On July 23rd Manchester City will arrive in the US to play their first pre-season match against Celtic. Notably, the Sky Blues were in the US last year as well for preseason. But, is there any reason as to why the Premier League champions regularly visit the United States? The results are there for all to see. The latest reports confirm that Pep Guardiola’s side is indeed the most-watched team in the US, continuing from where they left off in 2023.

As per X account Tolmie’s Hairdoo, Manchester City is the most followed team in America. Out of the 10 most viewed PL games in the country, the Sky Blues feature in 4 of them. Notably, one of the games, Manchester City’s clash against Arsenal at the Etihad was watched by a staggering 2.6 million! Previously, reports stated that Guardiola’s side was the most-watched team in the country with an average viewership of 36.9 million in 2023. In contrast, their city rivals Manchester United had just 13.4 million viewers in the same period.

It’s not just the Sky Blues whose stocks are on the rise. The Premier League viewership has increased by 4% and stands now at 546,000. A key reason behind this jump is due to the clubs scheduling more tours to the country. Manchester City has been in the US thrice since 2017. Moreover, coach Pep Guardiola made a cameo appearance in the popular TV series Ted Lasso. This was a significant move as it showcased the Manchester City brand as more than a soccer club.

Furthermore, Manchester City looks set to increase its standing in the US through the upcoming visit. The hype is through the roof as WWE superstar John Cena is involved in the promotions. Yet, despite how the preseason tour brings a whole array of benefits to the club, Manager Pep Guardiola isn’t a big fan.

Pep Guardiola reveals he is not in favor of Manchester City touring the US

Pep Guardiola has always made it clear that he does not support the fixture congestion in the Premier League. After a grueling 10-month campaign, the players have very little time to rest. Concerned about the wellbeing of his players, the Spanish tactician explained why he is against a cross-continent trip. Guardiola said, “I would love to not go to another continent to play, have one more week holiday, train here.”

However, as always, the veteran managers understood the plot. He added, “But we have to understand the clubs, not just Manchester City, all clubs. They need that financial resources to be sustainable and to do it.” While supporters in the US are excited to watch the Sky Blues take on Chelsea, Barcelona, and AC Milan, Guardiola won’t be sharing the same sentiment in the future.