Saints news desk
Sourced from Daily Echo Saints for Saints supporters.
Southampton are finalising their pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 Championship campaign, with a second friendly in Germany close to being confirmed alongside a training camp, a trip to Eastleigh, and a notable absence from St Mary’s.
Head coach Tonda Eckert’s squad will return to Staplewood on Monday, July 6, to begin pre-season, though the opening days will focus on physical testing rather than football. On-pitch work is expected to start during the second half of the following week, once the full squad is back together.
Southampton’s Germany Training Camp and Eastleigh Friendly
Unlike previous summers, when Saints have based part of their pre-season around a UK residential in London, training this year will remain centred at Staplewood throughout. The travelling will instead be reserved for two overseas fixtures.
The first fixture in front of supporters comes on Saturday, July 18, with a 7.45pm kick-off away at Eastleigh. It will be Southampton’s third successive summer visiting the National League club, a fixture that has become a fixture on the club’s pre-season calendar and a low-cost opportunity for local fans to watch the squad in action.
Ten days later, on Friday, July 24, Saints travel to Germany for an eight-night training camp. Southampton are close to agreeing a second stadium friendly for the same evening against a club outside the Bundesliga, with fans expected to be able to attend. A further behind-closed-doors training match is also planned during the camp.
The centrepiece of the German trip comes on Saturday, August 1, when Southampton face SC Preußen Münster at 2pm BST. The German third-tier side will use the fixture to open a new stand at the Preußenstadion, and it is understood a number of supporters are already arranging travel for the match.
No Pre-Season Game at St Mary’s This Summer
For the first time in recent memory, there are no plans for a pre-season fixture at St Mary’s. The stadium pitch is being relaid following summer events held at the ground, and an early Carabao Cup first-round tie adds further pressure to the turnaround. That combination has ruled out a home warm-up match before the competitive season begins.
Instead, Southampton’s only home involvement in pre-season will come once the squad returns from Germany, flying back immediately after the Münster fixture to prepare for their first competitive outing of the season, away at Colchester United, which is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, August 8. That Carabao Cup first-round tie effectively serves as Saints’ final pre-season test before the Championship campaign begins in earnest.
What Southampton’s Pre-Season Schedule Means for the Season Ahead
Southampton’s Championship season kicks off away at Watford on Sunday, August 16, at 1.30pm, giving Eckert a compact but structured build-up: physical testing, a short period of on-pitch work at Staplewood, a home-soil test at Eastleigh, an extended training camp in Germany with two fixtures, and a competitive cup tie before the league opener.
For supporters, the schedule offers two clear opportunities to watch the squad in a match environment before the season starts — Eastleigh and Münster — plus a potential second German fixture still being finalised. The absence of a St Mary’s friendly will disappoint some fans who typically use pre-season as a first look at new signings, but the pitch relaying work makes the decision a practical rather than footballing one.
As with any pre-season planning, the club has stressed that arrangements remain subject to change at short notice, particularly regarding the still-unconfirmed second German opponent.
What Happens Next
Fans should watch for confirmation of the second Germany fixture opponent, expected to be finalised soon. Key dates to note are July 6 (return to Staplewood), July 18 (Eastleigh), July 24 (Germany training camp begins, second friendly TBC), August 1 (Preußen Münster), the weekend of August 8 (Colchester United, Carabao Cup first round), and August 16 (Watford away, Championship opener).