Arsenal and Manchester City Set for Community Shield Battle in Cardiff
Arsenal and Manchester City will meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday as the two English heavyweights compete for the 2026 FA Community Shield and prepare for the new Premier League campaign.
Arsenal enter the fixture as reigning Premier League champions after ending a 22-year wait for the league title last season. Manchester City, meanwhile, qualified as FA Cup winners and begin a new era under manager Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure.
Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in Community Shield history, having lifted the trophy 17 times. Their most recent success came in 2023, when they defeated Manchester City 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
Manchester City have won the Community Shield seven times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2024. City defeated Manchester United on penalties after a 1-1 draw to claim the trophy.
The match also gives Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta an opportunity to begin the new campaign with silverware.
Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are available after returning to training following their extended break.
Arsenal have strengthened their squad during the summer with the arrivals of Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, while the club continues to build on the squad that delivered its first Premier League title in more than two decades.
For Manchester City, the contest represents the first major competitive test of the Maresca era. The former Chelsea manager has inherited a side undergoing significant changes, making the Community Shield an early opportunity to assess City’s direction under their new coach.
The two sides last met in the Premier League in April, when Manchester City claimed a 2-1 victory. That result adds another layer to Sunday’s meeting, with Arsenal looking to respond against one of their biggest domestic rivals.
The Community Shield is being staged at the Principality Stadium rather than Wembley this year. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 GMT (17:00 Namibia time).
The fixture comes before the 2026/27 Premier League season officially begins on August 21, meaning neither side has a league position yet. Arsenal will begin their title defence against Coventry City.
