Liverpool Could Extend Curious Community Shield Sequence With FA Cup Triumph

Liverpool’s pursuit of a ninth FA Cup crown carries an intriguing subplot: should Arne Slot’s side lift the trophy at Wembley on 16 May, they would continue a rare streak of winning the Community Shield outside London. The Reds, who face Manchester City in the quarter-finals at the Etienne on 4 April, would qualify for the 2026 Community Shield, scheduled for 16 August at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, not at the traditional Wembley, which is booked for a Weeknd concert.

Liverpool’s recent history in the season curtain-raiser shows a pattern of success outside the capital. Their 2022 victory over Manchester City was staged at the King Power Stadium in Leicester while Wembley hosted the Women’s Euro 2022 final. Earlier triumphs in 2001 and 2006 were both secured at the Millennium Stadium, now branded the Principality, during Wembley’s reconstruction. That Welsh venue holds cherished memories for Kopites, having also witnessed Liverpool claim two League Cups and two FA Cups during the same era.

With the Premier League’s 2026-27 campaign kicking off on 22-23 August, five weeks after the 2026 World Cup final, a win in Cardiff would offer a welcome highlight in what has been a difficult season for the club.