Summer Soccer Spectacle: ESPN Unveils Must-See Preseason Friendlies Schedule!

With the World Cup now concluded, the Premier League season is rapidly approaching, just a month away from its restart. Club football is gearing up with preseason campaigns set to take place across the globe, featuring numerous significant clashes. All times mentioned below are BST unless otherwise stated.

Arsenal has opted for a less distant preseason journey this summer, with scheduled trips to Girona and Dublin. Mikel Arteta's squad will face Girona and Real Betis. Their preparations intensify with an enticing match against Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on August 9, a week before their Community Shield encounter with Manchester City in Cardiff. Arsenal's preseason fixtures include: August 1: Girona vs. Arsenal (Girona, 7 p.m.); August 5: Arsenal vs. Real Betis (Dublin, 7.30 p.m.); August 9: Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund (Emirates Stadium, 2 p.m.); August 12: Arsenal vs. Como (Emirates Stadium, 7.30 p.m.); and August 16: Community Shield – Arsenal vs. Man City (Cardiff, 3 p.m.).

Aston Villa, aiming for a strong season, is embarking on an extensive preseason tour, encompassing seven matches and the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain. A highly anticipated fixture is against Bayern Munich in Hong Kong on August 7, preceding the Super Cup. Aston Villa's preseason schedule includes: July 21: Walsall vs. Aston Villa (Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 7.30 p.m.); July 25: Porto vs. Aston Villa (Estadio Do Dragao, 7 p.m.); July 28: Aston Villa vs. Real Sociedad (Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 7.30 p.m.); August 1: Indonesia All-Stars vs. Aston Villa (Jakarta, 1 p.m.); August 4: BG Pathum United vs. Aston Villa (Pathum Thani, 1.30 p.m.); August 7: Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich (Hong Kong, 1 p.m.); August 12: UEFA Super Cup – PSG vs. Aston Villa (Salzburg, 8 p.m.); and August 15: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Aston Villa (Borussia-Park, 2.30 p.m.).

Chelsea faces a busy preseason schedule. Their fixtures include matches against London rivals Tottenham and Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan, playing in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Jakarta respectively. Chelsea's preseason fixtures are: July 28: Chelsea vs. Western Sydney Wanderers (Sydney, 10.45 a.m.); August 1: Chelsea vs. Tottenham (Sydney, 10.45 a.m.); August 5: Chelsea vs. Juventus (Hong Kong, 12.30 p.m.); August 8: Chelsea vs. AC Milan (Jakarta, 1 p.m.); and August 9: Johor Darul Ta'zim vs. Chelsea (Johor, 1 p.m.).

Liverpool, after a challenging previous season, heads to the United States for their preseason tour. They have an exciting clash against Wrexham in New York on July 30, followed by matches against Sunderland in Nashville and Leeds in Chicago, before concluding their preseason at Anfield. Liverpool's preseason fixtures include: July 25: Liverpool vs. Sunderland (Nashville, 11 p.m.); July 30: Liverpool vs. Wrexham (New York, 12.30 a.m.); August 2: Liverpool vs. Leeds (Chicago, 9 p.m.); August 9: Liverpool vs. Monaco (Anfield, 2.30 p.m.); and August 16: Liverpool vs. Como (Anfield, 6 p.m.).

Manchester City will begin their preparations with three eye-catching matches in Asia. They will play Italian champions Inter on August 1 in Hong Kong, followed by matches against K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid in Seoul. Their preseason culminates in the Community Shield. Manchester City's preseason fixtures are: August 1: Man City vs. Inter Milan (Hong Kong, 12.30 p.m.); August 5: K-League All Stars vs. Man City (Seoul, 12 p.m.); August 9: Man City vs. Atletico Madrid (Seoul, 12 p.m.); and August 16: Community Shield – Arsenal vs. Man City (Cardiff, 3 p.m.).

Manchester United's preseason has already commenced with a 1-0 loss to Wrexham in Helsinki. The team has several significant preseason clashes ahead, facing Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, Leeds in Dublin, and AC Milan in Wroclaw during August. Manchester United's preseason fixtures are: July 18: Man United 0-1 Wrexham (Helsinki); July 24: Man United vs. Rosenborg (Trondheim, 5 p.m.); August 1: Man United vs. Atletico Madrid (Stockholm, 2 p.m.); August 8: Man United vs. PSG (Gothenburg, 4 p.m.); August 12: Man United vs. Leeds (Dublin, 7.30 p.m.); and August 15: Man United vs. AC Milan (Wroclaw, 3.45 p.m.).

Newcastle United technically began their preseason with a 3-0 win over Darlington behind closed doors. They will face local side Gateshead on July 25. Newcastle has opted for minimal travel, with two away matches against Valencia at Estadio Mestalla and an intriguing matchup with Everton at Scotland's national rugby stadium, Murrayfield. Newcastle's preseason fixtures include: July 18: Newcastle 3-0 Darlington (Newcastle training ground - behind closed doors); July 25: Gateshead vs. Newcastle (Gateshead International Stadium, 12.30 p.m.); July 29: Bristol City vs. Newcastle (Ashton Gate, 7.30 p.m.); August 8: Valencia vs. Newcastle (Mestalla, 8 p.m.); August 12: Everton vs. Newcastle (Murrayfield, 5.15 p.m.); August 15: Newcastle vs. Bayer Leverkusen (St James' Park, 3 p.m.); and August 16: Newcastle vs. Strasbourg (St James' Park, 4 p.m.).

Tottenham Hotspur, having avoided relegation last season, is preparing for their Premier League campaign by traveling down under this summer. They will face Chelsea in Sydney on August 1, and Hoffenheim at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 15. Tottenham's preseason fixtures include: July 22: Tottenham vs. MK Dons (Spurs training ground - behind closed doors, 4 p.m.); July 26: Tottenham vs. Auckland FC (Auckland, 4.30 a.m.); July 29: Tottenham vs. Sydney FC (Sydney, 10.45 a.m.); August 1: Tottenham vs. Chelsea (Sydney, 10.45 a.m.); August 8: Tottenham vs. Getafe (Spurs training ground - behind closed doors, 3 p.m.); August 15: Tottenham vs. Hoffenheim (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 3 p.m.); and August 16: Tottenham vs. Hoffenheim (Spurs training ground - behind closed doors).

Beyond the Premier League, several European giants are also active. LaLiga champions Barcelona have an intriguing preseason, traveling to St Andrew's to face Birmingham City on July 31. They will then play two 45-minute matches back-to-back against Nottingham Forest and Udinese at Stadio Friuli on August 8. Real Madrid's preseason includes fixtures against Leganes, Fiorentina, and Deportivo La Coruna. Bayern Munich heads to Asia, with a headline fixture against Aston Villa, before hosting RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena to conclude their preseason. Paris Saint-Germain has a light summer schedule with just two preseason matches, starting in Mallorca, followed by a game against Manchester United in Sweden, ahead of the Super Cup against Aston Villa in Salzburg.