Sunderland confirm pre-season plans as Black Cats head for the USA

Sunderland will return to the USA this summer after the club announced a ‘complex’ pre-season tour.

The Black Cats players will spend 10 days Stateside between July 12 and July 22, with them playing three games during that time.

The squad will initially head for Austin, Texas and play San Antonio FC at Toyota Field on July 15. That will be followed by a move to Albuquerque where they will face New Mexico FC at Isotopes Park on 19 July.

The final game will be on July 21, although the opposition is yet to be confirmed.

“We are really excited to be taking the team back to the US in the summer of 2023,” Kristjaan Speakman said.

“It’s been a complex planning process over the past 12 months, as we wanted to ensure we combined a first-class training programme with an opportunity to engage with our overseas fanbase.

“We hope the multi-city approach will allow plenty of supporters to engage with the team and by announcing our plans well in advance, we also hope to see some familiar faces make the trip from the UK.”

There will be some fan engagement events as well, with fans invited to watch some training sessions as well.

It will be the first time Sunderland have been to the USA on a pre-season tour since 2015.