Pre-season friendlies 2026-27

[Clyde1998]

Reading X1 away to Windsor & Eton on 28th July.

Is that it? Season starts in early August!

It is a development team friendly. Development league games usually start in mid-August.

[morganb]

Woking (A) - 25th July

[Clyde1998]

Woking (A) - 25th July

Decent game to have.

As a reminder, the first round of the League Cup is on the 8th August, so our Saturday schedule currently looks like:

• 11 Jul - Farnborough (A)
• 18 Jul -
• 25 Jul - Woking (A)
• 1 Aug -
• 8 Aug - League Cup
• 15 Aug - League One

Would imagine we'll have a home friendly on 1st August.

Wouldn't rule out a Premier League side, as their season starts on the 22nd. Won't be Chelsea or Tottenham, as they're playing each other in Sydney... Crystal Palace are playing in the Como Cup on that date.

[Brogue]

Woking (A) - 25th July

Decent game to have.

As a reminder, the first round of the League Cup is on the 8th August, so our Saturday schedule currently looks like:

• 11 Jul - Farnborough (A)
• 18 Jul -
• 25 Jul - Woking (A)
• 1 Aug -
• 8 Aug - League Cup
• 15 Aug - League One

Would imagine we'll have a home friendly on 1st August.

Wouldn't rule out a Premier League side, as their season starts on the 22nd. Won't be Chelsea or Tottenham, as they're playing each other in Sydney... Crystal Palace are playing in the Como Cup on that date.

we've had two fixtures on the same day before and split the squad. so still potential for others games to be announced on them saturdays

[Clyde1998]

Woking (A) - 25th July

Decent game to have.

As a reminder, the first round of the League Cup is on the 8th August, so our Saturday schedule currently looks like:

• 11 Jul - Farnborough (A)
• 18 Jul -
• 25 Jul - Woking (A)
• 1 Aug -
• 8 Aug - League Cup
• 15 Aug - League One

Would imagine we'll have a home friendly on 1st August.

Wouldn't rule out a Premier League side, as their season starts on the 22nd. Won't be Chelsea or Tottenham, as they're playing each other in Sydney... Crystal Palace are playing in the Como Cup on that date.

we've had two fixtures on the same day before and split the squad. so still potential for others games to be announced on them saturdays

We have. I'd be surprised if we do that though, but could see an U21/development team play on the same day as the first team.

I seem to recall our development side playing at Didcot a couple of years ago when the first team had a game at the Mad Stad.

[Royals and Racers]

A Reading X 1 are playing Beaconsfield away on the 3 g pitch on Saturday 11th July KO 1.30pm

[morganb]

a 'Reading FC XI' is away to Windsor & Eton on the evening of 28 July

https://x.com/i/status/2064336215042638309

[Stranded]

Am assuming we will see at least one game against Champ/PL level announced in the near future as whilst the games announced are decent enough, any more of this standard could leave the squad massively undercooked.

[Marcel]

a 'Reading FC XI' is away to Windsor & Eton on the evening of 28 July

https://x.com/i/status/2064336215042638309

I see the club are arranging pre season friendly’s against teams of similar standard to themselves.
Some on here must be very excited.

[Tinpot Royal]

Glamour Home Friendly Announced!

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/j ... confirmed/

[Brogue]

Charlton (h) 1st August

[tidus_mi2]

Glamour Home Friendly Announced!

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/j ... confirmed/

How far we've fallen that Charlton is the glamour tie.

Might get to welcome back Knibbsy though.

[Stranded]

Charlton (h) 1st August

Perfect final test really - a lower end club from the division above but who were recently at our level.

[blueroyals]

Christ don't even have an exciting pre-season to look forward to

[Clyde1998]

Good friendly for us to have. Sure it's not a 'glamour contest' in the sense it will draw thousands to the Mad Stad, but Charlton are the sort of level where it will give our players a meaningful challenge a week before the competitive season starts.

[Crowbar6753]

I get it, probably a better test than playing a glamour tie against Spurs/Chelsea where we would have 20% possession at best. But i miss the days of a big Premier side and a decent crowd. I remember the Newcastle friendly 2-2 i believe and i think there was 17,000+ at the Mad stad.
Maybe we should try booking ahead and trying to get a decent Scottish Premier side at home? I know Rangers and Celtic often play friendlies in London pre-season however i doubt we could pull one of those two but Aberdeen, Hearts or Hibs fans always travel in big numbers and should be a decent crowd puller plus something different and a bit more competitive.
Plus the Scottish fans are well into there Ultras style of support with great tifo's etc....could be fun

[Clyde1998]

I get it, probably a better test than playing a glamour tie against Spurs/Chelsea where we would have 20% possession at best. But i miss the days of a big Premier side and a decent crowd. I remember the Newcastle friendly 2-2 i believe and i think there was 17,000+ at the Mad stad.
Maybe we should try booking ahead and trying to get a decent Scottish Premier side at home? I know Rangers and Celtic often play friendlies in London pre-season however i doubt we could pull one of those two but Aberdeen, Hearts or Hibs fans always travel in big numbers and should be a decent crowd puller plus something different and a bit more competitive.
Plus the Scottish fans are well into there Ultras style of support with great tifo's etc....could be fun

Playing the top non-Old Firm Scottish sides would be good friendlies - something a bit different to draw people to the ground; not a giant gulf in standard; a good number of potential away fans; etc.

Perhaps some Dutch; Belgian; and French sides should be considered too going forward for similar reasons.