The Premier League is exploring the possibility of staging a four-team Summer Series in Asia next year.
Although no formal plans have been finalised, BBC Sport understands that clubs have been consulted for feedback, with Hong Kong and the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen emerging as leading candidates to host the event.
Since 2003, the Premier League has organised a biennial pre-season tournament. Initially held across the Far East until 2019, the competition returned in 2023 under the new “Summer Series” branding and was relocated to the United States. The 2024 edition took place in New York, Chicago and Atlanta.
If confirmed, the 2026 Summer Series would be the first held in a year that also features a major international tournament, raising renewed concerns about player workload.
Global players’ union FIFPRO recently highlighted the strain on elite footballers, revealing that Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo played 71 competitive matches in 2024 — more than any other player worldwide.
Fixture congestion has intensified in recent seasons due to the expansion of both international and European club competitions. This summer’s World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, with the final scheduled for 19 July.
The Premier League has already confirmed that the 2026–27 season will begin on 22 August. In theory, this offers a window for a three-match Summer Series between 1 and 8 August, similar to the two-week rest period afforded to Manchester United, Everton, Bournemouth and West Ham during this year’s edition.
Under this timeline, players whose nations exit the World Cup in the last 16 would still be able to take a mandatory three-week break and return in time for nearly a full week of pre-season training before the Summer Series begins.
