Newport County to host Roma friendly on 4 August

Newport County will host Serie A side Roma in a pre‑season friendly at Rodney Parade on Tuesday, 4 August, as part of the Exiles’ preparation for the 2026‑27 League Two campaign. The match follows Roma’s eight‑day training camp in Wales and will be one of three friendlies the Italian club plays before returning to Rome on 8 August.

Newport County are preparing for another season in League Two after narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the 2025‑26 campaign. The Exiles see the fixture as a high‑profile warm‑up ahead of their league start later in August.

Reports suggest Cardiff City could also host Roma, possibly on the first weekend of August, before the Welsh club returns to the Championship. Cardiff lack a warm‑up match for the first week of August, making the proposed fixture convenient.

Roma confirmed on their website that the Italian side will travel to Wales at the end of July for an eight‑day training camp. The camp will be based at Hensol Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan, the same complex used by the Bluebirds.

During the stay, Roma’s players will spend just over a week in Hensol, taking part in three friendly matches. The squad is scheduled to leave Wales and return to Rome on 8 August.

A home friendly against a Champions League‑qualified club would be a significant coup for Newport County. The match promises to attract attention and provide valuable preparation for the Exiles.

Roma are gearing up for a return to the Champions League for the first time in eight years after finishing third in Serie A last season. Their pre‑season programme in Wales forms part of the build‑up to the European campaign.

The opening round of the new English Football League season is set for 14–16 August, with fixtures released on 25 June. Newport County’s friendly on 4 August precedes the league kickoff by ten days.