It’s a clash that brings together last season’s two key domestic protagonists and represents an early opportunity for new manager Enzo Maresca and his squad to claim a first piece of silverware ahead of the rigours of the campaign.
To date City have played in the traditional curtain-raiser on 16 occasions, lifting the Shield seven times.
The Blues boast a proud Community Shield record overall.
And ahead of the game, we take a look back at the club’s previous victories in the showpiece occasion…
1937
City qualified for the game, then known as the Charity Shield, as league champions after scoring 107 goals on our way to our first title.
FA Cup winners Sunderland were our opponents for the match which was played at Maine Road.
Among the players lining up for the Blues were goalkeeper Frank Swift, centre half Bobby Marshall, and Eric Brook, who was the Club’s record goalscorer for nearly eight decades before he was overtaken by Sergio Aguero.
Peter Doherty and Alec Herd were on target for Wilf Wild’s side as we collected the Shield for the first time with a 2-0 victory.
But it would be the high point of a disappointing season as City were relegated to the second division the following year.
1968
After a defeat in the 1956 Charity Shield, City had to wait more than three decades before winning it for a second occasion.
Champions for a second time, City started the season in emphatic style with a 6-1 victory over FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion.
Bobby Owen and Francis Lee both hit braces, with Neil Young and a Graham Lovett own goal in sun-drenched rout which was again played at Maine Road.
It remains the joint highest margin of victory in its 115-year history.
We would play at Wembley later in the season when we won the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City setting us on the way to our first European success.
1972
The club’s third victory saw us beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park with Lee scoring the only goal of the match from the penalty spot.
Unusually, it was not the customary clash between the Division One champions and FA Cup winners with Derby County and Leeds United both declining to play.
City accepted an invitation to feature after finishing fourth in the league and faced Villa, who were the Division Three title winners.
It was also a notable occasion for the fact that City were able to make two substitutions with Derek Jeffries and Ian Mellor coming on.
2012
Having won the 2011/12 Premier League title in the most incredible finish ever thanks to Sergio Aguero’s 93:20 strike, Roberto Mancini’s side started the following season with a 3-2 Community Shield win over Chelsea.
Trailing to Fernando Torres’ opener, City hit back hit back with three goals in 12 minutes from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri, before Ryan Bertrand’s late consolation.
Though it was now traditional for Wembley Stadium to host the contest, this game was played at Villa Park to avoid clashing with the 2012 London Olympics.
2018
Chelsea were the opponents again six years later when Pep Guardiola collected the Shield for the first time.
After claiming the title by a record 100 points, the Premier League champions faced Maurizio Sarri’s FA Cup winners back at Wembley.
Aguero took his personal tally to 200 goals for the Club when he scored in each half of a 2-0 victory as City claimed the first of what would prove four domestic trophies in the 2018/19 Fourmidables season.
The game also marked the first City appearance for Riyad Mahrez following his move from Leicester City in the summer.
2019
City defended the trophy with a penalty shoot-out victory over Liverpool at Wembley following a 1-1 draw.
In celebration of our 125th anniversary season, City wore a special commemorative kit with a classic light blue design inspired by the Club’s history.
Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp had faced each other twice before in the German Super Cup – the equivalent when they were managing Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
Rodrigo made his debut for the Blues and Raheem Sterling put City ahead in the 12th minute but shortly afterwards Leroy Sane suffered a knee injury that was to rule him out for much of the season.
After a spectacular goalline clearance from Kyle Walker, Joel Matip headed in an equaliser for Liverpool to take the game to a penalty shootout.
Claudio Bravo was the hero, saving from Georginio Wijnaldum to give City a 5-4 win after successful spot-kicks from Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.
2024
City claimed a seventh Community Shield victory thanks to another dramatic penalty shoot-out victory - this time over Manchester United.
It was the third Manchester Wembley derby in just 15 months and again proved a competitive, hard-fought affair.
The Manchester rivals had drawn 1-1 over 90 minutes with Bernardo Silva’s 89th minute header having cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho’s opener seven minutes earlier.
That set the scene for another penalty shoot-out and though Bernardo saw his opening spot-kick saved, it was City who prevailed 7-6 with Jadon Sancho missing for United before Manuel Akanji sealed victory after Jonny Evans had blazed an effort over the bar.
It sealed Guardiola’s third Community Shield success and City’s seventh overall.
Premier League 2026/27 home tickets now on sale
General admission tickets for Manchester City’s home 2026/27 Premier League fixtures are now on sale to Premium, Matchday and Junior Members.
Season Ticket Members, meanwhile, are now also able to purchase additional tickets for selected games.
Premier League match-by-match ticket prices for junior and adult Matchday Members have been retained at the same rate for a third consecutive season.
It promises to be another thrilling campaign for the Blues as we enter a new era under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, who takes over from Pep Guardiola in the hotseat.
Make sure you secure your spot at the Etihad Stadium for our Premier League fixtures now!
