Anderlecht reshapes pre‑season with home camp and early Europa tie

RSC Anderlecht will forgo overseas training camps and base its 2026/27 preparations entirely in Belgium, opting for a short stay at the Proximus Basecamp in Tubize. The club’s schedule includes two friendly matches – against French second‑division side US Boulogne and Dutch‑bordering NEC Nijmegen – before opening the season on 23 July against Hammarby in the Europa League second‑preliminary round.

Renovation work at Anderlecht’s Neerpede training centre forces the move, as the main pitch is being rebuilt. Players will lodge on site and share the national centre’s facilities, mirroring the routine of the Belgian national team, the Diables Rouges.

Victor Bruno and his coaching staff will train the squad from Tuesday to Saturday, aiming to increase intensity gradually ahead of the first competitive fixtures. The programme is designed to build fitness while allowing time for tactical integration.

The first test match at Tubize pits Anderlecht against US Boulogne, a club competing in France’s Championnat National 2. The camp will conclude on Saturday with a game versus Dutch side NEC Nijmegen.

Last season, Anderlecht were eliminated in the Europa League second qualifying round by BK Häcken after a 1‑0 away win, a 2‑1 home loss and a penalty shoot‑out defeat. The club then dropped into the Conference League, dispatched Sheriff Tiraspol, but fell to AEK Athens in the play‑offs after a home draw and an away defeat in Greece.

Anderlecht’s first official match on 23 July against Hammarby will mark the start of their European campaign. The club hopes the domestic pre‑season will provide the stability needed to progress further in continental competition.