Exclusive:Portsmouth explore potential friendly in Germany as pre-season plans take shape
The Blues are finalising their pre-season friendly schedule
Pompey are exploring introducing a potential German fixture into their pre-season preparations.
The Blues are presently finalising their summer schedule, with a trip to Aldershot and a Pompey XI match at Moneyfields in the public domain so far.
The News understands there is also the possibility of facing a Bundesliga 2 side away from Fratton Park, which would complete their summer friendly programme.
With the Carabao Cup kicking off the 2026-27 season on August 8, Pompey are keen on increasing the calibre of opposition in the build up.
Pencilled in for August 1
Following the culmination of the 2025-26 Championship season, the Blues launched a £1.5m project to install a hybrid playing surface and improved drainage.
Although the work is anticipated to be finished before the end of July, there remains a contingency plan, with the Blues pencilling in both home and away friendlies on the final Saturday before the season’s start.
In terms of an away fixture, an unnamed club in Germany is under consideration - a potential destination which no doubt would delight the Fratton faithful.
Last faced Europa FC on foreign soil in July 2023
Although details of Pompey’s latest pre-season training camp have yet to be announced, John Mousinho has long insisted his preference is not to have a match as part of that week-long period.
As a consequence, the last time a friendly was part of a tour was in July 2023, when the Blues faced Gibraltar side Europa FC at Estadio Jose Burgos De Quintana in Malaga, Spain.
On that occasion, Mousinho’s men won 1-0 through a Colby Bishop penalty, albeit the match represented their first fixture of that pre-season.
In subsequent years, Medulin (Croatia) and Samorin (Slovakia) have hosted Pompey training camps. Although each took place without a friendly, the club instead organised an open training session for supporters to attend.
However, the possibility of watching Pompey play in Germany as part of their summer schedule would be greatly appreciated by fans - and likely to be well attended.
As it stands, a possible German friendly is still being thrashed out, although the Blues are not yet in a position to release full details of their pre-season plans.
Pre-season friendly at Aldershot
National League side Aldershot have already announced they will be hosting Mousinho’s men on Wednesday, July 15.
In addition, at the end of last week Moneyfields revealed they will be entertaining the Blues on Tuesday, July 28 (7.45pm).
That John Jenkins Stadium clash is likely to be a Pompey XI fixture, with a youthful team being sent to their non-league neighbours.
The final friendly ahead of the 2025-26 campaign was at Fratton Park against Dutch club PEC Zwolle in August 2025.
Mousinho’s side ran out 1-0 winners though Thomas Waddingham’s late goal, watched by a crowd of 8,237, including 226 away fans.