​Liverpool have finalised the venue for the opening match of Andoni Iraola’s era, choosing a setting that embodies modernity, high energy and the kind of spectacle the club wants to project as it begins a new chapter. On Saturday, July 25, Liverpool will kick off their summer schedule against Sunderland at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, with a 11pm BST start time, which is 5pm local time.
This marks the start of a new cycle. Iraola has only recently taken charge after Liverpool’s disastrous 2025-26 campaign, which culminated in Arne Slot’s departure, and the forthcoming pre-season carries more weight than usual. A fresh coaching regime, a raft of new signings and a squad that desperately needs direction make this more than a routine fitness exercise. It will be the first public indicator of how Liverpool intend to reset under Iraola and what the new approach will look like on the field.
GEODIS Park is not a temporary or makeshift venue. Opened in May 2022 at a reported cost of $335 million, the stadium is located in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston district on the site of The Fairgrounds Nashville. It serves as the home of Nashville SC and has a capacity of just over 30,000, making it the largest purpose-built football stadium in the United States and Canada. The significance, however, lies not only in the numbers but in the design. The seating arrangement places the final row a mere 150 feet from the pitch, ensuring fans remain close to the action. For a pre-season fixture, where atmosphere can sometimes feel manufactured, such proximity should amplify the intensity. There is even a safe-standing section, a feature many Liverpool supporters heading to Tennessee will appreciate.
The match against Sunderland is the first in a schedule of five friendlies ahead of the new season. It will offer the first competitive-style glimpse of Iraola’s Liverpool, even though the result will count for little. What matters is the structure, the tempo, and whether the team resembles a group with a coherent idea and strategy. Fans have waited for clarity after a season that drifted without purpose, as the defence of the Premier League title never properly got going. Therefore, this tour is crucial: it must demonstrate competence swiftly. While no one should draw definitive conclusions from July friendlies, first impressions matter when a club is attempting to restore credibility.
GEODIS Park is a proven host for major events, having welcomed three matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with Boca Juniors, Al Hilal and LAFC among the participants. It has also been selected to stage nine games during the 2028 Olympic football tournament. For supporters traveling to Tennessee, tickets are available via Ticketmaster, and the stadium is accessible through Nashville’s WeGo public transport system, with Route 8 providing a direct matchday option. A day pass costs $4.
As the club notes, the logistics are now clear. The bigger point remains straightforward: Liverpool’s pre-season voyage begins in a proper footballing venue, against familiar opposition, with a new manager under immediate scrutiny. Nashville may not be the headline event, but it is where the new story starts.