A pre‑season plan thrown off course
Brighton and Hove Albion had been preparing for the upcoming 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a series of friendly matches and training sessions in the French Alps, but a sudden turn of events forced a rapid reshuffle of their itinerary.
The cause was not a tactical decision by the squad but the aftermath of the G7 summit in Evian‑les‑Bains, where helicopter arrivals by world leaders left the local soccer pitches scarred and unusable.
Among those who touched down on the compromised fields were former U.S. president Donald Trump, Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron, each using the venue for brief landings during the summit.
From France to the Austrian Alps
With the turf unable to recover in time, the club announced a swift relocation of its European pre‑season camp to Austria, where training facilities remained intact.
The move allows the team to continue its build‑up to the new season while avoiding further disruption, and it underscores the logistical challenges that can arise when global events intersect with sport.
Looking ahead to the new campaign
Brighton’s first league match will be at home against Aston Villa on August 23, marking the start of a schedule that began with an eighth‑place finish the previous term.
The club’s management says the change of base may even provide fresh inspiration as they aim to improve on last season’s standing.