The new English football season officially kicks off with the 2025 FA Community Shield, as Premier League champions Liverpool face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 10 August.
This will be the 103rd edition of the traditional curtain-raiser, and it promises to be a special one. Arne Slot’s Liverpool are coming off a league-winning campaign, while Crystal Palace make their first-ever appearance in the Community Shield after lifting their first major trophy in history.
The match sets the tone for the 2025/26 season. Here is all you need to know about the 2025 Community Shield.
Background
The FA Community Shield is the traditional season opener in English football. It pits the winners of the Premier League against the FA Cup holders, with the match usually held at Wembley Stadium one week before the league campaign begins.
Liverpool booked their place by winning the 2024/25 Premier League under new head coach Arne Slot, finishing ahead of Arsenal in a thrilling title race. The 16-time Shield winners will be aiming to lift more silverware and lay down a marker for the season ahead.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are making history. Oliver Glasner’s side stunned Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley back in May to claim the club’s first major trophy. As a result, they’ll feature in the Community Shield for the first time.
This will also be the first-ever meeting between Liverpool and Crystal Palace in the competition.
When Is The 2025 Community Shield?
The 2025 FA Community Shield will take place on Sunday, August 10, with kick-off set for 3:00 PM BST (2:00 PM GMT) at Wembley Stadium in London.
The match will see Premier League champions Liverpool face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the traditional curtain-raiser for the new English football season.
Match Officials
Chris Kavanagh will be the centre referee for the match. It will be his fourth major final, having previously handled the 2020 UEFA Youth League final and the 2024 League Cup final.
Last season, he took charge of 25 Premier League games, issuing 111 yellow cards and 5 red cards.
He will be assisted by James Mainwaring and Wade Smith, with Tony Harrington as the fourth official.
Paul Tierney will lead the VAR team, supported by assistant VAR Nick Hopton.
What Kit Will Liverpool Wear?
Liverpool will debut their new adidas 2025– 26 away kit at Wembley Stadium for this match.
Will There Be Extra-Time?
No. If the match is level after 90 minutes, it will go straight to a penalty shootout. No extra time will be played.
Substitutes Rule
Each club can name nine substitutes, of which six may be used during the match.
How To Watch The 2025 Community Shield
In the UK, the 2025 Community Shield will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting an hour before kick-off. Matchday Live begins at 2 pm on LFCTV and All Red Video, offering build-up, live audio commentary, and post-match reaction.
Fans outside the UK can watch the match live on ESPN+ in the United States and on DStv across Africa, the main broadcaster for Premier League and FA competitions in the region.
