Welsh football pre-season guide 2023

Image source, Lewis Mitchell/Huw Evans Agency

Image caption, Swansea City made history once again in 2022/23 repeating a league double over Cardiff City first achieved after 111 years in 2021/2022

Preparations have begun for the new 2023-24 EFL season that will see Wales represented by four clubs for the first time in 35 years.

Not since 1988 have Wales have had Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham all in the top four divisions.

And all four are already back in pre-season training ahead of a campaign that will see Championship rivals Cardiff and Swansea both kick-off with new managers following the appointment of Erol Bulut at the Bluebirds and the arrival of Michael Duff at the Swans.

With Wrexham fans - and US TV audiences - excited at the prospect of starting life in League Two under Phil Parkinson and Graham Coughlan's Newport aiming to build on a promising end to last term, all four managers will be hoping their sides will be ready to go come the opening weekend on 5 August.

Warm-up games will be a key part of that so, as the schedule begins to take shape, here is 大象传媒 Sport Wales' guide to their pre-season fixtures.

Saturday 1 July

Cardiff City 2-0 Penybont

Tuesday 4 July

Cardiff City 3-1 The New Saints

Friday 7 July

Cardiff City 1-1 Cambridge United

Saturday 8 July

Swansea City 2-0 Haverfordwest

Undy 0-4 Newport County

Tuesday 11 July

Cardiff City 1-1 Bristol Rovers & Cardiff City 1-0 Bristol Rovers (*Two 60 minute games)

Pontypridd United 1-2 Newport County

Friday 14 July

Sheffield FC 1-0 Newport County

Saturday 15 July

Swansea City 5-0 Swindon Town

Wrexham 4-2 Bala Town

Tuesday 18 July

Swansea City 5-0 Newport County

Image source, Jan Kruger - The FA

Image caption, Wrexham end a 15-year absence from the EFL 10 years after Newport County secured their own return to League Two - with a Wembley victory over the north Walians

Wednesday 19 July

SC Braga 1-0 Cardiff City

Thursday 20 July

Chelsea 5-0 Wrexham

Friday 21 July

Oxford United 1-0 Swansea City

Saturday 22 July

Bristol City 8-0 Newport County

Porto 4-0 Cardiff City

Sunday 23 July

LA Galaxy II 0-4 Wrexham

Tuesday 25 July

Swansea City 0-2 Bristol Rovers

Yeovil Town 2-0 Newport County

Wednesday 26 July

Manchester United 1-3 Wrexham

Saturday 29 July

Newport County 1-1 Cheltenham Town

Philadelphia Union II 1-1 Wrexham

Reading 0-4 Swansea City

Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Cardiff City