As European football shakes off the summer dust, clubs across the English football pyramid are finalizing their preparations for the 2026/27 domestic season.
With the Premier League campaign officially kicking off on August 21, 2026, and the EFL Championship starting a week earlier on August 14, 2026, managers are using high-profile domestic fixtures and grueling overseas tours to get their squads match-fit.
Here is your comprehensive guide to the biggest pre-season timetables, Anfield showpieces, and the Championship landscape.
Liverpool’s Double Anfield Showcase
Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, Liverpool’s summer schedule features a mix of high-profile matches in the United States before wrapping up with two massive domestic friendlies back on home soil.
Following US tour matches against EFL Championship sides Sunderland and Leeds United, the Reds will return to Merseyside for a prestigious double-header at Anfield:
August 9, 2026: Liverpool vs. AS Monaco (Anfield)
August 16, 2026: Liverpool vs. Como 1907 (Anfield)
Manchester City: Asian Tour & Community Shield
One time Defending Premier League champions Manchester City are taking their pre-season preparations to East Asia, setting up blockbusters in Hong Kong and South Korea before chasing the first silverware of the domestic season.
August 1, 2026: Man City vs. Inter Milan (Hong Kong)
August 5, 2026: Team K League vs. Man City (Seoul)
August 9, 2026: Man City vs. Atlético Madrid (Seoul)
August 16, 2026: FA Community Shield — Arsenal vs. Man City (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Everton’s Summer Timetable
Sean Dyche’s Everton side is staying relatively close to home this summer, prioritizing a European tour focused on tactical drilling and physical conditioning.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (BST) |
| July 18, 2026 | Dundee F.C. | Dens Park (Away) | 14:00 |
| July 25, 2026 | Bolton Wanderers | Toughsheet Stadium (Away) | 15:00 |
| July 28, 2026 | Stoke City | bet365 Stadium (Away) | 19:45 |
| August 1, 2026 | Hamburger SV | Volksparkstadion (Away) | 16:00 |
| August 8, 2026 | VfB Stuttgart | MHPArena (Away) | 16:00 |
| August 12, 2026 | Newcastle United | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | 17:15 |
| August 15, 2026 | LOSC Lille | Goodison Park (Home) | 15:00 |
West Ham's Journey in the Championship
Following their relegation from the Premier League, West Ham United is preparing for a grueling 46-game campaign in the EFL Championship under their newly structured coaching staff.
Their pre-season schedule is heavily focused on regional English trips and a high-profile matchup in Germany:
July 18, 2026: Southend United vs. West Ham (Roots Hall)
July 22, 2026: Stevenage vs. West Ham (Lamex Stadium)
July 26, 2026: Rangers vs. West Ham (Ibrox Stadium)
August 1, 2026: FC Magdeburg vs. West Ham (Avnet Arena, Germany)
The Hammers will quickly pivot to competitive action on August 8, 2026, hosting Portsmouth at the London Stadium in the first round of the Carabao Cup, before kicking off their league campaign away at Burnley on August 16.
Other Notable Championship Friendlies
The second tier is stacked with high-profile matches as clubs chase a lucrative route back to the top flight. Keep an eye out for these cross-continental summer clashes:
July 25, 2026: Sunderland vs. Liverpool (Nashville, USA)
July 25, 2026: Leeds United vs. Wrexham (Tampa, USA)
July 30, 2026: Sunderland vs. Leeds United (New Jersey, USA)
August 12, 2026: Leeds United vs. Manchester United (Dublin, Ireland)
