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Premier League Considering 2026 Summer Series in Asia Amid World Cup Schedule
The English Premier League is exploring the possibility of staging a four-team Summer Series tournament in Asia next year. The BBC reports that Hong Kong and Shenzhen are among the leading options for hosting games.
While final plans haven’t been formally confirmed, the league has already started consulting Premier League clubs for input and feedback regarding scheduling, logistics, and player welfare.
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Background of the Summer Series
The Summer Series is effectively the modernized successor to the Premier League’s long-running pre-season tournament, first launched in 2003. Until 2019 it was held predominantly across Asia.
The event was paused in 2021 due to COVID-19 and later revived in 2023 with venues across the United States — New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Player Workload Concerns and Scheduling
One of the biggest discussion points concerns the intense summer calendar. The 2026 preseason aligns with the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup, which culminates with the final on July 19.
To balance this, the Premier League has confirmed that the 2026/27 season will not start until August 22, creating a tight but workable window for the Summer Series between August 1 and 8.
In theory, players eliminated at the World Cup by the Round of 16 will still be able to take the mandatory three-week break before joining their clubs’ pre-season activities — making them eligible to participate in the tournament.
Premier League Considering 2026 Summer Series in Asia Amid World Cup Schedule
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