Key Points
- Training Progress: West Ham United Women are concluding their third week of pre-season training under head coach Rita Guarino.
- Location: The training sessions are taking place at the club’s Chadwell Heath training ground in east London under warm summer weather conditions.
- Competitive Opener: Preparations are focused on the opening fixture of the 2026/27 campaign against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 6 September.
- Squad Focus: The squad is working through physical and tactical drills to prepare for the upcoming Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) season.
Chadwell Heath (East London Times) July 31, 2026 – West Ham United Women have stepped up their preparations for the 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, concluding their third week of intensive pre-season training at the club’s Chadwell Heath facility in east London. Under the guidance of head coach Rita Guarino, the squad underwent on-pitch sessions in sunny conditions as the countdown continues toward their league opener against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, scheduled for Sunday 6 September.
As reported by the official West Ham United media team in their training report titled Training Gallery | Fun in the east London sun, Rita Guarino’s side “have been hard at work again in east London, as the countdown continues to our opening fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 6 September.”
How Are West Ham United Women Preparing For The 2026/27 Season?
The third week of pre-season training marked a key milestone in Rita Guarino’s structured preparation programme at Chadwell Heath. The sessions focused on conditioning, ball-work, and integration of tactical routines as the coaching staff prepares the group for competitive action.
According to official club coverage from the West Ham United media unit, the squad made full use of the summer weather, completing a series of high-intensity drills designed to rebuild fitness levels following the summer break. The session forms part of an extended pre-season schedule structured to ensure the players reach optimal physical condition before the league campaign begins in September.
What Is the Background of This Pre-Season Development?
Leadership and Coaching Continuity
Rita Guarino was appointed as head coach of West Ham United Women on 22 December 2025. Guarino, a former Italian international striker with 99 caps, arrived in east London with a distinguished managerial record in Italy. During her tenure at Juventus, she led the club to four consecutive Serie A titles between 2017 and 2021, along with a Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. She subsequently managed Inter Milan before taking over the reins at West Ham.
Performance and Squad Development
The 2026/27 campaign represents Guarino’s first full pre-season in charge of the Hammers, having taken over midway through the previous season. The current pre-season block at Chadwell Heath serves as the primary opportunity for the Italian manager to embed her tactical philosophy, build team cohesion, and integrate academy players from the Professional Game Academy (PGA) structure into the senior squad setup.
How Will This Development Affect West Ham United Women and Their Supporters?
Impact on the First-Team Squad
The three-week pre-season block provides the foundation for player durability and tactical consistency across the upcoming campaign. For the playing squad, a structured pre-season under Guarino lowers injury risk during the early rounds of the Women’s Super League and allows new combinations across the pitch to settle before competitive fixtures start.
Impact on Supporters and the East London Community
For West Ham United supporters, the progress updates and opening match against derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur set expectations for the season ahead. With home matches played at the Chigwell Construction Stadium in Dagenham, clear progress during pre-season offers encouragement to the fan base as the team seeks to establish greater consistency in domestic competitions.
