{"id":807149,"date":"2026-08-08T19:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/807149\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:44:11","slug":"why-arent-real-madrid-playing-in-the-united-states-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/807149\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Aren\u2019t Real Madrid Playing in the United States This Summer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Real Madrid\u2019s preseason is well underway. <\/p>\n

The 15-time European champions took on Ferencv\u00e1ros in Budapest on Saturday, having already faced Alcorc\u00f3n and Legan\u00e9s at home this summer, as well as Fiorentina in Austria last weekened.<\/p>\n

Following a mini-tour of Central Europe, Los Blancos will return to Spain to take on newly promoted RC Deportivo and then conclude their preparations in Germany against Schalke 04 on Aug. 16, with the La Liga season kicking off a week later.<\/p>\n

Preseason is an important element of any club\u2019s schedule, but even more so for Madrid this summer as new manager Jos\u00e9 Mourinho looks to get the measure of his players ahead of the campaign.<\/p>\n

Mourinho, returning to Madrid after 13 years away, will use the tune-up matches to make assessments on his squad and bed in his playing style, as well as for building fitness.<\/p>\n

Preseason at big, modern clubs is also seen as a commercial opportunity, with many of Europe\u2019s top clubs using the summer to travel far and wide as part of lucrative overseas tours.<\/p>\n

American fans have become accustomed to Real Madrid<\/a> spending their summers in the United States, with eight of the last ten preseasons prior to 2026 featuring matches in the country as part of a co-ordinated engagement drive in one of soccer\u2019s biggest, emerging markets. <\/p>\n

In fact, the only time in recent seasons that Los Blancos have skipped visiting the U.S. has been during the COVID-hit summers of 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n

Last summer, Xabi Alonso\u2019s team competed in the Club World Cup held in the U.S., while in the build-up to the 2024\u201325 season, Madrid played exhibition matches as part of the Soccer Champions Tour in Chicago, New Jersey and Charlotte.<\/p>\n

Why Aren\u2019t Real Madrid Playing in the U.S.?\"MetLife<\/p>\n

Several Madrid stars have already played in the U.S. this summer. | Dan Mullan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

This year, then, represents a marked changed.<\/p>\n

All five preseason matches take place in Europe with\u00a0Real Madrid opting against a tour outside of the continent, with the club\u2019s own Valdebebas center operating as the team\u2019s preseason headquarters.<\/p>\n

AS<\/a> reported that the reason to forgo a trip to the United States this year is\u00a0tied the impact of this summer\u2019s\u00a0World Cup<\/a>, with many of Mourinho\u2019s first team having been engaged in the tournament across North America in June and July.<\/p>\n

The lack of more demanding preseason travel this summer is designed to give the players a more manageable schedule after their summer exertions, while those who competed at the World Cup have been afforded an extended vacation, with their re-appearance at training staggered depending on how far their national team went in the tournament.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, back in 2018\u2014after the last summer World Cup\u2014Real Madrid did still opt to visit the United States, with Julen Lopetegui\u2019s team embarking on a three-game tour of matches in Miami, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey.<\/p>\n

How to Watch Real Madrid on Preseason<\/p>\n

For fans in the United States hoping to watch Real Madrid\u2019s preseason campaign, the best bet is on TV.<\/p>\n

Real\u2019s Madrid clash with Ferencv\u00e1rcos on Saturday, August 8 will be available to view for fans in the U.S. on CBS Sports Network and fuboTV.<\/p>\n

Match<\/p>\n

Kick Off Time<\/p>\n

Channel\/Live Stream<\/p>\n

vs. Ferencv\u00e1ros<\/p>\n

7 p.m CET \/ 6 a.m PT \/ 9 a.m ET<\/p>\n

CBS Sports Network and fuboTV.<\/p>\n

vs. RC Deportivo<\/p>\n

9 p.m CET \/ 8 a.m PT \/ 11 a.m ET<\/p>\n

fuboTV, DAZN USA, FOX Deportes, FOX One<\/p>\n

vs. Schalke 04<\/p>\n

5 p.m CET \/ 4 a.m PT \/ 7 a.m ET<\/p>\n

fuboTV, DAZN USA, FOX Deportes, FOX One<\/p>\n

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