Leeds United prepare for Sunderland friendly
Leeds United are set to face fellow Premier League side Sunderland in a pre-season friendly as both clubs continue their preparations for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. The match, part of Leeds’ pre-season tour of the US, will take place in New Jersey.
For Leeds, the summer has involved active negotiations, including discussions with Manchester City regarding a permanent deal for goalkeeper James Trafford. The club has also emerged as a contender to sign former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt on a free transfer. Manager Daniel Farke‘s side will aim to improve their fitness and build cohesion following a mixed end to their last season.
Sunderland arrives with confidence, having concluded the 2025-26 Premier League season strongly with a victory against Chelsea in their final league fixture. They followed this with a 5-1 pre-season win over York City. Sunderland’s manager, Regis Le Bris, has maintained a firm stance on keeping his squad together, ruling out a move for Granit Xhaka to Chelsea.
Team news and recent form
Leeds United’s starting eleven for the match against Sunderland includes a first appearance for new addition Tarik Muharemović. Alex Cairns will remain in goal, supported by a defensive line featuring Jayden Bogle, Sebastiaan Bornauw, captain Joe Rodon, Muharemović, and Gabriel Gudmundsson. In midfield, Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka will partner, with Callum Mills retaining his place. Harry Wilson is also set for his first start, linking up with forward Lukas Nmecha, who will lead the line at the Sports Illustrated Stadium.
The substitutes named for Leeds include Mahady, Ombang, Ampadu, James, Piroe, Stach, Justin, Gnonto, Crew, Chadwick, Cresswell, Lane, Lienou, and Pickles.
Leeds United’s recent form across their last five matches shows two wins, one draw, and two defeats. Their most recent outing was a 2-3 pre-season loss to Wrexham. Before that, they suffered a 3-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham United on the final day of last season. Earlier in that sequence, Leeds secured a 1-0 victory against Brighton and a 3-1 win over Burnley, alongside a 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Across these five matches, they scored eight goals and conceded six.
Sunderland has demonstrated stronger form over the same period, with three wins and two losses in their last five outings. Their pre-season began with a 5-1 win against York City, followed by a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool in a friendly in the United States. In their Premier League run-in, Sunderland defeated Chelsea 2-1 and Everton 3-1, and drew 0-0 with Manchester United. Over these five matches, they scored 11 goals and conceded eight.
Head-to-head history
The most recent encounter between Leeds United and Sunderland took place on March 3, 2026, where Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory at Elland Road in the Premier League. Prior to that, the teams played to a 1-1 draw when Sunderland hosted Leeds at the Stadium of Light in December 2025.
Across their last five head-to-head meetings, which also include three Championship fixtures from the 2024-25 season, Leeds United has one win, Sunderland has two wins, and two matches have ended in a draw. Both teams will use this friendly to give playing time to various players and enhance match sharpness as the Premier League season approaches.
The match is scheduled to kick off on July 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM.
Source: leedsunited.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
