Premier League clubs are gearing up for the 2025-26 season with pre-season friendly fixtures scheduled across the globe. As teams prepare for the August 16th start date, many are traveling internationally for training camps and matches, combining competitive preparation with commercial opportunities.
Key Pre-Season Trends
Several trends are emerging in the Premier League's pre-season plans:
- International Tours: Many clubs are venturing overseas, particularly to Asia and the United States. Arsenal and Liverpool are among the teams with confirmed matches in Asia.
- Premier League Summer Series: Manchester United, Bournemouth, Everton and West Ham are participating in the Premier League Summer Series in the United States. Matches will be held in cities like New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta.
- Club World Cup Impact: Chelsea and Manchester City's participation in the revamped Club World Cup has led to reduced pre-season workloads.
- Home Friendlies: Some clubs will balance their tours with home friendlies to provide local fans the chance to see the team before the season begins.
Confirmed Fixtures:
Below is a selection of confirmed pre-season friendlies for Premier League clubs:
- Arsenal: The Gunners will start their pre-season in Singapore against AC Milan on July 23rd, followed by a match against Newcastle on July 27th. They will then face Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on July 31st.
- Aston Villa: Villa's schedule includes a match against Walsall on July 16th, and Hansa Rostock on July 19th. They will then head to the US to face Eintracht Frankfurt, St. Louis City SC and Nashville SC.
- Bournemouth: Bournemouth will participate in the Premier League Summer Series in the USA, facing Everton on July 26th, Manchester United on July 31st and West Ham on August 3rd.
- Chelsea: Due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, Chelsea have a shorter pre-season schedule, including a match against Bayer Leverkusen on August 8th.
- Everton: As part of the Premier League Summer Series, Everton will play Bournemouth on July 26th, West Ham on July 30th, and Manchester United on August 3rd.
- Liverpool: Liverpool will tour Asia, facing AC Milan in Hong Kong on July 26th and Yokohama F. Marinos in Yokohama on July 30th. They also have a Community Shield match against Crystal Palace on August 10th.
- Manchester United: United's pre-season includes a match against Leeds United in Stockholm on July 19th. They will then participate in the Premier League Summer Series in the US, playing West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton.
- Tottenham Hotspur: Tottenham will face North London rivals Arsenal in Hong Kong on July 31st.
Managers and Key Dates
For new managers like Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and Arne Slot at Liverpool, the pre-season period is crucial for implementing their strategies and integrating new signings. The first five Premier League fixtures for Manchester United includes matches against Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, making pre-season preparation vital.
The Premier League 2025-26 season kicks off on August 16th, 2025, and runs until May 24th, 2026.
