Manchester City (England) and Atlético Madrid (Spain) are setting their sights on Korea, while Borussia Dortmund (Germany) is heading to Japan.
As European soccer powerhouses gear up for the 2026-27 season, they’re making Asia a key stop on their preseason tour. The goal? To connect with Asian fans, expand their market reach, and shake off the rust before competitive play begins.
Kicking things off, Manchester City will take part in the Hong Kong Football Festival Football Week, squaring off against Inter Milan on August 1 in Hong Kong. They’ll then jet to Seoul for an August 5 showdown with the K League All-Stars, dubbed Team K League, in the Coupang Play Series opener at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
This marks Man City’s return to Korean soil after a three-year hiatus, last visiting in 2023.
The action continues on August 9 when Atlético Madrid, now boasting Korean star Lee Kang-in, faces Manchester City in the Coupang Play Series’ second act at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
All eyes will be on Lee, as this match could mark his Atlético Madrid debut. The prospect of two European giants clashing in Korea has fans buzzing with excitement.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich (Germany) is set to make waves on August 4, taking on Jeju SK in a friendly at Jeju World Cup Stadium as part of the Audi Football Summit 2026.
This historic visit to Jeju is a first for the Bundesliga champs, who’ll be led by South Korean defensive ace Kim Min-jae.
Borussia Dortmund is Japan-bound for their 2026 BVB Evonik Japan Tour.
They’ll face off against Cerezo Osaka at Yanmar Stadium on July 29, before battling Football Club (FC) Tokyo at Tokyo Stadium on August 1.
Dortmund, which has cultivated a strong Japanese following since Shinji Kagawa’s stint with the club, has made Japan a regular tour stop since 2015.
Tottenham Hotspur, with Yang Min-hyeok in their first-team mix, is making waves Down Under with a tour of New Zealand and Australia. The Spurs are set to take on Sydney FC on July 29.
Chelsea will join the Aussie action, setting up a blockbuster EPL preview against Tottenham in Sydney on August 1.
The Hong Kong Football Festival Football Week isn’t done yet, with Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus also joining the fray.
August 1 will see Manchester City clash with Inter Milan, while Chelsea and Juventus will go head-to-head on August 5 in Hong Kong.
Fresh off their Europa League triumph, Aston Villa (England) is looking to make inroads in Southeast Asia. They’re slated to face the Indonesia Professional Football All-Stars in Jakarta on August 1, before taking on Pathum United (Thailand) in Pathum Thani on August 4.
