West Ham beat Lille at London Stadium

West Ham United returned to the London Stadium for a pre-season friendly against LOSC Lille, delivering a homecoming win decided by a penalty shootout.

West Ham back at London Stadium after Lille victory

West Ham United returned to the London Stadium for the first time since their last home game of the 2024/25 season. About 21,000 fans filled the stands on a warm afternoon as LOSC Lille took part in a pre-season friendly. The match went 90 minutes without a winner and finished with a penalty shootout, which West Ham won.

The day underscored the venue’s value beyond football, with the stadium hosting summer concerts and other events that keep the home ground in the public eye. The mood on the ground suggested optimism for the season ahead, even if the result is secondary in a tune-up match.

The return to London Stadium matters beyond the score. It signals a clear plan to anchor the club’s identity at a fixed home and to leverage the venue as a multi-use hub for revenue and community events.

Lille’s presence in the stands shows cross-border appeal for pre-season fixtures and turns the match into a wider city moment. Still, fans should read this as preparation, not a guarantee of league form, since the context is a friendly designed to build fitness and cohesion.

Highlights

The club now faces fixtures that will test what this homecoming momentum can become on the field.