Pre-season schedule takes shape
Manchester City have confirmed the details of their 2026 Asia tour, with Enzo Maresca set to take charge of his first pre-season fixtures as the club's new manager. It will be the first time since 2015 that someone other than Pep Guardiola has been in the dugout for a City pre-season friendly.
The tour begins in Hong Kong on Saturday 1 August against Inter Milan, the champions of Maresca's home nation. Kick-off is at 12:30 UK time. From there, the squad travels to Seoul to face a K-League All-Stars XI on Wednesday 5 August, before a meeting with familiar opposition in Atletico Madrid on Sunday 9 August. Both Seoul matches kick off at 13:00 UK.
All three fixtures will be broadcast live on CITY+ in the UK and most foreign territories.
Staggered returns from international duty following the 2026 World Cup mean some players will join up later than others, adding an extra layer of complexity to Maresca's preparations.
Community Shield before the league starts
Pre-season concludes at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 16 August, where City face Premier League champions Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. City have won the Community Shield seven times, though only once in this decade.
Fringe players and academy talents will be eyeing these four games as an opportunity to force their way into Maresca's thinking before the Premier League season begins the following weekend.