Willkommen: Portsmouth booked for third Germany visit in 56 years as friendly set to be announced
Since 1970, the only German clubs the Blues have travelled to are MSV Duisburg and Wolfsburg
Pompey are set to confirm a summer friendly against a Bundesliga 2 side.
And it will represent only the third time the Blues have played in Germany over the last 56 years.
An agreement is now in place, with the Blues currently keeping the identity of the opposition under wraps until they are ready to officially unveil the fixture.
The match, which will be played away from Fratton Park, will serve as John Mousinho’s final pre-season game before the 2026-27 campaign kicks off on August 8 with a Carabao Cup tie.
Wolfsburg in the Uefa Cup
It also represents a rare Pompey trip to Germany, having last played there in December 2008 on a bitterly cold night in Wolfsburg.
They also faced MSV Duisburg in September 1970 as part of 20th anniversary celebrations to mark the twinning of both cities, ending in a 4-0 defeat for Ron Tindall’s men.
Until this summer, they’re the last two examples of Pompey playing in Germany, either competitively or as a friendly.
So far Aldershot (Wednesday, July 15) is the only fixture in the Blues’ pre-season schedule which has been confirmed, albeit from the National League side’s end.
Gosport, the Hawks and Bognor off the table this summer
Although Moneyfields have announced a Blues friendly at the John Jenkins Stadium on Tuesday, July 28 (7.45pm), it is understood it will be against a Pompey XI in the form of the Academy.
As a consequence, Pompey are poised to unveil all of their pre-season programme from this week, which includes travelling to Germany.
Back in 2008, Tony Adams’ men suffered a 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg in a Uefa Cup clash in front of 21,015 at the Volkswagen Arena.
Jermaine Defoe and Arnold Mvuemba were the Blues’ scorers as they found themselves 2-1 up after 14 minutes. However, Zviezdan Misimovic’s goal 16 minutes from time settled the match in the hosts’ favour.
On the Wolfsburg scoresheet that evening was Edin Dzeko, who Pompey attempted to sign that season, without success.
He later moved to Manchester City in January 2011 for a £27m fee and, at the age of 40, was still playing for Schalke last season, helping them win promotion from Bundesliga 2.
20th anniversary celebrations with MSV Duisburg
In September 1970, the Blues took part in two matches against MSV Duisburg as part of 20th anniversary celebrations to mark the twinning of the cities.
Boss Ron Tindall, who had taken over from the long-serving George Smith at the end of the 1969-70 season, saw his side lose 4-0 at Duisburg, a club based north of Dusseldorf in the west of Germany.
The Blues, who struck the bar and a post in the defeat, included John Milkins, George Ley, Norman Piper, Eoin Hand, Mike Trebilcock, Ray Hiron, Albie McCann and Nicky Jennings in their starting XI.
The following month, the Bundesliga side visited Fratton Park and once again were victorious, this time by a 2-0 scoreline in front of a 4,414 crowd.
Pompey’s last pre-season friendly played abroad was in July 2023, when the Blues faced Gibraltar side Europa FC at Estadio Jose Burgos De Quintana in Malaga, Spain.
The match marked their first fixture that summer, with Mousinho’s men winning 1-0 through a Colby Bishop penalty ahead of a 2023-24 campaign which would yield the League One title - and a long-awaited Championship return.