Excitement is building among Manchester United supporters as the Premier League fixture list for the 2026 season is set to be released on Friday morning. The schedule will offer the first glimpse of life under new permanent manager Michael Carrick, who took over on an interim basis in January following Ruben Amorim's departure. The former United midfield legend guided the team to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023.
Selection Dilemma for Carrick
However, Carrick may face an early selection headache, with several first-team stars at risk of missing the opening match of the campaign. The issue stems from the FIFA World Cup 2026, which began last week in North America and will conclude with the final in New Jersey on July 19. The Premier League season is scheduled to start on August 22, just over a month later, allowing players limited recovery time.
Players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup are unlikely to be fully rejuvenated before the new season. The situation is compounded by the fact that the tournament started shortly after the domestic campaign ended, meaning United stars went straight into pre-tournament training camps. Carrick may have little choice but to rest some of his biggest names at the start of the season, especially if they reach the final.
United's World Cup Contingent
Manchester United have nine players representing their countries at the World Cup, all of whom could go deep into the tournament. A potential final between England and Portugal could be particularly problematic, with four United players involved. Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot are in the Portugal squad, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford are representing England.
- Matheus Cunha – Brazil
- Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes – Portugal
- Amad – Ivory Coast
- Senne Lammens – Belgium
- Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford – England
- Noussair Mazraoui – Morocco
- Lisandro Martinez – Argentina
Carrick and his coaching staff will be closely monitoring the progress of these players, hoping that none reach the final to avoid a significant disruption to their pre-season preparations.
