The World Cup might be wrapped up, but trust me, the football grind never, ever stops. Premier League clubs are already back in training, with some teams hitting friendly action even before Spain officially beat Argentina to take home the world champion title. Get ready, because the top-flight season officially kicks off on August 21, and there’s a jam-packed pre-season schedule before then, with games literally spread across the globe. From Hong Kong to New York, and even York to Bristol, these teams are putting in the work.
Global Trotters: Who’s Clocking Serious Air Miles?
Some clubs are really racking up the frequent flyer miles trying to get their squads ready. Aston Villa, for example, started their pre-season way back on July 21 against Walsall at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium. They’re facing Real Sociedad back at Bescot on July 28. But then things get wild: August 1 sees them take on the Indonesia All-Stars at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta. Just three days later, August 4, they’re playing BG Pathum United at True BG Stadium in Pathum Thani. Then it’s a massive jump to Hong Kong to face Bayern Munich on August 7 at Kai Tak Stadium. Their final listed match is against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 15 in Monchengladbach. That’s a serious test of endurance!
Chelsea also has a massive travel log. On July 28, they battled the Western Sydney Wanderers at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Just days later, August 1, they faced Tottenham in Sydney again, another huge matchup across continents. They head to Hong Kong for August 5 to play Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium, followed by a trip to Jakarta to challenge AC Milan on August 8 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Their listed global tour wraps up on August 11 against Johor Darul Ta’zim at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor. These tours are no joke; it’s about getting ready for the intensity of the season.
Home Base and Heavy Hitters: Other Clubs Gearing Up
Not every club is flying quite so far, but they’re still facing tough opposition. Arsenal has a stacked schedule, kicking off with Girona on August 1 in Spain. Then it’s Real Betis in Dublin on August 5, followed by Borussia Dortmund on August 9 and Como on August 12, both at their home Emirates Stadium in London. Their pre-season culminates in the massive Community Shield clash against Manchester City on August 16 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. That’s a huge test before the season even starts!
Everton got an early start, smashing Dundee 4-0 on July 18. They’re still busy, playing Bolton on July 25 and Stoke City on July 28, then heading to Germany for Hamburg on August 1 and Stuttgart on August 8. Their last listed game is a big one against Newcastle on August 12 in Edinburgh. Bournemouth started with games in Austria against St. Pauli and Augsburg, then a behind-closed-doors match against Genoa, before facing Real Betis on August 8 in Seville. Brighton also had some closed-doors matches before taking on Roma on August 8 and Bologna on August 15, both at their home Amex Stadium. Even Coventry City played an early 0-0 draw against Northampton on July 18, showing every result matters as they build momentum.
The clock is ticking down to August 21, when the Premier League action begins for real. Every pass, every tackle, every friendly match from these clubs right now is about sharpening up and hitting the ground running for what promises to be an epic season. Keep an eye on those remaining fixtures; you want to see who’s looking sharp and who still needs to find that extra gear!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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