The World Cup final has not even been played yet, but club football is already stirring. Manchester United open their pre-season against Wrexham in Helsinki this Saturday — and over the next month the Premier League’s biggest names will criss-cross the globe before the 2026/27 season begins. Here is the warm-up calendar for the five biggest clubs, plus August’s two showpiece matches. All times are UK time; friendly schedules can still change.
The showpieces
UEFA Super Cup: PSG v Aston Villa — Wednesday 12 August, 8pm (Salzburg). Champions League winners against Europa League winners. The trophy Villa lifted in May — with a certain Johan Manzambi starring against them in the final before joining them this summer — has earned Unai Emery’s side a shot at Europe’s big one.
FA Community Shield: Arsenal v Manchester City — Sunday 16 August, 3pm (Cardiff). The champions against the FA Cup winners at the Principality Stadium — and a first competitive look at Enzo Maresca’s City against the team that took the title.
Liverpool — first summer of the Iraola era
- Liverpool v Sunderland — Saturday 25 July, 11pm
- Liverpool v Wrexham — Thursday 30 July, 0:30am
- Liverpool v Leeds — Sunday 2 August, 9pm
- Liverpool v Monaco — Sunday 9 August, 2:30pm
- Liverpool v Como — Sunday 16 August, 6pm
Arsenal — the champions tune up
- Girona v Arsenal — Saturday 1 August, 7pm
- Arsenal v Real Betis — Wednesday 5 August, 7:30pm
- Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund — Sunday 9 August, 2pm
- Arsenal v Como — Wednesday 12 August, 7:30pm
Manchester City — the Maresca era begins in Asia
- Manchester City v Inter — Saturday 1 August, 12:30pm
- K-League Stars v Manchester City — Wednesday 5 August, 1pm
- Manchester City v Atlético Madrid — Sunday 9 August, 1pm
Manchester United — a first run-out for the new midfield
Michael Carrick’s side have the busiest programme of all — six friendlies, and a first chance to see Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos together.
- Manchester United v Wrexham — Saturday 18 July, 4pm (Helsinki)
- Rosenborg v Manchester United — Friday 24 July, 5pm
- Manchester United v Atlético Madrid — Saturday 1 August, 2pm
- Manchester United v PSG — Saturday 8 August, 4pm
- Manchester United v Leeds — Wednesday 12 August, 7:30pm
- Manchester United v AC Milan — Saturday 15 August, 3:45pm (Tarczyński Arena, Wrocław, Poland)
Chelsea — Alonso’s side go east
The morning kick-offs tell the story: Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea spend their summer in Asia and Australia — including a London derby played half a world from London.
- Chelsea v Western Sydney Wanderers — Tuesday 28 July, 10:45am
- Chelsea v Tottenham — Saturday 1 August, 10:45am
- Chelsea v Juventus — Wednesday 5 August, 12:30pm
- Chelsea v AC Milan — Saturday 8 August, 1pm
- Johor Darul Ta’zim v Chelsea — Sunday 9 August, 1pm
With the transfer window in full swing, these friendlies will offer the first glimpses of how this summer’s big moves settle in — worth a look before the new season kicks off.