Sizing Up Sunderland’s 2026 Pre-Season Opposition

York City

The Lads will kick off their pre-season campaign ahead of the 2026-27 season on 18 July against National League champions York City at the LNER Stadium.

The two sides have faced each other a total of 14 times, with the first meeting resulting in a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup in January 1956. They first met in the league in 1974, in Division Two, with Sunderland recording a 2-1 victory at Roker Park.

We last faced the Minstermen in a League Cup fixture in 1998, with Sunderland again running out 2-1 winners.

York City won the National League title on the final day of the 2025-26 season via a 113th-minute equaliser against Rochdale. Both sides will be aiming to start pre-season strongly and get vital minutes into the legs after a long off-season, so it will be intriguing to see how York City line up from a Sunderland perspective.

We must watch out for prolific target man Ollie Pearce, who scored 35 goals for York in 2025-26 and has netted 68 times for the Minstermen over the last two years.

Liverpool

We then head Stateside one week later, on 25 July, to face 2024-25 Premier League champions Liverpool at GEODIS Park in Nashville. Sunderland previously toured the USA during pre-season in 2023-24, facing New Mexico United, North Carolina and San Antonio.

Former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will take charge of his first Liverpool match against Sunderland, meaning the Reds are likely to be set up very differently to the side we faced in 2025-26. New forward Victor Muñoz will also be looking to impress his new manager.

Liverpool will always provide a challenging and intriguing test, whether it’s pre-season or a league fixture.

Liverpool had a disappointing 2025-26 campaign for a variety of reasons and finished fifth. We were unlucky to leave Anfield without a point in December, before the Red Men secured a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light in February.

We first met Liverpool in the First Division during the 1894-95 season after they had earned promotion, with Sunderland going on to win their third league title. We completed the league double over the Merseyside club, winning both fixtures 3-2.

The two sides have met 172 times, with Sunderland winning 50, drawing 40 and losing 82.

We must start strongly in this match. Obviously it isn’t a competitive fixture, but you always want to beat fellow Premier League opposition to help set the tone ahead of the new season.

Keep an eye on the usual stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike, while new signings Jérémy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz will also be worth watching.

Leeds United

Next up, in New Jersey on the final day of July, is an opponent that always brings plenty of needle whenever we meet – Leeds United.

The 2025-26 FA Cup semi-finalists have sold one of their standout players, Pascal Struijk, to Brighton & Hove Albion and will be looking to strengthen ahead of what they hope will be another positive Premier League campaign after finishing 14th last season.

We took four points from Leeds in 2025-26, drawing 1-1 at the Stadium of Light before winning 1-0 under the lights at Elland Road thanks to a Habib Diarra penalty.

The first meeting between the two clubs came in August 1924 in the First Division and ended 0-0. Sunderland won the return fixture 2-1 in December that year.

Other memorable victories include the 1973 FA Cup Final, when Sunderland lifted the club’s eighth major honour, and the 3-0 win in 2006 that boosted Roy Keane’s title-winning promotion campaign.

Daniel Farke’s side boasts several quality individuals, including Gabriel Gudmundsson, James Justin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor, all of whom are capable of making a major impact in the final third.

Wrexham

On 2 August, in Pennsylvania, we face Welsh side Wrexham, who have been on a remarkable upward trajectory since Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds purchased the club in 2021.

The Red Dragons are managed by former Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson, who guided the club to a historic, record-breaking run of three consecutive promotions from the National League to the Championship. Wrexham narrowly missed out on a play-off place on the final day of the 2025-26 season.

The two sides have not met since 1980, with Sunderland losing just one of the six meetings between the clubs. The first encounters came in the FA Cup third round in January 1977, with Wrexham winning the replay after the initial draw. The next four meetings came in the Second Division during the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons, producing one draw and three Sunderland victories.

The clubs have generally been separated by three or four divisions over the last three decades.

Wrexham have several players capable of causing problems, including goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, former Sunderland duo Callum Doyle and Nathan Broadhead, and leading scorer Kieffer Moore, who netted 11 goals during 2025-26.

Racing Club Lens

Sunderland head to France – the homeland of Régis Le Bris – on 8 August to face Ligue 1 runners-up and Coupe de France winners RC Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

There will actually be two matches on the day against Lens. The first will be played behind closed doors at midday before supporters can attend the second fixture at 4pm.

This will be the first meeting between Sunderland and RC Lens.

Arthur Masuaku spent the second half of last season on loan with Les Sang et Or before returning to Wearside after making six appearances.

Two players in particular to watch are joint top scorers Odossonne Édouard and Florian Thauvin, who both scored 11 goals as Lens secured Champions League qualification and their first major trophy in 27 years.

Lens averaged the eighth-highest possession in Ligue 1 last season and kept the fourth-most clean sheets. They also boasted the league’s second-best defensive record with just 35 goals conceded and the second-highest goals scored with 66.

Stade Rennes

Sunderland return home to the Stadium of Light on 15 August to face potential Europa League opponents Stade Rennes.

The clubs have never met before.

This fixture will provide a good indication of the level of intensity Sunderland can expect in European competition and will also mark our first appearance at the Stadium of Light since that historic victory over Chelsea in May.

It will also offer supporters another opportunity to see some of the club’s new arrivals, while Eliezer Mayenda will make an emotional return following his move to Rennes on 4 July. There is little doubt he will receive a warm welcome back to Wearside.

Régis Le Bris also has strong links with Rennes, having progressed through their academy before representing both the B team and first team during the 1990s, making 140 appearances for the club.

Swiss international Breel Embolo is one player to keep an eye on. He is one of the first names on the teamsheet for both Rennes and Switzerland and is capable of producing moments of real quality.

Nordi Mukiele’s brother, Nordan, also plays for Rennes.

Another key player is striker Esteban Lepaul, who scored 21 goals in 34 matches and played a huge part in securing Europa League football for the French club.

This pre-season schedule will prepare the Lads well for what promises to be a long campaign, with eight additional guaranteed fixtures added to the calendar and several reunions with familiar faces.

I, for one, can’t wait to get started.