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Emirates Cup

Association football competition

Emirates Cup

Association football competition

FieldValue
image[[File:Emirates Cup (20191123862).jpg250pxalt=A coloured photograph of the Arsenal squad standing on a podium, celebrating their fourth Emirates Cup win.]]
captionArsenal celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2015 Emirates Cup.
founded
number of teams2
current championsArsenal (9th title)
most successful clubArsenal (9 titles)
websiteOfficial website

The Emirates Cup is a pre-season association football competition hosted by English club Arsenal at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium in Holloway, London. Created in 2007 and named after the club's principal shirt sponsor, Emirates, the tournament consists of exhibition games with invited clubs held in the summer. It is not sanctioned as a competitive event and carries no official recognition. The competition was not staged in 2012 due to the London Olympics, in 2016 and 2018 due to stadium maintenance, and in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tournament format, though occasionally revised, has always prioritised entertainment and brand exposure for Emirates over competitive football. In its early editions, teams earned three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss, with an extra point awarded for each goal scored. This was dropped in 2011 but reinstated from 2013. If teams finish level on points, total shots on target have been used as a further tiebreaker since 2009. Since 2019, the event has been shortened to a single-day format.

Arsenal, as the organisers and perennial hosts, have won the most titles, winning the competition nine times. Other one-time winners include Hamburger SV (2008), New York Red Bulls (2011), Galatasaray (2013), Valencia (2014) and Lyon (2019). Lyon have appeared more often than any other visiting side, with four invitations. Arsenal are the current holders, having defeated Athletic Bilbao 3–0 in the 2025 edition.

History

Arsenal first announced their intention to stage a pre-season competition at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, in March 2007. Managing director Keith Edelman revealed plans were at an exploratory stage, and added: "It would be in pre-season, around late July, and tickets would be reasonably priced. We feel it could be a really exciting event." Details of the tournament were formally announced on 1 May 2007, with Italian champions Inter Milan, French side Paris Saint-Germain and German outfit Hamburg confirmed as participants. Hamburg's qualification into the UEFA Intertoto Cup meant they withdrew from the competition; the club was replaced by Spain's Valencia.

A near-capacity crowd watch Arsenal play Real Madrid on the second and final day of the pre-season tournament.
A wide shot of the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal faced Real Madrid in 2008.

The inaugural Emirates Cup took place on 28 July and 29 July 2007 and was well attended, with over 110,000 people filling the stadium across the two-day tournament. Each club played two sides; Valencia and Arsenal did not face each other, and Inter did not play against Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal won the first tournament, having beaten their French opponents 2–1 and defeated Inter by the same scoreline, courtesy of a late strike by Robin van Persie . The following year Hamburg made an appearance alongside Real Madrid and Juventus, and won the tournament as they finished two points clear of second-place Real.

In 2009, Arsenal welcomed Atlético Madrid, Rangers , and Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates Cup. The hosts regained the trophy winning both of their matches and scoring five goals; midfielder Jack Wilshere was twice named man of the match for his performances against Atlético Madrid and Rangers. Arsenal retained the Emirates Cup in 2010, but failed to top the table in the next three tournaments. New York Red Bulls, who were captained by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, won the Emirates Cup in 2011, after beating Paris Saint-Germain and drawing with the hosts. The tournament did not take place in 2012 due to the ongoing Summer Olympics in London; it was believed that the capital's infrastructure was not able to cater for the extra 100,000 supporters that usually attend the two-day event. When the Emirates Cup resumed in 2013, Turkish side Galatasaray earned nine points to finish top of the group, and a year later Valencia became the first Spanish winners of the tournament as the hosts lost their decisive game against Monaco.

Arsenal claimed their fourth Emirates Cup in 2015; the competition was held on the final weekend of July. The hosts scored seven goals in the tournament – six against Lyon, who later became the first team in the competition's history not to score a goal in either of their matches. Due to the extended schedule of UEFA Euro 2016 and essential pitch reconstruction works at the Emirates Stadium, the Emirates Cup did not take place in the pre-season period of the 2016–17 season. Two years later, stadium building work meant that once again the tournament did not take place; Arsenal instead played pre-season matches in the International Champions Cup.

The competition returned in 2019 with Arsenal Women featuring for the first time in the pre-season tournament, where they faced Bayern Munich. In the men's tournament, Lyon defeated Arsenal 2–1 to win their first title. The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tournaments

A coloured photograph of the Arsenal players celebrating their first Emirates Cup win.
Arsenal won the inaugural Emirates Cup held in 2007.
Ed.YearWinnerRunner-upThirdFourthRef.20072008200920102011201320142015201720192022202320242025
1ArsenalParis Saint-GermainValenciaInter Milan
2Hamburger SVReal MadridArsenalJuventus
3Arsenal (2)RangersAtlético MadridParis Saint-Germain
4Arsenal (3)LyonCelticMilan
5New York Red BullsParis Saint-GermainArsenalBoca Juniors
6GalatasarayPortoArsenalNapoli
7ValenciaArsenalMonacoBenfica
8Arsenal (4)VillarrealVfL WolfsburgLyon
9Arsenal (5)SevillaRB LeipzigBenfica
10LyonArsenalcolspan=2
11Arsenal (6)Sevillacolspan=2last=Blitzfirst=Samdate=30 July 2022title=Arsenal 6–0 Sevilla: Gabriel Jesus scores hat-trick as Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah round off Emirates Cup thrashingurl=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12661436/arsenal-6-0-sevilla-gabriel-jesus-scores-hat-trick-as-bukayo-saka-and-eddie-nketiah-round-off-emirates-cup-thrashingurl-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714231932/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12661436/arsenal-6-0-sevilla-gabriel-jesus-scores-hat-trick-as-bukayo-saka-and-eddie-nketiah-round-off-emirates-cup-thrashingarchive-date=14 July 2023access-date=30 July 2022website=Sky Sportslanguage=en}}
12Arsenal (7)Monacocolspan=2last=Rogersfirst=Jonathondate=2 August 2023title=Report: Arsenal 1–1 Monaco (5–4 pens)url=https://www.arsenal.com/emirates-cup-match-report-eddie-nketiah-gabriel-penalty-shootoutaccess-date=3 August 2023publisher=Arsenal F.C.archive-date=3 August 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803005130/https://www.arsenal.com/emirates-cup-match-report-eddie-nketiah-gabriel-penalty-shootouturl-status=live }}
13Arsenal (8)Lyoncolspan=2
14Arsenal (9)Athletic Bilbaocolspan=2
Ed.YearWinnerScoreRunner-upRef.2019
1Bayern Munich1–0Arsenaltitle=Lyon beat Arsenal in friendly; Lacazette injuredurl=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/report?gameId=540531publisher=ESPNdate=28 July 2019access-date=27 March 2021archive-date=5 March 2021archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305044943/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/report?gameId=540531url-status=live}}

