The curtain raiser for the new English football season has officially been confirmed, with Arsenal set to face Manchester City in the 2026 Community Shield.
Premier League champions Arsenal will take on FA Cup winners Manchester City in the traditional season opener before the start of the new campaign.
The match will be played on August 16, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m. BST.
In a rare change from tradition, the Community Shield will not be staged at Wembley Stadium. Instead, the fixture has been moved to Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The relocation is due to a series of concerts by The Weeknd at Wembley, making the venue unavailable for the annual showpiece event.
The Community Shield traditionally pits the Premier League champions against the FA Cup winners and serves as the official opening match of the English football season.
Community Shield 2026 Details
- Match: Arsenal vs Manchester City
- Date: August 16, 2026
- Kick-off: 3:00 p.m. BST
- Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
- Competition: FA Community Shield
With two of England’s strongest teams meeting for the first trophy of the season, fans can expect a high-profile clash as Arsenal and Manchester City look to begin the new campaign with silverware.
