The best pre-season friendlies to watch - summer 2023

Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are all involved in some very interesting pre-season friendlies this summer.
Spain's two behemoths will lock horns in pre-season
Spain's two behemoths will lock horns in pre-season / Anadolu Agency/GettyImages
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2022/23 is officially in the books, and our eyes are already wandering to 2023/24.

The opening of the 2023 summer transfer window has consumed our ever-shortening attention spans, but there are only so many rumours one can take in before insanity starts to creep in.

The conclusion of the international break means there's little to enjoy on the pitch for a while, but pre-season plans are already in the books and there's no doubt that the start of non-competitive action will roll around sharply this summer.

Once again, there are several high-profile pre-season fixtures to enjoy. Here's information regarding eight of the most exciting.


Arsenal vs Man Utd

Leandro Trossard
Arsenal take on United in New York / James Williamson - AMA/GettyImages

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

22 July

22:00 BST / 17:00 ET

MetLife Stadium, New York

arsenal.com, MUTV

Arsenal have a busy pre-season in store as they head back to the States for the second consecutive summer following their successful 2022 tour.

The Gunners are set to play three games along both the East and West Coast, including this bout against domestic rivals Man Utd. This will be the first time these two clubs meet in the US.


Arsenal vs Barcelona

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

26 July

TBC

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

arsenal.com

Arsenal's US tour concludes with a friendly against Barcelona on the opposite side of the country. After facing the MLS All-Stars and United on the East Coast, they then venture off west to take on the Catalans in LA.

SoFi Stadium, home to Stan Kroenke's LA Rams, will play host to this fixture.


Bayern Munich vs Man City

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

26 July

TBC

Japan National Stadium, Tokyo

CITY+

Bayern Munich are determined to re-assert themselves at the summit of European football, and Man City are the side they must usurp.

The treble-winners are venturing off to the Far East this summer and they'll take on the German behemoths, who they beat on their way to Champions League glory last sesaon, in Tokyo.


Chelsea vs Newcastle

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

26 July

01:15 BST / 20:15 ET

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

NUFC TV, The 5th Stand

The first-ever Premier League Summer Series takes place in the US with six clubs competing for a bit of pre-season silverware.

The standout contest in the competition is, arguably, Chelsea's clash against Newcastle in Atlanta. Blues supporters will be eager to see how Mauricio Pochettino fares in his first summer at the helm and the Magpies represent a tough test - even if it is only pre-season.


Man Utd vs Real Madrid

Soccer, 2014 Guinness International Champions Cup Match between Real Madrid and Manchester United
Man Utd faced off against Real Madrid in the highest ever attended match in the US nine years ago / Ira L. Black - Corbis/GettyImages

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

27 July

03:30 BST / 22:30 ET

NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

MUTV

Two of the world's most marketable clubs lock horns across the pond as Man Utd, five days after facing Arsenal, take on Real Madrid in Texas.

It's been a while since these last two sides met, with the previous non-competitive meeting at The Big House, Michigan drew an enormous crowd of 109,318 fans – still the largest ever audience for a football match played on US soil.


Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

29 July

TBC

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

TBC

There's no such thing as a non-competitive Clasico and Barcelona will face off against bitter rivals Real in Texas this summer a year after their Vegas friendly duel, which Barça won 1-0.

The two sides will be looking to set a very early marker heading into the 2023/24 La Liga season with Real desperate to regain their crown after La Blaugrana triumphed in 2022/23.


Inter vs PSG

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

1 August

TBC

Japan National Stadium, Tokyo

TBC

A new-look PSG are set to take to our screens next season with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos departing, while the futures of fellow superstars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are foggy.

Les Parisiens are touring the Far East this summer and will take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr before they face last season's Champions League runners-up, Inter, in Tokyo. I Nerazzurri, who are set to undergo a mini-rebuild of their own, ended 2022/23 as one of Europe's hottest outfits.


Bayern Munich vs Liverpool

Jürgen Klopp
A big season awaits Jurgen Klopp / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Date

Kick-off time

Location

How to watch

2 August

12:30 BST / 07:30 ET

The National Stadium, Singapore

LFCTV

After facing Man City in Tokyo, Bayern round off their tour of the Far East by facing Liverpool in Singapore.

Following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, 2023/24 is huge for Jurgen Klopp's side. The tone will be set this summer, and this friendly, which arrives just a couple of weeks before the Premier League season starts, will help show Klopp where his side are at heading into the new season.


The best pre-season friendlies to watch - summer 2023

Fixture

Date

Kick-off time

Arsenal vs Man Utd

22 July

22:00 BST / 17:00 ET

Arsenal vs Barcelona

26 July

TBC

Bayern Munich vs Man City

26 July

TBC

Chelsea vs Newcastle

26 July

01:15 BST / 20:15 ET

Man Utd vs Real Madrid

27 July

03:30 BST / 22:30 ET

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

29 July

TBC

Inter vs PSG

1 August

TBC

Bayern Munich vs Liverpool

2 August

12:30 BST / 07:30 ET