After weeks without competitive club football, the wait is nearly over. Raising the curtain on the 2026/27 season, the 2026 FA Community Shield brings Arsenal and Manchester City together in Cardiff.
Arsenal qualify as the 2025/26 Premier League champions, with Manchester City taking the other place as winners of the 2026 FA Cup.
The match takes place at Principality Stadium on Sunday 16 August, six days before the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Cardiff hosts the Community Shield because Wembley Stadium is unavailable during the weekend of the match. Principality Stadium staged the fixture six times between 2001 and 2006, making this its first Community Shield for 20 years.
We have found 5,407 tickets for the 2026 Community Shield through our platform.
Next, we will look at prices for 2026 Community Shield tickets for Arsenal vs Manchester City.
English FA Community Shield Ticket Prices By Team| Team | # Tickets Available | Avg. Ticket Price | Lowest Ticket Price | Highest Ticket Price |
|---|
| Arsenal | 5,407 | $397 | $66 | $113,920 |
Arsenal Tickets Breakdown |
Compare Prices for Community Shield Tickets in Cardiff
Community Shield ticket prices currently range from $66 to $113,920, depending on the seating location, package, seller and demand. Of the two teams, Arsenal fans currently have the most listings available to them.
Here is how prices compare across the main seating categories:
- Principality Stadium Shortside: Located behind the goals, Shortside tickets start from $69 and rise to $11,765, with an average price of $338.
- Principality Stadium Longside: Seats running along the touchlines range from $66 to $1,355, averaging $275.
- Principality Stadium Lower Tier: For supporters who want to sit closer to the pitch, Lower Tier Principality Stadium tickets cost from $84 to $113,920, with an average of $484.
- Principality Stadium Upper Tier: Upper Tier seats provide greater elevation and a broader view of the pitch. Prices start from $66 and rise to $11,765, averaging $264.
- Arsenal Tickets: Arsenal supporters are seated in the South Stand. Live prices for Arsenal-section tickets range from $242 to $1,339.
- Manchester City Tickets: Manchester City have the North Stand. Tickets in City-designated sections range from $69 to $1,269.
Prices on the secondary market can exceed the original face value. If you want to be in a supporter-specific section, check whether a listing is designated for Arsenal supporters, Manchester City supporters before buying.
Also be sure to check the Principality Stadium seating plan for more insight on locations.
Community Shield hospitality combines a match ticket with benefits that may include premium seating, access to a lounge, food, drinks or a private entertaining area.
Ticket-Compare.com scans hospitality listings alongside standard resale tickets. The precise package names and inclusions depend on the provider, so check the listing carefully before completing a purchase.
In particular, confirm the seating location, opening time, food and drink arrangements, dress code and whether the price is per person or for a complete box.
Private Box Community Shield Tickets
Where private-box inventory is available, it offers a self-contained setting for groups, with seats situated immediately outside or close to the box. Catering, drinks, hosting and group-size requirements vary between packages.
Private Box Community Shield tickets start from $4,705, rise to $4,705 and average $4,705. Check whether the displayed price covers one guest or the complete box.
Primary adult face value prices for the 2026 Community Shield range from $40 in Category 4 to $101 for Premium seats. Concessions are available for supporters aged over 65 and under 16.
| Ticket Category | Adult | Over 65 and Under 16 |
|---|
| Premium | $101 | $81 |
| Category 1 | $74 | $60 |
| Category 2 | $60 | $47 |
| Category 3 | $47 | $34 |
| Category 4 | $40 | $27 |
These are official club ticket prices rather than the live resale prices displayed through Ticket-Compare.com. Resale prices respond to availability, demand and the precise location of the seat.
When Do Community Shield Tickets Go on Sale?
Manchester City’s official sale opened at 10am on Thursday 16 July 2026. Tickets were released to season-ticket holders in stages according to ticket points, with the final scheduled window opening to all Manchester City season-ticket holders at 4pm on Monday 20 July, subject to availability.
Arsenal’s first guaranteed window runs from 1pm on Monday 20 July until 1pm on Tuesday 21 July. It is open to qualifying Platinum and Gold season-ticket holders with at least ten away points.
Arsenal’s next stage operates through a ballot. Applications open at noon on Wednesday 22 July and close at noon on Friday 24 July. Successful applicants can purchase between 1pm on Monday 27 July and 1pm on Tuesday 28 July.
Resale tickets can appear before the official club sales have been completed. Ticket-Compare.com allows supporters to compare ticket listings without entering a club ballot, although resale prices can be higher than face value.
How Many Tickets Are Allocated for the Community Shield?
Arsenal have received an initial allocation of 25,218 tickets in the South Stand of Principality Stadium.
Manchester City’s increased allocation is 26,703 tickets in the North Stand. This includes 100 wheelchair bays and easy-access seating for ambulant disabled supporters.
Part of each club’s allocation may be reserved for hospitality members, club staff, partners, former players and other groups. The number offered through ordinary supporter sales can therefore be lower than the headline allocation.
What Are the Seating Arrangements for the Community Shield?
