mosimane has gone on to great success as a club coach, winning trophies galore including African Champions League titles with Mamelodi Sundowns and Cairo giants Al Ahly.
Hopefully he can have similar success with Bafana and he needs a flying start if they are to qualify for the 2027 AFCON finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. There are 12 groups of four countries apiece and the top two in each group qualify for the finals, except in the three groups that contain a host nation. There only one other team qualifies alongside the host nation.
Kenya are in Bafana’s Group D and will qualify no matter how few points they get, leaving obvious underdogs Eritrea, Guinea and South Africa to fight over the remaining slot. So it’s basically a duel between Bafana and Guinea, making it vital for SA to beat Guinea in Orlando tomorrow because we may well come unstuck in the away game.
The good news is that Mosimane looks to have a squad capable of doing the job. Broos did a sound job and Bafana finished third at the 2023 AFCON, qualified for the 2025 edition and made it to the 2026 World Cup finals, in which they reached the last 32.
Mosimane inherits a squad packed with international experience and used to qualifying for major tournaments. He also has several in-form players excelling at overseas clubs so expect Bafana to win this one.
There are R150,000-added Soccer 10 pools tonight and tomorrow. Make France and Sweden bankers to win in tonight’s bet – and the R75,000-added Soccer 6 – and then rely on South Africa, Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood to win on Saturday.
MATCH PREVIEWS OF R150,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 BETS
Friday 25 September – S10 V1
M1 Arbroath vs Queens Park: Great start to the weekend with this R150,000-added pool and a R75,000-added Soccer 6, which comprises six of the games in this Soccer 10. Arbroath are seventh in the Scottish Championship with eight points, four more than Queen’s Park after seven games. Arbroath have lost last two games and Queen’s Park six of last nine. Arbroath won last meeting 1-0 in March.
M2 Ayr United vs Stenhousemuir: The visitors lead the Scottish Championship with 19 points, 11 ahead of sixth-placed Ayr. Stenhousemuir have won seven of their last eight games, whereas Ayr have lost four of their last six. Ayr won the last meeting 4-1 away but that was two years ago.
M3 Galway United vs Shelbourne: Galway unbeaten in eight of last 10 matches in the Irish Premier League, while Shelbourne have lost six of their last 10. Shelbourne are sixth with 39 points and Galway seventh on 37 after 31 games. Last meeting ended 1-1 a month ago.
M4 Hungary vs Ukraine: Hungary unbeaten in last four games and Ukraine have won five of last eight. FIFA rankings: Hungary 39; Ukraine 33.
M5 Italy vs Belgium: Italy have won eight of last 10 games while Belgium have won six of last 10. Italy won the last meeting 1-0 away two years ago. FIFA rankings: Italy 15; Belgium 8.
M6 Montenegro vs Cyprus: Montenegro have lost six of last 10 games, whereas Cyprus are unbeaten in their last three. Montenegro won last meeting 4-0 six years ago. FIFA rankings: Montenegro 77; Cyprus 124.
M7 Poland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina: Poland winless in last three games and Bosnia-Herzegovina unbeaten in eight of last 10. Poland won last meeting 3-0 six years ago. FIFA rankings: Poland 36; Bosnia-Herzegovina 61.
M8 Raith Rovers vs Livingston: Raith Rovers unbeaten in last three games and second in Scottish Championship with 14 points, four ahead of fifth-placed Livingston, undefeated in seven of last 10 games. Last meeting ended 0-0.
M9 Sweden vs Romania: Sweden winless at World Cup in last three, losing 3-0 to France in round of 32. Romania beat Wales 2-1 in last game. FIFA rankings: Sweden 37; Romania 52.
M10 Turkey vs France: Turkey have won seven of last 10 games and France seven of last nine. This is France’s first game since losing World Cup third-place playoff 6-4 to England. FIFA rankings: Turkey 27; France 3.
Saturday 26 September – S10 V2
M1 South Africa vs Guinea: TAB’s R150,000 add-in guarantees a substantial pool so have a go. Bafana’s first game since losing to Canada in last-32 clash at World Cup in June. Guinea winless in last four games. South Africa won last meeting 2-1 a year ago. FIFA rankings: South Africa 54; Guinea 81.
M2 Slovenia vs Scotland: Slovenia winless in nine of last 10 games, while Scotland lost their last two group games at World Cup and failed to progress to the knockout stages. FIFA rankings: Slovenia 56; Scotland 42.
M3 Cheltenham Town vs Chesterfield: First of eight English League Two matches in the pool. Both teams unbeaten in last five games with Cheltenham fifth in table on 12 points, one more than Chesterfield in eighth. Chesterfield won last meeting 1-0 in April.
M4 Fleetwood Town vs Rochdale: Fleetwood unbeaten in nine of last 10 and Rochdale have lost six of last 10. Fleetwood 11th with 10 points, three more than Rochdale in 17th.
M5 Bristol Rovers vs Exeter City: Bristol have lost last two and are sixth with 12 points, six more than 20th-placed Exeter, winless in eight of last 10 games. Exeter won last meeting 2-1 away in April, their ninth win to Bristol’s three in last 15 clashes.
M6 Rotherham United vs Crewe Alexandra: Rotherham winless in seven of last nine games and Crewe winless in last six. Crewe are ninth with 11 points, two ahead of Rotherham in 14th.
M7 Shrewsbury Town vs Colchester United: Shrewsbury have lost five of last eight games and are 18th with seven points. Colchester are winless in last four league fixtures and are 15th with nine points. Colchester won last meeting 2-0.
M8 Swindon Town vs Accrington Stanley: Swindon are 13th with 10 points after losing three straight. Accrington winless in eight of last nine and 21st with six points. Last meeting drew 2-2.
M9 Tranmere Rovers vs Walsall: Walsall unbeaten in last 10 games and Tranmere unbeaten in eight of last nine. Walsall are second in League Two with 13 points, three more than Tranmere in 10th after seven games. Walsall won last meeting 3-1 away January.
M10 York City vs Gillingham: Gillingham unbeaten in last six league games, while York lost last time. Gillingham fourth on log with 12 points, just one more than York in seventh after seven games.