World Cup Players' Return to Carrington
Manchester United's preparations for the 2026/27 season are set to begin soon, with the club having 12 players at this summer's World Cup, making them one of the most well-represented clubs at the tournament. However, the return of these stars to Carrington will be staggered based on their tournament participation.
Unfortunately for Tyler Fletcher (Scotland), Altay Bayindir (Turkey), Manuel Ugarte (Uruguay) and Amad (Ivory Coast), their World Cup has already come to an end. These players will be among the first to return, but still must adhere to rest guidelines.
Pre-Season Start Date and FIFPro Guidance
The Reds have a comprehensive pre-season to look forward to, beginning on July 9 when players return to Carrington. However, those who participated in the World Cup will not return on that date. According to FIFPro's guidance, players should have at least a four-week break following their final match. This means the earliest any of the World Cup stars will return is towards the end of July.
United have confirmed the early stages of pre-season will feature senior players who did not go to the World Cup, including Harry Maguire, Benjamin Sesko and Mason Mount, as well as academy stars. Then, as pre-season progresses, the World Cup stars will come back during July and August.
Pre-Season Fixtures
The Reds' first pre-season game will be on July 18 when they take on Wrexham in Helsinki. This will be followed by Rosenborg (July 24 in Trondheim), Atletico Madrid (August 1 in Stockholm), Paris Saint-Germain (August 8 in Gothenborg), Leeds (August 12 in Dublin) and AC Milan (August 15 in Wroclaw).
United will then begin their Premier League campaign on August 22 when they visit newly-promoted Hull City.
