Updated: August 15, 2026

Newcastle United host Bayer Leverkusen at St. James' Park in the final stages of their pre-season preparations.

Newcastle vs Leverkusen: Kickoff Time and Preview

Newcastle vs Leverkusen takes place on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with Newcastle United hosting Bayer 04 Leverkusen at St. James' Park. The match is part of Newcastle's VisitMalta Weekender and is a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2026/27 domestic campaigns.

The game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. BST in Newcastle, equivalent to 2:00 p.m. UTC. For viewers in Bangladesh, kickoff is at approximately 8:00 p.m. Bangladesh Standard Time. Newcastle's official fixture information confirms the 3 p.m. start at St. James' Park, while Leverkusen's schedule lists the same fixture at 4 p.m. Central European Summer Time.

When Is Newcastle vs Leverkusen?

Newcastle United face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, August 15. The official Newcastle schedule lists a 3:00 p.m. BST kickoff at St. James' Park. Sky Sports also lists the match for 3 p.m. local UK time.

That means fans in Bangladesh can expect the match to begin at around 8:00 p.m. BST. The fixture is scheduled as a friendly, so it does not carry Premier League or UEFA competition points.

Where Is the Match Being Played?

The match will be played at St. James' Park, Newcastle United's home ground in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the opening men's fixture of the club's two-day VisitMalta Weekender 2026, which brings European opposition to Tyneside for Newcastle's final home pre-season preparations.

Newcastle's official announcement describes the weekend as an opportunity for the men's and women's squads to intensify their preparations in front of home supporters. The matches are also being contested for VisitMalta Cup trophies.

Is Newcastle vs Leverkusen a Competitive Match?

No. Newcastle vs Leverkusen is a pre-season friendly. Both clubs are using the fixture to sharpen match fitness, assess tactical options and prepare their squads for competitive football.

Newcastle's next scheduled match after Leverkusen is another home friendly against RC Strasbourg on Sunday, August 16. Their Premier League campaign then begins at home against Liverpool on August 23.

How Has Newcastle's Pre-Season Gone?

Newcastle have been building toward the new season through a series of friendlies. Their published schedule includes matches against Darlington, Gateshead, Bristol City, Valencia and Everton before the Leverkusen meeting.

The Magpies' recent pre-season results have included a 3-0 victory over Darlington behind closed doors and a 1-1 draw with Gateshead. Newcastle also lost 4-1 away to Bristol City on July 29, making the Leverkusen game another useful examination of the squad before competitive action begins.

How Is Bayer Leverkusen's Pre-Season Going?

Leverkusen have also completed an extensive preparation schedule. Bundesliga's official pre-season guide lists friendlies against Sportfreunde Baumberg, Kickers Offenbach, Genk, Rot-Weiss Essen, Sevilla, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

The German club have therefore faced a mixture of lower-league opposition and established European teams before travelling to England. Their final pre-season fixture against Newcastle comes one week before their first competitive DFB-Pokal match.

Leverkusen Enter a New Era

The Newcastle fixture is also notable because Bayer Leverkusen have a new head coach for the 2026/27 campaign. Carles Martínez replaced Kasper Hjulmand at the start of June, giving the club a new tactical direction ahead of the season.

Leverkusen finished sixth in the Bundesliga last season and secured qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Their opening competitive fixture this season is scheduled against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal on August 22.

Newcastle vs Leverkusen Team News

Because this is a pre-season fixture, both Eddie Howe and Carles Martínez have considerable flexibility over player selection. Managers often use these matches to manage workloads, test formations and give playing time to players competing for places.

For that reason, projected lineups should not be treated as confirmed. The official starting XIs will provide the clearest indication of each manager's priorities shortly before kickoff.

Why Is Newcastle vs Leverkusen Trending?

The fixture has attracted attention because it brings a Premier League club and a Bundesliga side together at a major stadium just before the new domestic seasons begin. Newcastle are using a home audience to complete their preparations, while Leverkusen are finishing an English tour that also included a meeting with Nottingham Forest.

There is also additional interest because the two clubs met in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase. The previous encounter in Germany ended 2-2, giving supporters another reason to watch this summer's rematch.

What Happens After the Match?

Newcastle remain at St. James' Park for the second day of their VisitMalta Weekender, facing Strasbourg on Sunday, August 16. The Magpies then begin Premier League competition against Liverpool on August 23.

Leverkusen return to Germany for their first competitive match against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal on August 22 before opening their Bundesliga campaign away to Elversberg on August 29.

Bottom Line

Newcastle vs Leverkusen is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, at St. James' Park. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. BST, or approximately 8:00 p.m. in Bangladesh.

The friendly represents an important final preparation opportunity for both teams. Newcastle are preparing for a Premier League campaign that begins against Liverpool, while Leverkusen are entering a new season under Carles Martínez and have their DFB-Pokal opener one week later.