Manchester United confirm what date players will return for pre-season training

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Manchester United have laid out the timeline for players returning to Carrington ahead of the 2026 pre-season schedule.

While 14 Manchester United players are at the World Cup this summer, others are busy spending their summer getting ready to return for pre-season.

United have confirmed their 2026 pre-season schedule, which includes six friendly matches taking place across a European tour.

The first of those friendly matches is against Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18. The Red Devils have now confirmed when players will return to training ahead of that first match.

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When Man United players return for pre-season training

United have now confirmed via their website that players will report to Carrington to officially begin pre-season training on Thursday 9 July.

Those competing in the World Cup will be granted extra time off over the summer and will have staggered returns depending on when their tournament comes to an end.

Michael Carrick and his staff will hold training on 9 July and have nine days to prepare the first-team squad for the friendly against Wrexham.

The 2026/27 Premier League fixtures have already been revealed, with United kickstarting their campaign away to newly-promoted Hull City on 22 August.

The pre-season training schedule is therefore 44 days long between the first training day and the first Premier League fixture.

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Man United’s pre-season schedule in full

United’s pre-season fixture list starts with a friendly against Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham in Helsinki.

It also includes a feisty match against former head coach Ruben Amorim after his appointment at AC Milan, and a rival clash against Leeds United in Ireland.

• Thursday, July 18 2026: Manchester United vs Wrexham, Helsinki – 4pm
• Friday, July 24 2026: Rosenborg vs Manchester United, Trondheim – 5pm
• Saturday, August 1, 2026: Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United, Stockholm – 2pm
• Saturday, August 8, 2026: Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain, Gothenburg – 4pm
• Wednesday, August 12 2026: Manchester United vs Leeds United, Croke Park, Dublin – 7.30pm
• Saturday, August 15 2026: Manchester United vs AC Milan, Wroclaw – tbc

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That is United’s fixture list in full. Players from the World Cup will join up with Carrick’s squad throughout the summer.

The United boss will hope to have a fully fit squad available for the final friendly against AC Milan on August 15 – just one week before the start of the Premier League schedule.