Liverpool to play three US friendlies starting July 25; Iraola aims to instill philosophy quickly

Hupu Football News | July 20

Liverpool will fly to Chicago on Monday to begin a two-week preseason tour of the United States, according to The Athletic reporter James Pearce. The trip marks a crucial opportunity for new manager Iraola, who aims to instill his philosophy into the squad he inherited from Arne Slot ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Schedule

Liverpool will use Chicago as their training base throughout the tour. The three friendlies are scheduled in Nashville, New York, and Chicago:

• July 25 – vs. Sunderland at Geodis Park, Nashville (capacity: 30,000). The stadium, opened in 2022, is the largest professional soccer-specific venue in the US. Its vice chairman is former Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre.
• July 29 – vs. Championship side Wrexham at Yankee Stadium, New York. This will be Liverpool's third appearance at the iconic Bronx venue, which accommodates around 50,000 for soccer matches. It will be a special moment for Iraola, who played for New York City FC, the stadium's home team, at the end of his career.
• August 2 – vs. Leeds United at Soldier Field, Chicago (capacity: 62,500).

The team will return to Merseyside immediately after the match against Leeds United. The final two preseason games will be against Monaco and Como at Anfield in August.

Player List: Multiple World Cup Internationals Absent, Young Players to Get Opportunities

Liverpool will travel to the US without eight World Cup participants—Van Dijk, Gravenberch, Gakpo, Wirtz, Isak, Alisson, Mac Allister, and Munoz—who will be on holiday. However, Gravenberch, Wirtz, and Isak are expected to join the squad next weekend in time for the last two matches.

Ekitike, Leoni, and Bradley are still recovering from long-term injuries and will also travel to the US to continue their rehabilitation. French U21 international Jakke, who joined from Rennes for £60 million, has recovered from a shoulder injury and is available to play.

With several senior players absent, this tour will be a key opportunity for young players to compete for a place in Iraola's plans. Among those yet to be officially announced, Abe, Wright, Morrison, McConnell, Kumas, Sonny Lamb, Ndiaye, Chambers, and Ndukwu are all expected to be included. Young forward Danes requires a fitness assessment after experiencing hamstring discomfort last week, while Gordon and Baker are still recovering.

Additionally, Elliott, returning from a loan spell at Aston Villa, will be eager to impress Iraola on American soil.

American Fans' Enthusiasm

Talarsson, secretary of the official Liverpool supporters' club in Nashville, said:

"We are excited about Liverpool's arrival. The new manager and the start of a new era have everyone full of anticipation. We know many stars are on holiday, but it will also be interesting to see young players get playing time. Most importantly, we look forward to seeing Reds fans from around the world come and share this Liverpool experience with us."

Prout, president of the official supporters' club in Chicago, said:

"We have about 1,500 members, and for many of them, this will be their first chance to watch Liverpool live. Even if you can afford the trip to Anfield, tickets aren't easy to get. Liverpool coming to Chicago feels especially special."

General admission tickets are still available for all three matches, with prices ranging from:

• Nashville: $129 to $392
• New York: $109 to $320
• Chicago: $114 to $358

Commercial Value: Deepening US Market Presence Leveraging World Cup Hype

This tour is crucial for Liverpool's commercial expansion. In recent years, the club's sponsorship partnerships with US blue-chip brands have significantly driven commercial growth, including partners like Expedia, Google Pixel, UPS, and Orion Innovation. Earlier this year, the club also announced a global partnership with US fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger.

Club legends Rush, Fowler, Thompson, and Dowie will accompany the team for various sponsor and fan engagement activities. LFC Foundation coaches will also hold multiple football training camps for local youth. Adidas will launch Liverpool's new away kit in Brooklyn on July 28, with the team playing Wrexham 24 hours later. Unlike last year's East Asia tour, when the team had to wear the previous season's kit due to an ongoing contract with Nike, the new deal with Adidas is now in effect, removing any restrictions.

Source: New York Times