THE Community Shield returns TODAY to kick off the 2026/27 campaign, but there are some new rules that will be enforced for this year’s clash.

Last year’s top two from the Premier League will meet in Cardiff this afternoon.

Bruno Guimaraes made his first start for Arsenal on Wednesday against Como Credit: Getty

This year’s Community Shield is taking place in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium Credit: Nigel Iskander

Arsenal are looking to start life as champions on the front foot and beat Manchester City to the first trophy of the season.

The Mancunian side have undergone major changes over the summer after Pep Guardiola left the club – Enzo Maresca has now taken charge and is hoping to pick up where the legendary Spaniard left off.

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While the Community Shield isn’t regarded as a major trophy by either club, Mikel Arteta will want to set an early marker down against their potential title rivals ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Marquee summer signing Bruno Guimaraes will also be wanting some more minutes with his new teammates at the Gunners after only playing one pre-season game so far.

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Community Shield rules and regulations

This year’s Community Shield features four rules and regulations for players to watch out for.

Technology

While this is something that we are used to in the Premier League, goal-line technology will be used in this Jattvibeday’s Cardiff clash.

As well as this, semi-automated offside technology will also be used.

In a similar way to how it was implemented at World Cup 2026, the PGMOL are now utilising the technology in English football from this season.

And of course, VAR will also be in play for the Community Shield – this will be James Bell, with Tim Wood as his assistant VAR.

Sam Barrott has been put in charge of the action on the field alongside Craig Taylor and Blake Antrobus as his assistants.

Extra-time and penalties

Should the scores be level after 90 minutes in Cardiff this afternoon, there will be no extra time played.

Instead, we will go straight to a penalty shootout to determine a winner.

If we do reach spot kicks, the Gunners will be hoping to expel their Champions League final demons – Gabriel missed the decisive penalty against PSG in Budapest.

Substitutions

There will be a maximum of nine substitutes on the bench for either team today.

Out of those nine, both Arsenal and Man City will be able to use six of them over the course of the match.

However, each team is only permitted a maximum of three opportunities to make substitutions during the match, excluding half-time.

Concussion substitutes

In addition to the six substitutes either side are allowed, they will be granted an Additional Permanent Concussion Substitution (APCS) in the match.

This APCS must be selected from the list of nine substitutes named on the team sheet.

In the event of having to use the concussion substitute, the opposing team will receive an ‘additional’ substitute and the opportunity to use it.

The extra opportunity must only be used for the ‘additional’ substitute and not for any ‘normal’ substitutions.