Picture this: 40,112 fans pack into Auckland's Eden Park on a damp winter Sunday to watch a friendly match between a newly formed A-League side and a Premier League team that finished 17th last season. That's exactly what happened when Tottenham Hotspur faced Auckland FC in July 2026 — and it was the largest crowd ever to watch a men's football match in New Zealand. It wasn't a league game, a cup final or a World Cup qualifier. It was a pre-season tour friendly, and it shows just how far the global football machine has come.
Pre-season tours are exactly what they sound like: clubs travel abroad, usually to Asia, Australia or the United States, to play a handful of friendly matches before the domestic season starts. For the clubs it's a mix of fitness work, tactical experimentation and — crucially — brand expansion. Tottenham's tour to New Zealand and Australia is a textbook example. The squad, managed by Roberto De Zerbi, flew into Auckland and beat the A-League champions 2-0 thanks to goals from academy striker Dane Scarlett and Brazilian forward Richarlison. The trip also includes games against Sydney FC and London rivals Chelsea in Sydney. De Zerbi rested most of his top players because of the long journey, providing a chance for younger names like Archie Gray, who wore the captain's armband, and new signing Mateus Fernandes, signed from West Ham, to get minutes.
“Explains why Premier League clubs like Tottenham travel abroad in July for pre-season tours, and what it means for fans and the season ahead.”
This wasn't always the norm. A generation ago, Premier League teams played local friendlies against lower-league opponents or headed to a training camp in a quiet European country. But the explosion of global TV rights and the financial power of the Premier League has turned pre-season into a commercial machine. Clubs charge appearance fees, sell merchandise, build fan bases in new markets and strengthen relationships with local sponsors. For host nations like New Zealand, a visit from a Premier League side is a rare chance to see world-class players in person — even if many first-team stars stay on the bench. The record crowd of 40,112 smashed the previous best of 37,034 set in 2017 when New Zealand faced Peru in a World Cup qualifier.
For UK readers, pre-season tours have a direct impact on the season to come. The intense travel and different time zones can leave players fatigued, increasing injury risk. De Zerbi revealed that record signing Sandro Tonali suffered a "small problem" before leaving London, keeping him out of the Auckland match. On the flip side, tours allow managers to test young players and integrate new signings under match conditions. Tottenham, who narrowly avoided relegation the previous season, are spending aggressively — Tonali, a midfielder from Newcastle, and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton are among the new arrivals — but the real gain could be the experience gained by the next generation. Archie Gray's captaincy and Scarlett's goal suggest the future is already being prepared, thousands of miles from home.
Q: Why do Premier League teams go on pre-season tours? Primarily for commercial reasons. Clubs can earn appearance fees, grow their global brand, and sell merchandise. The tours also provide match practice in a controlled environment, allowing managers to test tactics, build fitness, and give game time to young players and new signings.
Q: Do pre-season results matter? Not really. The priority is fitness, not scorelines. Managers often rest first-team regulars to avoid injuries and fatigue, meaning results are secondary. In Tottenham's case, De Zerbi said he couldn't risk players who were "not ready to play yet" after a long trip.
Q: How do pre-season tours affect the start of the Premier League season? They can be a double-edged sword. The travel and time zone changes increase fatigue and injury risk, but the matches provide intense, competitive minutes that can help players hit peak condition faster. Clubs with long tours often schedule lighter opening fixtures, though this isn't always possible.
What happens next? Tottenham will play Sydney FC and Chelsea in the coming week as their tour continues. Other Premier League sides will wrap up their own overseas trips before the new season begins in August. The trend shows no signs of slowing: as long as football fans in Auckland, Shanghai and Los Angeles pack stadiums to watch a pre-season friendly, the players will keep flying.