Bournemouth are reportedly set to face Bundesliga side Mainz in Germany on August 15 as part of their final preparations for the new season. With Premier League clubs rarely making a continental trip for just one match, speculation is growing that another European fixture could follow.
AFC Bournemouth appear set to round off their preparations for the 2026/27 campaign with a trip to Germany to face Bundesliga side Mainz 05, according to reports from German publication Allgemeine Zeitung.
While the fixture has not yet been officially confirmed by Bournemouth, the report claims the Cherries will travel to the MEWA Arena on Saturday, August 15, for what would be their final pre-season outing before the new season gets underway away to Manchester City.
With Premier League clubs increasingly opting for overseas training camps and pre-season tours, it has become common practice for English top-flight sides to schedule at least two matches during European excursions, so should the reported clash with Mainz be confirmed, it would not be a surprise to see Bournemouth announce an additional fixture elsewhere in Europe in the days leading up to their trip to Germany.
© Steffen PrößdorfThe fixture would see a familiar face return to Mainz. Bournemouth's incoming head coach Marco Rose, who is due to officially take charge on July 1, previously represented the German club as a player. According to the report, Mainz are preparing to welcome Rose and his new side back to the MEWA Arena in what promises to be a significant test for both teams.
Mainz finished 10th in the Bundesliga during the 2025/26 season, collecting 40 points from 34 matches. Although unable to replicate the sixth-place finish that secured European qualification the previous year, they remained comfortably clear of relegation and continued to establish themselves as a solid top-flight side.
With Mainz balancing domestic and European commitments last season, they reached the second round of the DFB-Pokal and enjoyed a respectable run in the UEFA Conference League before eventually being eliminated in the knockout stages.
For Bournemouth, the fixture would represent another high-quality challenge as preparations intensify ahead of a historic campaign. The club will compete in European football for the first time after securing a sixth-place Premier League finish last season, narrowly missing out on qualification for the Champions League owing to slip-ups by Manchester and Liverpool.
With nothing confirmed regarding the possibility of attending the fixture in person, reports in Germany suggest Mainz intend to stream all of their pre-season fixtures through the 05ER.tv website, potentially providing Bournemouth supporters with an opportunity to watch the match live should the fixture be confirmed.
As things stand, Bournemouth have yet to officially announce the game. However, with speculation growing over a possible European-based pre-season schedule, a trip to Mainz would fit neatly into the club's preparations before embarking on one of the most significant seasons in its history.
