Manchester United and Leeds to Clash in Historic Dublin Friendly
Manchester United and Leeds United are set to face each other in a pre-season friendly at Croke Park, Dublin. This match marks a significant moment as the Premier League rivals meet outside England for the first time in such a setting.
Historic Rivalry
Their rivalry dates back to 1923 and remains one of the fixtures fans eagerly await when the season's schedule is announced. Out of 115 matches played, Manchester United leads with 50 wins. Recently, Leeds earned bragging rights by defeating United 2-1 at Old Trafford in April, helping their Premier League survival chances.
Though this upcoming match is a friendly and won’t count officially, tensions are expected to run high. With the new Premier League season starting soon, both teams aim to build momentum.
Match Details and Broadcast Information
- Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- Kick-off Time: 7:30 PM UK time
- Venue: Croke Park, Dublin (capacity 82,300)
- UK TV Coverage: Free on ITV1, STV, and Premier Sports 2
- Manchester United Streaming: MUTV (£29.99 annual subscription)
- Leeds Streaming: LUTV match pass (£5), unavailable in Republic of Ireland
Croke Park hasn’t hosted a football match since 2009, when Ireland faced France in a World Cup play-off. The stadium is nearly sold out for this event.
Team News
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick might rest Mason Mount due to an injury sustained against Paris Saint-Germain. Carrick commented, "He got kicked. We just wanted to be careful and look after him. We've been lucky with injuries so far, so we wanted to be cautious."
Others missing for United include Manuel Ugarte (recovering from ACL surgery), Matthijs de Ligt, Benjamin Sesko, and Kobbie Mainoo.
Leeds United will be without Gabriel Gudmundsson. Lucas Perri and Ilia Gruev are also sidelined with injuries. New signing James Trafford, who joined from Manchester City for a club-record £40 million, may make his debut after not featuring in their recent win over RB Leipzig.
Pre-season Form
- Manchester United: Lost 1-0 to Wrexham, then won 5-0 against Rosenborg, followed by a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid, and a 1-1 draw with PSG.
- Leeds United: Fell 3-2 to Wrexham, but claimed victories over Sunderland (1-0), Liverpool (4-2), and RB Leipzig (2-0).
After facing each other, Leeds will meet FC Augsburg, while Manchester United take on AC Milan before the Premier League season opener. United will travel to Hull City, broadcast live on talkSPORT, and Leeds face Nottingham Forest away.
