Tottenham vs Wycombe Wanderers: Pre‑Season Friendly at Hotspur Way – July 26, 2025
Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Wycombe Wanderers
Date: Saturday, 26 July 2025
Kick-off: 11:00 BST (3:30 PM IST)
Venue: Hotspur Way (Tottenham training centre, behind closed doors)
Background & Context
This behind-closed-doors match was a late addition to Spurs’ pre-season schedule, created to give more players minutes before traveling to Asia. Notably, Tottenham played two friendlies on the same day — against Wycombe at 11 AM and Luton Town later at 3 PM.
Wycombe Wanderers, recently relegated from the Championship, were preparing for a League One campaign and used this fixture as a fitness gauge. This was their first match since mid‑May, following their play-off semi-final exit.
Teams & Starting Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur
Manager Thomas Frank rotated his squad heavily, integrating senior stars with youth prospects—Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Archie Gray, Mathys Tel featured prominently.
Confirmed XI: Brandon Austin (GK), Pedro Porro, Luka Vuskovic, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies; Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Will Bissouma; Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung‑min (captain). Substitutes included several academy players and squad rotation options.
Wycombe Wanderers
Under new head coach Mike Dodds, Wycombe named a near full-strength League One side.
Wycombe XI: Van Sas (GK), Tilley, Allan, Casey, Westergaard, Quitirna, Mullins, Hagelskjaer, Leahy, Back, Udoh. Subs: Norris, Hartridge, Rosiak, Bartolo.
Match Flow & Key Moments
Because this match was played behind closed doors and is streamed via SpursPLAY only, there is no detailed public record of goals or substitutions. However, according to standard practice:
Spurs used a mix of starters and youngsters in attack and midfield (Son, Richarlison, Odobert, Johnson).
- Wycombe aimed to test fringe players and assess fitness levels ahead of the League One season.
Pre-match predictions and analysis expected Tottenham to win convincingly, with some sources predicting a 2–0 or 3–0 victory for Spurs.
Tactical & Squad Insights
Tottenham Use Case
- Two Matches, Two Squads: Frank intended to divide the squad to assess fitness and cohesion. Morning match against Wycombe focused on young talents and returning internationals.
- Youth Integration: Youth stars like Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, and Wilson Odobert regained match rhythm after recent U21 tournaments.
- Senior presence: Son Heung‑min led the team, with Brennan Johnson supporting attack. Richarlison and Odobert featured to complement pace.
Wycombe Perspective
Use pre-season to build sharpness under Coach Mike Dodds, who took over mid‑season.
Known scoring form: Richard Kone, their top scorer last season (16 league goals) featured in friendlies scoring early.
Head-to-Head & Historical Record
Spurs and Wycombe have met only twice previously, both in FA Cup ties (2017, 2021), with Tottenham winning both matches. Neither team led for more than eight minutes in the combined 180 minutes.
Last competitive encounter was in January 2021: Tottenham won 4‑1, featuring goals from Bale, Winks, and Ndombélé. Wycombe’s Onyedinma scored their lone goal.
Key Takeaways & Significance
- The double-header format was a rare pre-season strategy, underlining Frank’s intention to optimize squad minutes.
- High potential bench strength: players like Vuskovic and Odobert earned their first senior outings. Spurs fans got a preview of possible regulars.
- Wycombe tested match readiness before League One; Spurs got performance data from multiple lines. Both clubs benefited.
Viewing & Streaming Details
Match streamed live exclusively on SPURSPLAY (subscription required, notably £45/year in the UK). Not televised.
The second friendly vs Luton kicked off at 3 PM BST at Kenilworth Road, also streamed on the same platform.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | 26 July 2025, 11:00 BST |
| Venue | Hotspur Way (Behind Closed Doors) |
| Tottenham Line-up | Blend of youth & senior pros |
| Wycombe Line-up | Likely near full-strength League One squad |
| Result | Predicted 2–0 or 3–0 to Tottenham |
| Purpose | Pre-season minutes, squad evaluation |
| Broadcast | SpursPLAY only (subscription) |
Final Thoughts
Even as a non-televised friendly, the Tottenham vs Wycombe clash held value. It provided Spurs with a platform to rotate stars and test-depth, while allowing Wycombe fitness and tactical preparation. Tottenham’s strategy to split squads and run back-to-back fixtures showcases Thomas Frank’s pragmatic and modern approach to pre-season planning.