Manchester United’s fixtures have been confirmed for 2026/27. We have taken a look at how these are impacted by the Champions League and international breaks.
Michael Carrick has a favourable start to the season with fixtures against two newly promoted teams to kick off the campaign.
While this has left United fans feeling positive, there is also the added complication of Champions League dates to factor in.
Even though the draw will not take place until August, UEFA have already confirmed the matchdays in the season calendar.
United will play eight group stage games between September and January. We can now look at how these fall around the Premier League games.
Man Utd’s Premier League fixtures for 2026/27 have now been CONFIRMED – What do you think?
Champions League matchday 1
Champions League matchday 1 takes place between September 8 and 10.
This is after Manchester United’s away trip to Everton and before the home game with Manchester City.
United and City will both be in the Champions League so there is no clear advantage here to either side just yet. If one team has a long away trip ahead of the derby, one side could be impacted.
City host Coventry in their preceding Premier League game, after kicking off against Bournemouth and Palace.
First International break
An extended international break will take place between September 21 and October 6. This is the reason for the big gap between Champions League matchdays one and two.
UEFA have changed the calendar to fit four international fixtures in this timeframe, combining the previous September and October breaks into one.
United’s final Premier League game before the break is the sixth game of the season away to Fulham on September 19. The team then return on October 10 at home to Tottenham.
Champions League matchday 2
Champions League matchday 2 takes place between October 13 and 14.
For Manchester United this is between the home game vs Tottenham and the away trip to face Leeds at Elland Road.
This will be a stern test for United, one which will be a little easier if the Champions League fixture is a home tie.
Champions League matchday 3
Champions League matchday 3 takes place between October 20 and 21, the week after matchday 2.
Manchester United follow this fixture with a home game against Bournemouth.
This game will likely be held on a Sunday because Bournemouth will be in action in the Europa League on October 22, putting their squad to the test.
Champions League matchday 4
Champions League matchday 4 takes place between November 3 and 4.
Crucially this falls after Manchester United’s away trip to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 31 and not before.
Chelsea have no European football this season, but they will have no extra rest advantage when they face United on their home turf.
United then face Aston Villa at Old Trafford on November 7, with the Villains also in midweek Champions League action.
Second international break
The second international break will take place between November 9 and 17, with two games being played.
Manchester United return to a huge fixture, travelling to face Liverpool at Anfield on the weekend of November 21.
Champions League matchday 5
Champions League matchday 5 takes place between November 24 and 25.
This falls between the Liverpool away game and Manchester United hosting Brentford at Old Trafford on November 28.
Despite a late run, Brentford failed to qualify for Europe so they will have the whole week to prepare to face United, after hosting Everton the previous weekend.
Champions League matchday 6
Champions League matchday 6 takes place between December 8 and 9. This is the final Champions League fixture in 2026.
For Manchester United, this fixture sits between facing Coventry at Old Trafford and a usually tricky away tie to Crystal Palace on the weekend of December 12.
Palace have a free week leading up to the Manchester United fixture.
Champions League matchday 7
Champions League matchday 7 takes place between January 19 and 20.
This falls between two huge games in the Premier League for Manchester United, away at Aston Villa and then at home to Liverpool.
This is the way around United would prefer it. It is better to come off a Champions League game into a home Premier League game, rather than an away one.
Liverpool will of course have a Champions League game to play, ahead of their visit to Old Trafford.
It’s possible United will have already locked up a qualifying spot in the Champions League too, allowing some rotation ahead of the Liverpool fixture on the weekend of January 23.
Champions League matchday 8
Champions League matchday 8 takes place on January 27.
United follow this midweek fixture with an away trip to Brentford, the second time we face the Bees after a Champions League game this coming season.
Last season we lost 3-1 away at Brentford so this will be another challenging game, especially if we are away in midweek ahead of the tie. Again, hopefully Michael Carrick will be able to rotate the team.
Key takeaway: If you have been keeping up, out of the eight Champions League gameweeks, Manchester United follow these with five Premier League home fixtures.
Only three of the eight are away from home, visits to Leeds, Crystal Palace and Brentford.
While these won’t be easy, the schedule could certainly have fallen in a much trickier way for United.
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We are exploring the fall of the knockout fixtures on United’s season too. Here we go…
Knockout phase playoffs
If Manchester United finish in the Champions League top eight positions, then they will bypass the knockout phase playoffs. These are contested by teams finishing ninth to 24th, out of the 32 group teams.
The dates for these two-legged games are weeks of February 16 and 17 followed by February 23 and 24.
The first leg falls between Manchester United’s home game with Brighton and the away game at Nottingham Forest.
The second leg is followed by United hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford.
It would be much better to face Forest (a) and then Arsenal (h) with a full week of rest, especially if the Gunners have that same advantage.
Last 16
If Manchester United reach the Champions League last 16, these games are held on the weeks of March 9 and 10 followed by March 16 and 17.
The first leg will take place between Sunderland away then Everton at home.
A trickier tie falls after the second leg, with United facing Manchester City at the Etihad.
Hopefully this will (a) follow a Champions League home leg, and (b) United will enter the Derby on a high of reaching the quarter-finals.
An added twist is that English teams can face one another in any knockout round. Imagine a two-legged tie against City, followed up by a Premier League game on the road to them.
Quarter-finals
Manchester United have reached the Champions League quarter-finals only twice since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, in 2013/14 and 2019/20.
If we were to get this far in 2026/27, the games would be scheduled on the midweeks of April 6 and 7 then April 13 and 14.
These fall between Hull City at Old Trafford and Ipswich Town away. Then the second leg precedes Crystal Palace at home. This is pretty kind the way it falls.
Semi-finals and Final
Now we are really talking optimistically. The Champions League semi-final dates will be held on the midweeks of April 27 and 28 then May 4 and 5.
The first leg is followed by Coventry City away, and the second leg followed by Bournemouth away.
Alternatively, United would enter these away ties fully rested if we do not progress this far.
The Champions League Final takes place on June 5, one week after the conclusion of the Premier League season, which United finish at home to Fulham.
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