ไทย
English
中國人
Manchester United will stay in Europe for the first time in 24 years, as revealed by their newly announced 2026–27 preseason schedule.
Except for 2020 and 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel, United have ventured outside Europe every summer since 2002, frequently heading to the United States or Asia on lucrative global tours.
However, with this summer's World Cup already bringing much of the squad to the United States, Canada and Mexico, the club has decided to keep the team on home soil in Europe.
United confirmed earlier this month that their summer schedule would conclude with a friendly against Leeds United in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, on Aug. 12, and four additional fixtures have now been revealed.
"Following the announcement of our match against Leeds United in Dublin, we're excited to confirm four more preseason fixtures in the Nordics," director of football Jason Wilcox said. "We're delighted to be playing in some fantastic cities, against opponents who will provide a strong test for us.
"We have the best fans in the world, and this schedule gives us a great opportunity to connect with our supporters across Europe. We're really looking forward to getting out there and putting in the hard work ahead of a big season."
Man Utd's 2026–27 Preseason Fixtures
Opponent | Date | Destination |
|---|---|---|
Wrexham | July 18 | Helsinki, Finland |
Rosenborg | July 24 | Trondheim, Norway |
Atlético Madrid | Aug. 1 | Stockholm, Sweden |
PSG | Aug. 8 | Gothenberg, Sweden |
Leeds United | Aug. 12 | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
Man Utd Wise to Stay Closer to Home
Football's grueling schedule has sparked considerable debate over the years, with players openly urging decision-makers to allow them more time to recover. With the World Cup taking place this summer, adequate rest will be hard to come by.
Worn-out players will have minimal downtime between the season's conclusion and the World Cup opener on June 11. Those who advance deep into the tournament will remain active until mid-July, nearly three weeks after United typically begin preseason training at their Carrington base.
The compressed nature of the calendar is highlighted by the fact that United's opening friendly, against Wrexham in Finland, falls just one day before the World Cup final. It goes without saying that only a depleted squad will be available for that trip.
United will be eager to have most of their key players back by August, when the competition intensifies in matches backed by headline sponsors Snapdragon. Any player who reaches the World Cup final will have roughly two weeks before being called upon for United's preseason, which is far from adequate recovery time for top-level athletes following a demanding, year-long campaign — but that is simply the reality they face.
Given that challenge, United have sensibly chosen to shield their players from exhausting long-haul flights across time zones, doing what they can to safeguard the squad even if it may not be the most commercially advantageous decision.