In the summer of 2024, Arsenal and Chelsea Women will be traveling across the pond to the United States for a preseason tour. Along with the Washington Spirit, these two historic English clubs will be adding a stop in Washington D.C. to their itinerary. This marks a significant step in expanding the reach of women’s soccer, as well as bringing together two of the most successful teams in WSL history for some friendly matches.
On August 18, Arsenal will take on the Spirit in a friendly match at Audi Field. This will be followed by a historic double-header on August 25, with the Spirit kicking off the day with a regular-season match against the Kansas City Current before hosting the much-anticipated cross-Atlantic derby between Arsenal and Chelsea. The second match of the day will see Chelsea face NJ/NY Gotham FC in a friendly at Red Bull Arena, adding another exciting fixture to their preseason schedule.
These matches represent a first for both Chelsea and Arsenal, who have never played in the United States before. However, fans can expect top-quality competition and entertainment on the field, as both clubs are coming off successful seasons in England. With Chelsea having won five consecutive WSL titles and Arsenal finishing in the top three for 11 straight seasons, this preseason tour is sure to be highly anticipated by fans on both sides of the Atlantic.