Arsenal face Manchester City in the 2026 Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with the first trophy of the English football season on the line. The match pits Premier League champions City against FA Cup holders Arsenal, and kick-off is set for 3pm UK time.
Confirmed team news and key absentees
Arsenal will be without key defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber for the match. However, manager Mikel Arteta could hand a debut to £75 million signing Bruno Guimaraes, who is available for selection.
Manchester City, under new manager Enzo Maresca, who replaces Pep Guardiola, have £116 million signing Elliot Anderson available. However, World Cup winning captain Rodri is not in the squad amid transfer interest from Barcelona.
How to watch and live coverage
The Community Shield will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming available through the HBO Max app. Metro’s live matchday blog provides all the build-up, confirmed team news, starting XIs, goal updates, and minute-by-minute coverage.
The season curtain raiser is traditionally held at Wembley, but this year it takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Match context and what's at stake
Arsenal are looking to secure their first trophy of the season under Mikel Arteta, while Manchester City aim to continue their dominance under new leadership. The match marks the start of the English football calendar, with both teams eager to set the tone for the campaign.
Fans can follow all the action as it happens on Metro's live blog, which will provide real-time updates and analysis.
