Wigan Athletic will make the most of home comforts this pre-season. Unlike previous years, the Latics squad will not be jetting out for a warm-weather training camp.
What's behind the decision?
The decision to stay at home was made by Gary Caldwell, the team's manager. He sees the value in group activities and going away, but with the transfer market being slower due to the World Cup, the team doesn't have their whole squad yet.
Financial considerations
Taking a team abroad requires a huge financial commitment, with costs running into six figures, including staff, equipment, and everything else that entails. If the team doesn't have their whole squad, they won't get the full benefit of the trip.
Team building exercises
Gary Caldwell still wants to do team building exercises, but he wants to make it a little different rather than having six weeks of monotony - training, friendly, training, friendly. The team will spend an extra week at their Christopher Park base, where they will focus on preparing for the 2026/27 campaign.
Upcoming fixtures
Latics have four friendly fixtures confirmed ahead of the new campaign, starting with the visit of Port Vale on Saturday, July 18. Their League One season will begin on Saturday, August 8, with a trip to Cambridge United.
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| July 18 | Port Vale | 1pm |
| July 26 | AFC Fylde | 3pm |
| July 31 | Southport | 7.45pm |
| August 1 | Grimsby Town | |
| August 8 | Cambridge United |
As of June 30, 2026, Wigan Athletic are 16th in League One, with 56 points from 46 games, and a recent form of LLDWW. They have scored 49 goals and conceded 58, with a goal difference of -9. The team is 47 points behind leaders Lincoln. The money saved from not going overseas will be used to update the facilities at the training ground, which will have a lasting impact on the team's performance.
