Manchester United are well into their preparations for the 2026-27 season, with Michael Carrick overseeing his first full pre-season as permanent head coach.
Carrick made an immediate impact after taking charge on an interim basis last season, guiding United to a top-three Premier League finish and securing a return to the UEFA Champions League. The club have lined up a demanding summer schedule as they prepare for a campaign that will see them compete on multiple fronts.
United have already completed the opening two fixtures of their pre-season programme. The Red Devils began with a meeting against Championship side Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, before travelling to Norway to face Rosenborg in Trondheim six days later. Those matches provided Carrick with an early opportunity to assess his squad and build fitness ahead of tougher tests later in the summer.
The pre-season schedule now shifts up a gear with high-profile fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in Scandinavia. United will then travel to Dublin to take on fierce rivals Leeds United in a landmark occasion, with the match becoming the first club football fixture ever staged at Croke Park, Ireland’s largest stadium.
Carrick’s side will conclude their preparations against AC Milan in Poland before turning their attention to the opening weekend of the Premier League season, where newly promoted Hull City await on 22 August.
Manchester United pre-season fixtures
18 July: Manchester United vs Wrexham – Helsinki (4pm BST) (completed)
24 July: Manchester United vs Rosenborg – Trondheim (5pm BST) (completed)
1 August: Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid – Stockholm (2pm BST)
8 August: Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain – Gothenburg (4pm BST)
12 August: Manchester United vs Leeds United – Croke Park, Dublin (7.30pm BST)
15 August: Manchester United vs AC Milan – Wroclaw (3.45pm BST)
United’s summer schedule offers Carrick the chance to test his squad against a variety of opponents before the competitive action begins, with Champions League contenders Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan all providing stern examinations ahead of the new campaign.
Read more – Chelsea pre-season fixtures and 2026 summer schedule
Also see – Arsenal pre-season fixtures and 2026 summer schedule
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