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EXCLUSIVE: Premier League club heading to New Zealand
Alex Chapman • March 20th, 2026 4:03 pm
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero | Photo: AP
One of the most-recognisable clubs in world football is heading to Aotearoa.
Sport Nation understands that Premier League side Tottenham will play Auckland FC at Eden Park, less than two weeks after the men’s FIFA World Cup final on July 20.
While the exact date is yet to be confirmed, it’s understood to be for around the time the club will be in Australia for an already-scheduled tour.
An official announcement on the Auckland match is expected in the next fortnight.
When contacted by Sport Nation, Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker said he wouldn’t want to comment on rumour.
Auckland FC celebrating in front of 'The Port' at Go Media Stadium | Photo: Shane Wenzlick/Photosport
It was announced in December that as part of the “Sydney Super Cup”, Spurs will play Sydney FC on July 29 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, before facing Chelsea on August 1 across town at Accor Stadium.
Chelsea will also take on the Western Sydney Wanderers at Accor on July 28.
With the Premier League due to commence on August 22, it will be a pre-season tour for the Premier League sides, though the A-League will be a month into its off-season and likely more than two months before the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
Tottenham’s match against the Black Knights will be a Premier League club’s first trip to New Zealand in a dozen years. In July 2014, the Wellington Phoenix stunned West Ham 2-1, before losing 1-0 to Newcastle United two days later. Both games were in the Capital.
At the time, the Hammers had former All Whites captain Winston Reid as a mainstay of their defence.
Whether Spurs will still be a Premier League club though by the time their tour rolls around, remains to be seen. Founded in 1882, the North London side were last relegated in 1977, though currently sit 16th, just one point above relegation, with eight games to play.
Having last season earned a spot in the Champions League after winning their first trophy in 17 years with victory in the Europa League, Spurs yesterday were bundled out in the round of 16 by Atalanta.
Auckland FC is developing parochialism that other teams would kill for | Sport Nation
