2026–2027 Preseason Friendlies: Swansea vs. Udinese, Probable Lineups

An all-black-and-white showdown at Swansea.com Stadium for a friendly match that kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Italian time on Friday, pitting Swansea—a Welsh club competing in the EFL Championship (the English second division), against Udinese, which is set to return to the field following its 2-2 draw against Istra 1961 in its first preseason match of the new season.

With a long history of Welsh soccer in English leagues (the club joined the Football League in 1920), Swansea is coming off eight consecutive seasons in the second tier of English soccer. Last year, the team finished the season in the middle of the pack, in 11th place, and has not played in the Premier League since the 2017–2018 season.

Udinese heads into the 2026–2027 season confident in its abilities and buoyed by a top-ten finish in the league for the first time since 2012–2013. German head coach Kosta Runjaic has been retained for a third consecutive season: the goal is to build on last year’s performance and help the Bianconeri of Friuli surpass the 50-point mark once again.

Probable Lineups

SWANSEA (4-2-3-1): Farman; Heywood, Lissah, A. Parker, Cabango; Congreve, S. Parker; D. Watts, Cooper, Fulton; Idah. Head Coach: Vitor Matos.

UDINESE (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Abankwah, Kristensen, Solet; Bertola, Zarraga, Miller, Arizala; Pejicic, Gomez; Bayo. Head Coach: Runjaic.