June 23 – A new-look Manchester City will begin their new era in Asia, adding two fixtures in South Korea to their 2026 pre-season tour.
The English Premier League side – now without Pep Guardiola at the helm for the first time in a decade – will face the K-League All Stars at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 5 before renewing acquaintances with Atlético Madrid four days later in a rematch of the clubs’ sold-out meeting in the South Korean capital in 2023.
The games form part of the 2026 Coupang Play Series, South Korea’s flagship summer football event, and complete City’s three-match tour of Asia after the club previously confirmed an August 1 clash with Inter Milan in Hong Kong.
The return to South Korea reflects the success of the club’s last visit three years ago, when thousands of supporters attended training sessions and a capacity crowd watched Diego Simeone’s Atlético side edge Guardiola’s team in Seoul.
Last summer they were stuck competing in the Club World Cup in the United States, where they were knocked out by Al Hilal in the round of 16. This time around, the club have the freedom to pick where to begin what will be a curious season.
The tour is presented by Experience Abu Dhabi, another reminder of the interconnected commercial ecosystem surrounding City Football Group and its growing international portfolio of partners.
The country’s football culture and strong digital engagement have helped it become a major player in pre-season activities.
Peter Laundy, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at City Football Group, said: “We are delighted to confirm the final fixtures of Manchester City men’s preseason tour and we’re incredibly excited to be returning to Seoul – this time for two fixtures.
“We received such an exceptional welcome when we visited in 2023, with a sell-out crowd for our fixture against Atletico Madrid and thousands of fans attending our open training while we were in the city. We’re looking forward to an exciting rematch, connecting with our fans in Korea and spending more time in the country this year.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]