Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City commenced their pre-season preparations with a decisive 3-1 victory over the K-League All Stars at the Seoul World Cup StadiumVenue·Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The match, part of the "2026 Coupang Play SeriesCompetition·Coupang Play Series," provided new manager Enzo Maresca with his first win at the helm.
City's attacking prowess was evident early, with all three of their goals arriving before the half-time whistle. Rayan Ait-Nouri opened the scoring, followed by Tijjani ReijndersPlayer·Tijjani Reijnders, and Divin MubamaPlayer·Divin Mubama added a third. The K-League All Stars responded in the opening period through Kim Dae-WonPlayer·Kim Dae-Won, ensuring an engaging first half for the spectators. The second half, characterized by 24 substitutions across both squads, saw a reduction in tempo, with the scoreline remaining unchanged. Players contended with challenging conditions, as temperatures hovered around 36 degrees Celsius at kick-off.
Enzo Maresca utilized the friendly to evaluate his squad and implement new tactical approaches. The starting XI featured Gianluigi DonnarummaPlayer·Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, a defensive line including Khusanov, captain Rúben Dias, and Joško Gvardiol, with Ait-Nouri and Rico LewisPlayer·Rico Lewis also featuring. Recent additions Matheus NunesPlayer·Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, and Omar MarmoushPlayer·Omar Marmoush were available for selection, integrating into the team's structure. Phil FodenPlayer·Phil Foden, a key creative force for City, was expected to influence proceedings, building on his 12 goal contributions (seven goals and five assists) in 33 Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League appearances during the 2025-26 season.
The K-League All Stars showcased a selection of top talent from the K League 1, including goalkeeper Cho Hyeon-wooPlayer·Cho Hyeon-woo, defender Kim Young-gwonPlayer·Kim Young-gwon, and influential midfielders and forwards such as CesinhaPlayer·Cesinha, Mota, and BojanicPlayer·Bojanic. The composite team was guided by a dual coaching setup, with Chung Jung-yongCoach·Chung Jung-yong, the new coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and Chung Kyung-hoCoach·Chung Kyung-ho, Head Coach of Gangwon FCTeam·Gangwon FC, overseeing the side.
This win follows Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's previous pre-season outing, a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in Hong Kong, which they subsequently lost in a penalty shootout. Divin MubamaPlayer·Divin Mubama also found the net in that fixture, demonstrating his early pre-season form. City enters the new season having secured the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League title, FA CupCompetition·FA Cup, and Carabao CupCompetition·Carabao Cup in the 2025-26 campaign. The K-League All Stars, meanwhile, have a history of competitive showings in the Coupang Play SeriesCompetition·Coupang Play Series, notably defeating Newcastle UnitedTeam·Newcastle United 1-0 in July 2025.
As a pre-season friendly, the match carried no direct competition implications. Instead, it served as a vital component of Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's preparations for the demanding 2026-27 season and offered K-League's elite players valuable exposure against one of Europe's premier clubs.
"It was important for me to see my players work hard despite the tough conditions during the 3-1 win over K-League All Stars."— Enzo Maresca
Maresca also expressed satisfaction with the performance of returning loanee Vitor ReisPlayer·Vitor Reis during the pre-season Asian Tour. Kim Seong-han, a representative of Coupang Play, highlighted the series' growing stature.
"The Coupang Play Series, now in its fifth year, has become a representative sports event in Korea, and we are committed to providing the best experience for fans and expanding the foundation of Korean football."— Kim Seong-han
Tijjani Reijnders shoots for Manchester City against K-League All-Stars in Seoul. Credit: Matrix Images/IMAGO
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