City begin the 2026/27 season with silverware on the line when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon.
It will be a particularly significant occasion for City, with Enzo Maresca taking charge of his first competitive match since replacing Pep Guardiola as head coach.
The FA Cup winners face the newly crowned Premier League champions at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with the traditional season curtain-raiser being staged away from Wembley for the first time since 2006.
Arsenal vs Man City match details
| Arsenal | Manchester City | |
|---|---|---|
| Competition | FA Community Shield | FA Community Shield |
| Date | Sunday, August 16, 2026 | Sunday, August 16, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 3pm BST | 3pm BST |
| Venue | Principality Stadium, Cardiff | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| Referee | Sam Barrott | Sam Barrott |
The match kicks off at 3pm BST on Sunday, August 16.
It will be played at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff rather than Wembley because the national stadium is unavailable due to pre-planned concerts. The Cardiff venue previously hosted the Community Shield between 2001 and 2006.
Sam Barrott has been appointed referee, with VAR also in operation.
How to watch Arsenal vs Man City
City supporters in the UK have several options for watching the Community Shield.
| How to watch | Details |
| TV | TNT Sports 1 |
| TV | TNT Sports Ultimate |
| Streaming | HBO Max |
| Streaming | NOW TV |
| Streaming | Prime Video |
| Kick-off | 3pm BST |
| Live coverage | mancity.com and official Man City app |
The FA has confirmed TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max as the principal UK broadcasters, while Manchester City’s own TV listings also include TNT Sports Ultimate, NOW TV and Prime Video.
For supporters unable to watch the game, City will provide live text, audio and statistics through its website and official app.
City team news
City have received a significant boost ahead of the game, with a number of their World Cup players now back in training.
Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Marc Guehi and Rayan Cherki have all returned to work with Maresca’s squad following their post-World Cup breaks.
The big question is how many of those players will be considered ready to start.
Haaland is back with the squad and could feature, although his limited preparation means Maresca may be cautious with his minutes.
Anderson is another player attracting plenty of attention. The £116m summer signing from Nottingham Forest has already spoken about his desire to make an immediate impact and is expected to make his City debut against Arsenal.
There is less positive news regarding Rodri.
The midfielder remains unavailable after undergoing minor back surgery following Spain’s World Cup campaign. His absence is particularly notable given the continuing uncertainty over his future amid interest from Barcelona.
Jack Grealish is also unavailable after his foot problem and has yet to train under Maresca.
There is also a late question mark over Savinho, who missed training on Thursday because of illness. His availability will therefore need to be monitored.
City unavailable/doubts
| Player | Status |
| Rodri | Out – back surgery |
| Jack Grealish | Out – foot injury |
| Savinho | Doubt – illness |
| Erling Haaland | Available, but limited preparation |
| Elliot Anderson | Available |
| Jeremy Doku | Available |
| Nico O’Reilly | Available |
| Marc Guehi | Available |
| Rayan Cherki | Available |
City have no suspended players for the Community Shield.
Arsenal team news
Arsenal also have some big-name absentees.
William Saliba is unavailable after aggravating a back problem during the World Cup. Arsenal have indicated that the defender faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
Jurrien Timber is also out. The Dutch defender is still recovering from a groin problem and remains several weeks away from a return.
Arsenal have also had to manage the fitness of several players returning late from international duty, meaning Mikel Arteta faces some difficult decisions over how strongly to field his Premier League champions.
The Gunners drew 1-1 with Como in their final pre-season fixture on Wednesday, although they won the subsequent penalty shootout.
Arsenal vs Man City preview
There is a slightly different feel to this Community Shield.
For Arsenal, it is the chance to begin their reign as Premier League champions with another trophy. For City, it is the first opportunity to see whether Maresca’s ideas can translate into wins.
The result will not define either side’s season, but neither manager will want to lose.
City have already had an encouraging pre-season under their new head coach, finishing with a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid. More importantly, Maresca has been able to introduce a number of new players into his squad while giving opportunities to some of the club’s younger players.
The Community Shield will provide the first proper indication of what his strongest side might look like.
The midfield is particularly intriguing.
With Rodri unavailable, Anderson could be handed his competitive debut in a role that would allow City to see how the England international fits into Maresca’s system. Mateo Kovacic and Nico O’Reilly are other options, while City continue to reshape the position in the transfer market.
At the other end, the only question is whether Haaland starts.
The Norwegian has had less preparation than some of his teammates following the World Cup, but his presence would immediately give City a different dimension.
There is also the psychological element.
Sunday’s match is ultimately about much more than the Community Shield itself.
For Arsenal, it is the first chance to underline their status as champions.
For City, it is the beginning of the Maresca era.
And with the Premier League season only a week away, both clubs will be keen to make an early statement.
