​The Lads will begin their 2026-27 pre-season on 18 July with a fixture against National League champions York City at the LNER Stadium. The clubs have clashed 14 times in total, dating back to a 0-0 FA Cup draw in January 1956. Their first league meeting came in 1974 in Division Two, when Sunderland triumphed 2-1 at Roker Park. Our most recent encounter with the Minstermen was a League Cup tie in 1998, which Sunderland won 2-1. York City clinched the National League title on the final day of the 2025-26 season with a 113th-minute equaliser against Rochdale. Both teams will be keen to start pre-season strongly and gain valuable minutes after the off-season, making York City’s line-up a point of interest from a Sunderland perspective. We should watch prolific target man Ollie Pearce, who struck 35 goals for York in 2025-26 and has 68 goals for the Minstermen over the past two seasons.
A week later, on 25 July, we head to the United States to face 2024-25 Premier League champions Liverpool at GEODIS Park in Nashville. Sunderland previously toured the USA for pre-season in 2023-24, playing New Mexico United, North Carolina and San Antonio. Andoni Iraola, in his first game in charge against Sunderland, will likely set up Liverpool quite differently from the side we faced in 2025-26, with new forward Victor Muñoz aiming to impress his new manager. Liverpool always presents a tough and intriguing test, whether in pre-season or in the league. They endured a mixed 2025-26, finishing fifth, and we were unlucky to leave Anfield without a point in December before the Reds edged a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light in February. Our first meeting with Liverpool took place in the First Division during the 1894-95 season after their promotion, and Sunderland completed the league double that year with 3-2 wins in both fixtures. Across 172 encounters, Sunderland have won 50, drawn 40 and lost 82.
We must start this match strongly. While it isn’t a competitive fixture, beating fellow Premier League opposition helps set the tone for the new season. Keep an eye on familiar stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike, with new signings Jérémy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz also worth watching.
Next up, in New Jersey on the final day of July, is a clash against Leeds United, a fixture known for its intensity whenever the two sides meet. The 2025-26 FA Cup semi-finalists have sold one of their standout players, Pascal Struijk, to Brighton & Hove Albion as part of ongoing squad changes.