Arsenal supporters occupy the South Stand, while Manchester City supporters are based in the North Stand.
Longside sections run along the touchlines and generally provide the clearest view of both penalty areas. Shortside seats are behind the goals and tend to place supporters closer to the most concentrated areas of each club’s support.
The Principality Stadium seating plan divides seats across Lower, Middle and Upper levels. Always follow the team designation shown on the listing, as supporters attempting to enter an opposing team’s section may be refused admission.
Does the Community Shield Sell Out?
Demand is usually high because two heavily supported clubs receive large allocations for a one-off match. The most desirable and cheapest official categories can sell out during the club sales process.
That does not necessarily mean every seat in the stadium is occupied. Hospitality, sponsor and administrative allocations are distributed separately, and additional tickets can sometimes be released later.
Resale availability may continue after a club has sold its own allocation, although prices and the number of listings can change considerably as the match approaches.
Where Is the Best Place to Sit at the Community Shield?
For atmosphere, the Lower Tier behind either goal places you among the main Arsenal or Manchester City support.
For the best view of the game, choose a Longside section. Seats around the halfway line provide a clear perspective of both penalty areas and make it easier to follow each team’s shape.
The front portion of the Upper Tier can offer a particularly useful combination of elevation and an unobstructed view. We look into this topic, albeit from a rugby perspective, in our explainer on the Best Seats at Principality Stadium.
How Can You Buy Community Shield Tickets Without a Membership?
Official club tickets are initially restricted to qualifying season-ticket holders and members. Arsenal use a combination of away points and ballots, while Manchester City release tickets through points-based season-ticket windows.
Supporters without the required membership can compare resale and hospitality listings through Ticket-Compare.com.
You do not need an Arsenal or Manchester City membership to use the comparison platform, and you can complete the transaction with the selected market in the listing.
Does the Community Shield Go to Extra Time?
No. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout rather than extra time.
Formerly known as the Charity Shield, the Community Shield is English football’s traditional curtain-raiser and the equivalent of the Super Cup used in several other countries.
The first Shield was played in 1908 between Manchester United, the Football League champions, and Southern League champions Queens Park Rangers. The first match finished 1-1 before Manchester United won a replay 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The fixture developed into a meeting between the reigning league champions and FA Cup holders. The Charity Shield name was used until 2002, when it became the Community Shield.
Wembley became the regular home of the fixture in 1974. Cardiff staged six consecutive editions between 2001 and 2006 while the new Wembley was being constructed, and the match returns to the Welsh capital in 2026.
Money raised through the Community Shield supports charitable organisations, football projects and community initiatives across England.
Two Recent Memorable Community Shield Matches
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City in 2022 was played at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium because Wembley was being used for the UEFA Women’s Euro final. Trent Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring before Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez secured the trophy with late goals.
Crystal Palace produced another memorable result in 2025. The FA Cup winners twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Premier League champions Liverpool before winning the penalty shootout 3-2. It gave Palace their first Community Shield and followed their first major trophy earlier that year.
The Most Successful Teams in Community Shield History
Here is a list of the leading teams in Community Shield history. Asterisks denote seasons in which the trophy was shared.
| Team | Wins | Years |
|---|
| Manchester United | 21 | 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 |
| Arsenal | 17 | 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991*, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 |
| Liverpool | 16 | 1964*, 1965*, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977*, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986*, 1988, 1989, 1990*, 2001, 2006, 2022 |
| Everton | 9 | 1928, 1932, 1963, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1986*, 1987, 1995 |
| Manchester City | 7 | 1937, 1968, 1972, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2024 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967*, 1981*, 1991* |
| Chelsea | 4 | 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 | 1949*, 1954*, 1959, 1960* |
Manchester United lead the table with 21 wins. Arsenal could move to within three of that total by beating Manchester City in Cardiff, while City are attempting to draw level with Everton on nine appearances as outright or shared winners.
Why Did the Community Shield Sometimes Have Two Winners?
The Community Shield was shared on 11 occasions between 1949 and 1991 when a match finished level.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the two clubs would each hold the Shield for six months. Penalty shootouts were reintroduced in 1993, ensuring that every subsequent edition produced one winner.
What Is the Community Shield Curse?
Considering that the match involves two of the previous season’s best-performing clubs, relatively few Community Shield winners go on to win the Premier League in the campaign that follows.
It has happened six times in the Premier League era:
- Manchester United in 1993/94, 1996/97, 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2010/11.
- Manchester City in 2018/19.
Winning the Community Shield is not a reliable predictor of the Premier League title race, although it gives the successful club the first available trophy of the domestic season.
Official Community Shield tickets are distributed through Arsenal and Manchester City according to membership status, season-ticket eligibility, away points and the outcome of ballots. The lowest official adult ticket costs $40, with Premium seats priced at $101.
Supporters who do not qualify for the club sales can use Ticket-Compare.com to review resale and hospitality options from multiple providers.
Compare the final price, seating category, team section, package inclusions and delivery method before selecting a listing for Arsenal versus Manchester City in Cardiff.
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