Manchester United start their pre-season fixtures with a match against Championship side Wrexham in Finland.
It is the first of six fixtures in Manchester United’s 2026 pre-season schedule as preparations begin for the 2026/27 season.
Michael Carrick will take a makeshift squad to Finland, with several key players still absent after their participation in the World Cup.
It is not the first time that United have faced Wrexham in a pre-season friendly, with the two sides last meeting in 2023.
Which youngster are you MOST excited to watch during pre-season?
With the World Cup this summer, pre-season will have plenty of academy involvement🔮
Who played in Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Wrexham
United’s pre-season tour of the United States in 2023 included a friendly against Wrexham, who were in League Two at the time.
Erik ten Hag was United’s manager at the time, and he fielded a squad mostly built from Under-21 players.
Current United coach Jonny Evans was the only senior player included in the starting XI.
Only Dan Gore and Toby Collyer remain on United’s books out of the starting XI. Left-back Alvaro Carreras has since completed a £50 million move to Real Madrid.
Radek Vitek, Sonny Aljofree, Maxi Oyedele, Charlie McNeill, Mateo Mejia and Willy Kambwala also made appearances off the bench.
This is how Man United lined up vs Wrexham when the sides last met in 2023
Which of these Man United youngsters had the highest potential?
Michael Carrick could field U21s stars vs Wrexham
Three years later, United again could field a very inexperienced side against Wrexham in pre-season.
The Welsh outfit have been promoted twice since the last meeting, so will offer a more difficult clash for the Red Devils.
Carrick could follow a similar route to Ten Hag and start several academy players in Helsinki.
Shea Lacey, Jim Thwaites, Harry Amass and Collyer will all hope for significant minutes in the friendly so they have a chance to prove they should be in the first team for the 2026/27 season.
Academy wonderkid JJ Gabriel could also be involved as he prepares to take a step up into senior football.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
