Schedule of soccer friendlies in US this summer

One of the highlights of the annual soccer calendar is looking to see which international and club soccer teams are heading to the United States to play exhibition matches on US soil every summer. If you’re looking for the schedule of soccer friendlies in the US, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll be updating the following soccer friendlies schedule as soon as the details break, so go ahead and bookmark the page and keep on returning to find out all of the details you need.

Upcoming friendly matches

Which teams are coming to your state? Browse the schedule of upcoming preseason soccer games in the USA below. Plus, we’ve included links so you can find tickets. There is nothing like seeing your favorite stars up close and in person.

All times Eastern United States

2023 Summer Friendly Games

Wednesday, June 5

DC United vs Necaxa; 7:30PM: Find Tickets

Saturday, June 15

Mexico vs Cameroon; in San Diego, CA; 7PM: Find Tickets

Saturday, July 15

San Antonio vs Sunderland; 9PM: Find Tickets

Wednesday, July 19

MLS All-Star Team vs Arsenal, in Washington DC; time TBD Find Tickets
Chelsea vs Wrexham AFC, in Chapel Hill, NC; 7PM Find Tickets
New Mexico United vs Sunderland; 9PM: Find Tickets

Friday, July 21

North Carolina FC vs Sunderland; 7PM: Find Tickets

Saturday, July 22

Manchester United vs Arsenal, in E. Rutherford, NJ; 5PM: Find Tickets
Chelsea vs Brighton, in Philadelphia, PA; 7PM: Find Tickets
LA Galaxy II vs Wrexham, in Carson, CA; 4:30PM: Find Tickets
Barcelona vs Juventus, in Santa Clara, CA; TBD: Find Tickets

Sunday, July 23

Fulham vs Brentford, in Philadelphia, PA; 4PM: Find Tickets
Newcastle vs Aston Villa, in Philadelphia, PA; 7PM: Find Tickets
Real Madrid vs AC Milan, in Pasadena, CA; TBD: Find Tickets

Tuesday, July 25

Man Utd academy vs Wrexham AFC, in San Diego, CA; 4:30PM Find Tickets

Wednesday, July 26

Brentford vs Brighton, in Atlanta, GA; 5:30PM: Find Tickets
Fulham vs Aston Villa, in Orlando, FL; 7PM: Find Tickets
Crystal Palace vs Millonarios, in Chicago, IL; 8PM: Coming soon
Chelsea vs Newcastle, in Atlanta, GA; 8:15PM: Find Tickets
Real Madrid vs Man United, in Houston, TX; TBD: Find Tickets
Arsenal vs Barcelona, in Inglewood, CA; TBD: Find Tickets

Thursday, July 27

Juventus vs AC Milan, in Carson, CA; TBD: Find Tickets

Friday, July 28

Brighton vs Newcastle, in Harrison, NJ; 7:30PM: Find Tickets

Saturday, July 29

Real Madrid vs Barcelona, in Arlington, TX; TBD: Find Tickets

Sunday, July 30

Aston Villa vs Brentford, in Landover, MD; 12PM: Find Tickets
Chelsea vs Fulham, in Landover, MD; 2:45PM: Find Tickets
Crystal Palace vs Sevilla, in Detroit, MI; 7PM: Find Tickets
Manchester United vs Dortmund, in Las Vegas, NV; 8PM: Find Tickets

Tuesday, August 1

AC Milan vs Barcelona, in Las Vegas, NV; TBD: Find Tickets

Wednesday, August 2

Chelsea vs Dortmund, in Chicago, IL; 8:30PM: Find Tickets
Juventus vs Real Madrid, in Orlando, FL; TBD: Find Tickets

Saturday, August 5

Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla, in San Francisco, CA; 4PM: Find Tickets
Real Sociedad vs Real Betis, in San Francisco, CA: 7PM: Find Tickets

Note: World Soccer Talk readers can get $20 off your first ticket purchase with Vivid Seats when you use promo code SOCCER20

How can I watch these soccer friendlies if I can’t attend in person?

If tickets are not your aim, many of these friendlies are still available via streaming or even on TV. For example, in the past, MLS All-Star Games aired on ESPN or FOX. Now that Apple has the MLS streaming rights, the MLS All-Star Game is available via MLS Season Pass. Other games, including the Wrexham game against Chelsea, are available via TV. That game in particular could air on any of the ESPN channels given Wrexham’s ties to Disney.

The full streaming schedule for the list of summer friendlies will be available on the full schedule of soccer games as those dates near.

How do these friendlies differ from other soccer matches in terms of rules and gameplay?

The main thing is that there is nothing of note on the line. For some, there are bragging rights. American-centric soccer fans would like to see the best of MLS compete against one of England’s top sides. Likewise, if there is ever a derby, there can be some international bragging rights, like Barcelona over Real Madrid based on USA friendlies.

Therefore, the gameplay is tamer than what some fans may be used to. Players are not diving into challenges or putting their bodies on the line as much as they would in a league or cup game during the proper season.

In terms of rules, there are some changes as well. One of the main ones is the lack of a limit on substitutions. Teams, particularly those out of Europe, want to interchange players to give everyone a chance to get some preseason action in. Also, games may not end in draws. The MLS All-Star Game, for instance, will go to penalties if the game is tied. Other friendlies would settle with a draw, it truly depends on the competition.

