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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Why is the Community Shield being played early in July this year?

It's almost time for the annual football season curtain-raiser that is the Community Shield.

Premier League champions Manchester City will be taking on FA Cup winners Liverpool at Leicester's King Power Stadium at 5pm on Saturday, July 30 - read why it's in Leicester and not Wembley here.

You may be wondering why the fixture is taking place in July, a little earlier than usual. That's because the Premier League schedule is also kicking off earlier than usual on August 5 - a week sooner than normal - to accommodate a winter break for the Qatar World Cup this winter.

So, naturally, the Community Shield has also been brought forward to late July.

The match is taking place in Leicester and not Wembley due to the Women's Euro 2022 final on the same weekend, and will provide the Reds and City with their first opportunity of the season to claim silverware and kick off their top-flight campaigns with some momentum.

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