Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the FA Community Shield on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, opening the English football season with a lopsided result and a rough first outing for Manchester City’s new manager.
The Community Shield opens the English season each year between the reigning Premier League champions and the FA Cup holders. Arsenal took part as 2025-26 champions; Manchester City took part as FA Cup holders, having beaten Chelsea 1-0 in the final in May on a goal from Antoine Semenyo. In the United States, the match aired on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, with kickoff at 10 a.m. ET.
Key facts
- Final score: Arsenal 3, Manchester City 0
- Competition: FA Community Shield
- Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
- Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
- Scorers: Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard
- Manager milestone: Enzo Maresca’s first competitive match in charge of Manchester City
A goal before the match had settled
Arsenal took the lead almost immediately. Defender Riccardo Calafiori converted in roughly 23 to 24 seconds — reports vary on the exact count — set up by Myles Lewis-Skelly. It was reported as the fastest goal in Community Shield history, beating a record that had stood since 1968, when Manchester City’s Bobby Owen scored in 35 seconds.
Kai Havertz doubled the lead in the 28th minute, heading in with the help of a deflection off Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Martin Ødegaard added a third in the 48th minute, shortly after the second half began. New Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis set up both of the later goals.
New signings on show for both sides
The match doubled as a first look at a busy summer of transfers. Tzolis, a Greek winger who joined Arsenal from Club Brugge for a reported £34 million, made his first competitive appearance for the club and finished with two assists. Arsenal also started Bruno Guimarães, who arrived from Newcastle United in a reported £75 million deal.
Manchester City gave a full debut to Elliot Anderson, a £116 million arrival from Nottingham Forest and the club’s first signing since Enzo Maresca took over as manager. That fee was a British transfer record when the deal closed in July. In goal, City started Gianluigi Donnarumma, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported £26 million in September 2025 — before Maresca’s arrival.
A hard first day for Enzo Maresca
The match was also Maresca’s first competitive game in charge of Manchester City, having been appointed to succeed Pep Guardiola after Guardiola left the club at the end of last season. Star striker Erling Haaland started but had little impact, managing only seven touches before he was substituted for Omar Marmoush in the 53rd minute. ESPN and Fox Sports reported that the early change reflected Haaland’s limited match fitness, after he had only recently returned to training following the 2026 World Cup, not any injury.
Why Cardiff, not Wembley
The Community Shield is usually played at Wembley Stadium, but this year’s match moved to Principality Stadium in Cardiff — the first time Cardiff has hosted the fixture since 2006. The Football Association said Wembley was unavailable in mid-August because of pre-planned concerts. ESPN and other outlets identified the booking as a run of concerts by The Weeknd, scheduled for August 14-19 — though the FA’s own statement did not name the artist.
What’s next
Arsenal open their Premier League title defense at home to newly promoted Coventry City on Friday, August 21, 2026. Manchester City’s Maresca era continues two days later, away to Bournemouth on August 23, 2026.
Sources and further reading
- Who is refereeing the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City?
- New Principality Stadium Naming Rights Deal Secured
- Report: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City
- What are the dates for 2026/27 Premier League season?
- Where to watch the 2026 FA Community Shield
- FIVE things we learned from Arsenal 3-0 Man City in Community Shield
- When and where is the 2026 FA Community Shield being played?