Khaberni - Arsenal and Manchester City are inaugurating the new football season with a robust matchup for the English Community Shield title, happening tomorrow Sunday at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, Cardiff.
The match gathers Arsenal, last season's Premier League champions, and Manchester City, the FA Cup winners, in a confrontation that represents the first game of the new season.
Match Date: Arsenal vs Manchester City
The match between Arsenal and Manchester City will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The kick-off is at 17:00 Mecca and Doha time, 15:00 Tunis, Algeria, and Morocco time.
The match will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which will host the Community Shield for the first time since 2006, as it was not possible to hold the match at Wembley due to its engagement with other events.
Broadcasting Channels
BeIN Sports 1
Arsenal Aiming for a Perfect Start
Arsenal enters the match as the Premier League champions, and Spanish coach Mikel Arteta aims to give his team a strong boost before the league competitions begin.
Arsenal has good memories with the Community Shield, having defeated Manchester City in the 2023 edition on penalties after the match ended in a goalless draw.
The team has also shown good readiness for penalty shootouts during the preparation period, having decided matches against Borussia Dortmund and Como by penalties.
Marisca Faces His First Official Test with City
Conversely, Italian Enzo Marisca leads his first official match heading Manchester City's technical staff, succeeding Spanish Pep Guardiola.
City achieved good results during the preparation period, having defeated a team from the Korean league and Atlético Madrid by the same score (3-1), while drawing with Inter Milan before losing on penalties.
Manchester City hopes to reclaim the Community Shield title, which it last won in 2024.
Absences and Expected Lineup
Arsenal suffers from some defensive absences, most notably Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, while the participation of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Martín Zubimendi is doubtful from the start after not playing in the preparation matches.
The newcomer Bruno Guimarães is expected to get a chance to start, while David Raya is likely to start as a goalkeeper.
On the other hand, Manchester City is expected to have Norwegian star Erling Haaland start on the bench due to his incomplete physical readiness, while Rodri is absent after undergoing back surgery.
Matteo Kovacic and Nico González are likely to be used in midfield, with the possibility of Omar Marmoush starting.
What Happens if the Match Ends in a Draw?
The match will not extend to extra time if the regular time ends in a draw; instead, the teams will directly proceed to penalties to determine the winner of the Community Shield.
These circumstances indicate a closely contested match, especially since Arsenal has been accustomed to successfully taking penalties during the preparation period.