Performance by team

A coloured photograph of the Galatasaray squad standing on the podium and celebrating their Emirates Cup win.
Galatasaray was the first Turkish club to win the Emirates Cup.
A coloured photograph of manager Rafael Benítez standing on the stadium touchline.
url-status=live }}</ref>

Men's

TeamWinnerRunner-upThirdFourthTotalArsenalLyonValenciaGalatasarayHamburger SVNew York Red BullsParis Saint-GermainSevillaMonacoAthletic BilbaoPortoRangersReal MadridVillarrealAtlético MadridCelticRB LeipzigVfL WolfsburgBenficaBoca JuniorsInternazionaleJuventusMilanNapoli
92314
1214
112
11
11
11
213
22
112
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
22
11
11
11
11
11

Women's

TeamWinnerRunner-upTotalBayern MunichArsenal
11
11

References

References

  1. "The Emirates Cup". Emirates.
  2. (29 July 2011). "Emirates Cup 2011 – Rules and Regulations". Arsenal F.C..
  3. (15 May 2013). "Emirates Cup returns for summer 2013". Arsenal F.C..
  4. (28 July 2009). "Wenger – Goals galore at the Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C..
  5. Clarke, Richard. (29 March 2007). "Pre-season tournament planned for Emirates". Arsenal F.C..
  6. (1 May 2007). "Emirates Stadium to host pre-season tournament". Arsenal F.C..
  7. (11 June 2007). "Valencia replace Hamburg at Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C..
  8. (21 April 2008). "Emirates Cup brings out the big guns". Emirates.
  9. Clarke, Richard. (29 July 2007). "Emirates Cup: Arsenal 2–1 Inter Milan". Arsenal F.C..
  10. (7 April 2008). "European giants lined up for Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C..
  11. (22 July 2015). "History of the Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C..
  12. (8 May 2009). "Emirates Cup 2009 – Teams confirmed". Arsenal F.C..
  13. Prince-Wright, Joe. (31 July 2011). "Recap: Henry, New York tie Arsenal, take Emirates Cup". New York Red Bulls.
  14. (6 December 2011). "Emirates Cup is postponed until 2013". Arsenal F.C..
  15. Clarke, Richard. (4 August 2013). "Arsenal 1–2 Galatasaray". Arsenal F.C..
  16. (3 August 2014). "Arsenal beaten 1–0 by Monaco as Valencia win the Emirates Cup". BBC Sport.
  17. (26 July 2015). "Arsenal defeat Wolfsburg to secure the Emirates Cup". BBC Sport.
  18. (18 May 2015). "Emirates Cup 2015 line up confirmed". Arsenal F.C..
  19. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  20. (18 April 2016). "No Arsenal Emirates Cup this summer". Arsenal F.C..
  21. Yousif, Layth. (17 April 2018). "Arsenal to play Atletico Madrid and PSG in Singapore". Islington Gazette.
  22. (28 July 2019). "Arsenal throw away half-time lead as Moussa Dembele fires Lyon to Emirates Cup victory".
  23. James, Josh. (31 July 2023). "The complete history of the Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C..
  24. Saaid, Hamdan. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  25. Saaid, Hamdan. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2008". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  26. Ciullini, Pablo. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2009". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  27. Ciullini, Pablo. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2010". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  28. Ciullini, Pablo. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2011". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  29. Ciullini, Pablo. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2013". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  30. Ciullini, Pablo. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2014". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  31. Ciullini, Pablo. (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2015". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  32. (31 July 2017). "Arsenal win Emirates Cup despite lesser wins than Sevilla". The Indian Express.
  33. Blitz, Sam. (30 July 2022). "Arsenal 6–0 Sevilla: Gabriel Jesus scores hat-trick as Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah round off Emirates Cup thrashing".
  34. Rogers, Jonathon. (2 August 2023). "Report: Arsenal 1–1 Monaco (5–4 pens)". Arsenal F.C..
  35. (11 August 2024). "Arsenal 2–0 Lyon: William Saliba and Gabriel on target as Gunners rely on familiar threat in Emirates Cup win".
  36. Deniran-Alleyne, Tashan. (9 August 2025). "Arsenal 3–0 Athletic Club: Viktor Gyokeres scores as Gunners clinch Emirates Cup in final pre-season test".
  37. (28 July 2019). "Lyon beat Arsenal in friendly; Lacazette injured". ESPN.
  38. Hytner, David. (3 August 2013). "Arsenal turn boos to cheers after coming back to draw with Napoli". The Guardian.
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