Premier League Preseason 2026-27: Every Club's Friendlies, US Tour Dates & How to Watch

The World Cup confetti has barely settled at MetLife Stadium and already the Premier League machine is cranking back to life. With the 2026-27 season kicking off on August 21, clubs have a compressed four-week window to shake off the rust. That means preseason friendlies are coming thick and fast — some in Austria, some behind closed doors, and a handful on American soil where the World Cup just finished.

If you're trying to keep track of where your team is playing, who they're facing, and whether you can actually watch, you're in the right place. Here's the full rundown.

🇺🇸 The US Tour: Premier League Takes Over America

Five Premier League sides are making the trip across the Atlantic for preseason matches on US soil — and given the World Cup just packed up and left, the appetite for live football stateside has never been higher.

Liverpool lead the charge with three matches: Sunderland in Nashville (July 25), Wrexham in New York (July 29), and Leeds in Chicago (August 2). That Chicago clash against Leeds at Soldier Field is the one to circle — two promotion-chasing sides from last season, both with points to prove.

Leeds United have the busiest American itinerary: Wrexham in Tampa (July 25), Sunderland in New Jersey (July 30), and Liverpool in Chicago (August 2). The Leeds-Wrexham matchup in Florida carries extra spice after Wrexham's Hollywood-backed rise through the leagues.

Sunderland and Wrexham round out the US contingent, with Wrexham fresh off that eyebrow-raising 1-0 win over Manchester United in Helsinki.

📋 Complete Club-by-Club Preseason Schedule

🔥 Five Preseason Matches You Can't Miss

1. Man United vs Rosenborg — July 24

Michael Carrick's side are in Norway looking to bounce back after that shock defeat to Wrexham. The Red Devils looked disjointed in Helsinki — Andrey's debut was the only bright spot. Rosenborg at Lerkendal is a proper test, and United need a response before facing Atlético Madrid next week.

2. Liverpool vs Sunderland — July 25 (Nashville)

Anfield South, they called it during the World Cup. Now Nashville gets a proper Premier League side. Sunderland are no pushovers — they thrashed York 5-1 in their opener — but the Reds' frontline will be the first real examination of their Championship-ready defence.

3. Aston Villa vs Porto — July 25

Villa are the busiest team in Europe this summer. Between a five-goal demolition of Walsall and a UEFA Super Cup date with PSG on August 12, they host Porto in what reads like a Europa League knockout tie. Unai Emery isn't treating preseason like a holiday.

4. Chelsea vs Spurs — August 1 (Sydney)

A London derby 10,000 miles from London. Both sides are on Asia-Pacific tours and this showdown at the 83,500-seat Stadium Australia will be the closest thing to a competitive fixture either plays before the real thing. Bragging rights — and tactical signals — will be on full display.

5. Nottingham Forest vs Barcelona — August 8 (Udine)

Forest vs Barça. Let that sink in. The two-time European Cup winners against the Catalan giants — in a preseason friendly in Italy. Forest have been flying under Nuno Espírito Santo, winning both openers without conceding. This is a statement opportunity.

📺 How to Watch Premier League Preseason 2026-27

Preseason broadcasting is a patchwork. Some matches land on club TV channels (MUTV, LFCTV), others pop up on ESPN+ or CBS Sports in the US, and plenty are geo-blocked or paywalled behind individual club subscriptions. The US tour matches — Liverpool, Leeds, Sunderland, Wrexham — are the most likely to get proper broadcast treatment, but even those aren't guaranteed.

For the rest? It's the wild west. Austrian training camp friendlies at 3pm local time, behind-closed-doors matches with no cameras, and last-minute venue changes. Our match analyst has been tracking preseason coverage across six countries and the short answer is: if you want reliable access to every game, one subscription won't cut it.

The Premier League season proper kicks off August 21. By then, every club needs to have its shape, fitness, and likely starting XI sorted. What happens in these friendlies — who starts, who sits, who looks sharp — shapes the opening weekend narrative.

🔮 Early Storylines Worth Watching

Man United's identity crisis. The Wrexham loss wasn't just a friendly result — it exposed the same structural problems that plagued Carrick's side last season. Rosenborg tonight is a must-watch for tactical observers.

Liverpool's American gamble. Three matches in eight days across three cities is a commercial decision as much as a sporting one. If the Reds drop points early in the season, expect the "they should have stayed at Melwood" takes to surface fast.

Forest's quiet confidence. Two wins, six goals, zero conceded. Nuno has his squad humming under the radar while everyone watches the big six. The Barcelona friendly on August 8 is the litmus test.

Villa's marathon. No Premier League side has a more demanding summer schedule — eight friendlies plus a UEFA Super Cup. By the time they face Gladbach on August 15, they'll either be the best-prepared team in the league or running on fumes.

Preseason narratives rarely survive contact with the real thing. But they tell you who's fit, who's fighting for a shirt, and which manager already looks worried. Pay attention.

Last updated: July 24, 2026. Fixtures subject to change. All times local unless stated.