2022 Summer Friendly Results

Saturday, May 28

Mexico 2-1 Nigeria, in Arlington, TX

Wednesday, June 1

USA 3-0 Morocco, in Cincinnati, OH

Thursday, June 2

Ecuador 1-0 Nigeria, in Harrison, NJ

Mexico 0-3 Uruguay, in Glendale, AZ

Sunday, June 5

USA 0-0 Uruguay, in Kansas City, MO

Mexico 0-0 Ecuador, in Chicago, IL

Saturday, June 11

Ecuador 1-0 Cape Verde, in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Minnesota United 4-3 Paderborn, in Minneapolis, MN

Tuesday, June 14

Atlanta United 3-2 Pachuca, in Atlanta, GA

Wednesday, June 15

Chivas 3-1 Santos Laguna, in Sandy, UT

Saturday, June 18

Chivas 1-0 Club Atlas, in Bridgeview, IL

Team Ronaldinho 10-12 Team Roberto Carlos, in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Monterrey 0-1 Santos Laguna, in Houston, TX

Sunday, June 19

Club América 1-3 Pumas, in Bridgeview, IL

Wednesday, June 22

Club América 5-2 Club Leon, in San Jose, CA

Saturday, July 2

Millonarios Futbol Club 2-1 America De Cali, in Daytona Beach, FL

Saturday, July 16

Chelsea 2-1 Club América, in Las Vegas, NV

Arsenal 2-0 Everton, in Baltimore, MD

Tuesday, July 19

Inter Miami 0-6 FC Barcelona, in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Wednesday, July 20

Orlando City 1-3 Arsenal, in Orlando, FL

Charlotte FC 1-1 (5-3 PKs) Chelsea, in Charlotte, NC

DC United 2-6 Bayern Munich, in Washington DC

Club América 1-2 Manchester City, in Houston, TX

Minnesota United 4-0 Everton, in St. Paul, MN

Friday, July 22

Juventus 2-0 Chivas, in Las Vegas, NV

Saturday, July 23

Chelsea 0-4 Arsenal, in Orlando, FL

Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona, in Las Vegas, NV

Manchester City 1-0 Bayern Munich, in Green Bay, WI

Tuesday, July 26

Real Madrid 2-2 Club America, in San Francisco, CA

Barcelona 2-2 Juventus, in Dallas, TX

Saturday, July 30

New York Red Bulls 0-2 FC Barcelona, in Harrison NJ

Real Madrid 2-0 Juventus, in Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, August 3

LA Galaxy 2-0 Chivas, in Inglewood, CA

LAFC 0-0 (5-6 on penalties) Club América, in Inglewood, CA

Wednesday, August 10

MLS all-star team 2-1 Liga MX all-star team, in St. Paul, MN

Sunday, August 14

AC Milan Women 3-1 Tokyo Verdy Beleza, in Louisville, KY

Spurs Women 1-2 Club America Women, in Louisville, KY

Wednesday, August 17

Chelsea Women 2-2 (4-3 on penalties) Olympique Lyon Women, in Portland, OR

Portland Thorns 1-1 (2-3) Monterrey Women, in Portland, OR

Tokyo Verdy Beleza 2-1 Spurs Women, in Louisville, KY

Racing Louisville 2-0 AC Milan Women, in Louisville, KY

OL Reign 2-1 Club America Women, in Louisville, KY

Saturday, August 20

Portland Thorns 0-1 Chelsea Women, in Portland, OR

Lyon Women 4-0 Monterrey Women, in Portland, OR

AC Milan 4-5 Club America Women, in Louisville, KY

Racing Louisville 1-2 OL Reign, in Louisville, KY

Wednesday, August 31

Mexico 0-1 Paraguay, in Atlanta, GA

Monday, September 5

Angel City FC 0-2 Mexico WNT, in Los Angeles, CA

Demand is high for summer tickets

Anticipation is building for the 2023 summer exhibition games. Clubs from across the globe, big and small, are planning tours of the US. Teams like Manchester United and newfound TV documentary stars Wrexham AFC will be making their way Stateside.

Other ways to watch

Can’t make it to live preseason games in the USA this year, or out of your budget? You can still watch many of the soccer friendlies on TV or online. For instance, the schedule of upcoming games are always updated on our website. Many of the games may be available across streaming, too, including fuboTV.

Why do teams play friendlies?

Friendlies serve two purposes for teams. First, they’re an ideal way to gain match fitness before a new season begins. For instance, European soccer seasons usually begin in August. Therefore, the games give coaches and managers an opportunity to play new star signings, as well as trying different formations. Second, the games generate more revenue for the teams and increase the size of the teams’ fan bases.

Historically, major soccer teams have been visiting the United States to play games for decades. For instance, Everton first played friendlies in the United States in 1956. Similarly, the first record of English teams playing in the United States was from 1905.

Nowadays, the summer soccer friendlies are an annual tradition in the United States.

Who plays in soccer friendlies?

Soccer friendlies provide a great opportunity for US fans to see their favorite international stars, sometimes in their own cities. Soccer friendlies also provide the chance for newer players to gain more experience.

For this reason, it’s up to each team’s manager (or coach) to decide who plays in the games. Some coaches prefer to give their youth stars an opportunity to get valuable playing time. Other managers like to build the team’s chemistry by playing the stars who will start the upcoming European season.

Do friendlies count?

Friendlies, also known as exhibition games, do not count for points. In spite of this, promoters sometimes entice clubs with a cup if they win their series of friendlies. For example, Relevent Sports launched the International Champions Cup as a way to make the friendlies more meaningful. Having said that, clubs rarely put much emphasis on winning these friendly competitions. At the end of the day, football teams play friendlies because the games grow fanbases and get teams ready for the new season. Preseason ranked games do not count for points.

You may wonder, what is a friendly in soccer? When soccer clubs first originated in the 1800s, there were no leagues or competitions. So, teams would play against each other in a friendly game. It wasn’t until 1888 when the Football League was created that teams faced each other in competitive games.

If you have questions about the schedule of soccer friendlies in the United States, let us know in the comments section below.

Photo: Getty Images