Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool are gearing up to face each other in the United States this summer as the most renowned teams in the Premier League embark on their pre-season tour in North America.
In July 2023, Manchester United and Arsenal clashed during the pre-season, with Erik Ten Hag’s squad securing a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in New Jersey. This summer, the teams are poised for a rematch on U.S. soil, although the specific host cities and dates for the upcoming games have yet to be disclosed.
Premier League Giants Set to Dominate U.S. Pre-season: Arsenal, Manchester United, and More in the Spotlight
Last summer’s match between United and Arsenal at MetLife Stadium was a sold-out affair, as reported by event organizer AEG. The ticket sales revenue from the game marked it as the highest-grossing club soccer event at the venue since its opening in 2010. Notably, both Manchester United and Arsenal, along with Liverpool, have a significant presence of U.S. investors, with the Kroenke family controlling Arsenal, the Glazer family overseeing Manchester United, and Fenway Sports Group managing Liverpool.
Arsenal engaged in a friendly match against Barcelona at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles last summer, a venue owned by the Kroenke family. Concurrently, Manchester United made plans for at least one pre-season game at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, as part of their agreement with Qualcomm, Snapdragon’s parent company, sponsoring the front of the club’s shirt in the upcoming seasons. United also participated in matches in Las Vegas and Houston during the previous summer.
Both Manchester United and Arsenal are scheduled to face Liverpool in the upcoming pre-season. Liverpool is undergoing preparations for their first pre-season without manager Jurgen Klopp, who recently announced his resignation from the club at the end of the current campaign.
Chelsea and the treble-winners, Manchester City, are also slated to visit the U.S. this summer, and discussions are underway for a potential friendly match between the two clubs.
It’s worth noting that last summer marked the inaugural Premier League Summer Series in the U.S., featuring Chelsea, Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle, Fulham, and Aston Villa in various games across Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey, and Maryland. However, this summer will not witness a repeat of this event in the U.S.
The absence of the Summer Series this year is attributed to several issues, one of which involves an ongoing dispute within the Premier League. The league wishes to package a collective broadcast deal for showcasing the fixtures. Still, some clubs derive substantial revenue by selling subscriptions to watch pre-season games on their platforms, believing they can secure more lucrative match fees by independently organizing games through deals with promoters.
Premier League Clubs Eye Long-Term Growth: U.S. Pre-season Tours as a Strategic Move
The Premier League contends that there is a long-term advantage in providing opportunities for some clubs, particularly those newer to the American market, to showcase their talents stateside. This exposure has the potential to elevate the international value of the competition. The league claims to have exceeded internal targets for last summer’s series, with over 260,000 soccer fans attending the events in the U.S.
Last summer, the Premier League also broadcasted the fixtures on NBC in the U.S. However, this summer’s calendar is already occupied with coverage of Copa America and the Olympic Games.
In exploring options for the future, the Premier League has considered alternating the series between the U.S. and Asia, a possibility that might materialize this summer. However, it is anticipated to be a smaller tournament compared to last season’s six-team edition. Tottenham Hotspur is likely to be a prominent club touring Asia if the series takes place there. Nevertheless, Spurs have communicated to the Premier League that they won’t be participating in a summer series, even if it is held in Asia.
Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all set to make a return to the U.S. for a second consecutive summer, continuing their efforts to expand their presence in the American soccer market. In contrast, Liverpool opted for pre-season activities in Singapore last summer, and Manchester City traveled to Japan and South Korea.
The decision of the Premier League’s most established clubs to focus on the U.S. this summer is strategic. They have assessed that the summers of 2025 and 2026 are likely to be congested in the American soccer landscape. This congestion is attributed to the launch of the FIFA Club World Cup on the east coast of America in 2025, followed by the U.S., along with Mexico and Canada, hosting the men’s World Cup in 2026. Consequently, this summer is deemed a crucial opportunity for these clubs to secure significant match appearance fees and tap into the growing appetite for Premier League football in the U.S.
For the clubs, the U.S. tour is not just about the matches but also serves as a means to connect with emerging fanbases in a key market. Arsenal, for instance, boasts more U.S. supporters clubs than there are U.S. states. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s approach last summer included engaging with over 4,000 supporters in club-affiliated events.
These events featured question-and-answer sessions with club legends, activations with local charities, open training sessions, pool parties, and soccer schools, showcasing a multifaceted strategy to strengthen the club’s ties with its American fanbase.
