Friday 31st July 2026
Sunderland v Leeds United – Friendly
Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey
Kick-Off: 00:30 (BST)
Tickets & Match Coverage
TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available via safc.com.
Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)
Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle at www.RokerReport.sbnation.com!
The build-up…
Following our defeat to Liverpool in Nashville, we move on to part two of Sunderland’s adventure in the US as the Lads take on Leeds United
in New Jersey tonight… or tomorrow actually… I think. Aye, thirty minutes into our Friday, that’ll dee.
There’s quite often an element of feeling you’re missing out when Sunderland are off on a pre-season tour, but this one looks like a party, and it’s one the club are more than playing their part in. With arranged events that include former players, the fans over there look like they’re having a party, and long may it continue!
It says something for the status of these games that for the Liverpool game, I was in a bar in Lisbon, and, ok, it was against Liverpool, but they made sure it was on the big screen without me saying anything and everyone in the bar was watching. It’s probably a good question if you ask why, but these games and tours help to raise a club’s profile.
Our opponents for this one are Leeds, and for non-competitive games I looked back to the early 1970’s where we played them in quick succession. In May 1974, Stokoe’s side travelled to Elland Road for Billy Bremner’s testimonial, which I imagine might have had a few tasty tackles being a year after our Wembley win. In 1976 the West Yorkshire club repaid the favour when they came down to Roker for Bobby Kerr’s testimonial and the visitors ran out 2-1 winners.
As for today’s game, it’s the third friendly in total, and the second across the pond, so we can expect more of the same, I reckon. Split sides, where minutes in the legs are the most important aspect, but at the same time we’ll be on the lookout for where players are used and little hints we might get in the patterns of play. But I hope all the lads and lasses out there continue the party whatever the outcome!
Head to head…
(All competitive competitions)
- Sunderland wins: 37
- Draws: 22
- Leeds wins: 41
- Sunderland goals: 133
- Leeds goals: 139
Last time we met… in a friendly!
Monday 26th April 1976
Bobby Kerr’s Testimonial
Sunderland 1-2 Leeds United
[Hughes 10’ – McNiven 13’, Clarke 51’]
Sunderland: Swinburne, Malone, Bolton, Towers, Ashurst, Moncur, Kerr, Train, Halom (Holden), Porterfield (Robson), Hughes
Leeds: Harvey, Reaney, Hampton, Bremner, Madeley, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, McNiven, Stevenson, Bates Substitutes not used: McGhie, Liddell, Thomas
Attendance: 24,880
