Everton’s first preseason game of the 2026-27 summer took place on Saturday, July 18, when they faced Dundee at Den’s Park Stadium. After a week-long training camp in Scotland, the Toffees finally moved into match mode, although the squad was short of several players because World Cup participants had been given an extended break.
The fixture also gave Everton an early look at their new away kit, which was used for the first time in Dundee. It was a useful first step in 2026-27 preseason preparations, even if the group was not yet at full strength.
Who was involved before the match?
One encouraging detail for Everton was the full involvement of Jarrad Branthwaite in training before the game. That offered a positive sign as the club began building toward the new campaign.
Among the other names noted around the camp were Jordan Pickford, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Nathan Patterson and Hayden Hackney, but the main point for this opening fixture was that Everton were operating without the full group available.
A first step in the summer
The timing of the game was also clear for supporters following from different time zones. Everton played Dundee at 6:00 a.m. PT, 9:00 a.m. ET and 2:00 p.m. BST on Saturday, July 18, with conditions in Dundee set at 64°F, 18°C, a 10% chance of precipitation and 7 mph wind.
For Everton, this was less about conclusions and more about starting points. The first pre-season fixture of the summer offered a chance to settle into rhythm after a week in Scotland, and to begin easing the squad into the demands of a new season.
