The first silverware of the season is up for grabs. Well, kind of.
The 2026 FA Community Shield is set to provide the traditional curtain-raiser to the new English football season, with Premier League champions Arsenal taking on FA Cup winners Manchester City.
The fixture will be a repeat of the 2023 Community Shield, when Arsenal defeated Manchester City on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
This year’s contest will have a different backdrop, however, with the Community Shield heading to Cardiff for the first time since 2006.
When is the Community Shield 2026?
The 2026 FA Community Shield will take place on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Who is playing in the Community Shield?
Arsenal will face Manchester City in the 2026 Community Shield.
Arsenal qualified as 2025/26 Premier League champions, while Manchester City earned their place after winning the 2026 FA Cup.
It promises to be an intriguing encounter between two of English football’s biggest clubs, with both sides entering the new season under slightly different circumstances.
Arsenal will be looking to start their title defence with silverware, while Manchester City will be beginning a new era under head coach Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Where is the Community Shield being played?
The match will be played at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The 74,500-capacity stadium has hosted the Community Shield on six previous occasions, between 2001 and 2006, while Wembley is unavailable for this year’s fixture.
The move also means the Community Shield will be played outside England for the first time in 20 years.
What TV channel is showing the Community Shield?
The 2026 Community Shield will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming available on HBO Max.
Kick-off is at 15:00 on Sunday, August 16.
Arsenal v Manchester City odds
There is nothing to split Arsenal and Manchester City in the betting ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield.
It’s currently 31/20 your pick, with the draw priced 51/20.
Odds can move ahead of kick-off depending on team news, injuries and betting activity, so check the latest prices with BAR 1 Betting before placing a bet.
Arsenal v Man City: Head-to-head
Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Premier League in April 2026, having also defeated them 2-0 in the Carabao Cup earlier in the year.
Arsenal’s most recent victory over City came in February 2025, when they recorded a memorable 5-1 Premier League win at Emirates Stadium.
The two sides also played out draws in September 2025 and September 2024.
That remains Arsenal’s only win in the last six meetings.
Who won the last Community Shield?
Crystal Palace won the 2025 Community Shield after defeating Liverpool on penalties following a 2-2 draw at Wembley.
Manchester City were the winners in 2024, beating Manchester United on penalties after another 1-1 draw.
Arsenal last won the Community Shield in 2023, when they also defeated Manchester City on penalties.
In fact, six of the last nine Community Shields have been decided by a penalty shootout.
It’s 21/4 for Arsenal to win on penalties this Sunday. Manchester City are also 21/4 to prevail via spotkicks.
The latest markets for Arsenal v Manchester City can be found here.
