Manchester United’s 2025/26 season is now firmly taking shape after receiving the league fixtures for next season, but they don’t include a game they will have to play for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Man Utd’s Premier League fixture list is extremely daunting, with arguably the toughest start among all 20 teams for Ruben Amorim’s men.
They will have to contend with an international break that disrupts the rhythm as well, after three games, but another game is flying under the radar.
It’s a game they have not played since the 1996/97 season, and if Amorim gets his way, they won’t play next season either.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire celebrate scoring vs Athletic Club.
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Man Utd’s unique August game
It is interesting that in a season where there is no European competition for Man Utd, their fixture list at the start will be as loaded, if not more.
That’s because United’s utter failure last season has left them in a position to play an extra game in the Carabao Cup next season.
Generally, United start the Carabao Cup campaign for the season in the third round, but that’s only because they play European football.
For teams that haven’t qualified for any European competitions, a second-round fixture is necessary, which happens early in the season.
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17 August – Manchester United vs Arsenal (GW1)
24 August – Fulham vs Manchester United (GW2)
—-Carabao Cup second-round fixture here——30 August – Manchester United vs Burnley (GW3)
In the 2025/26 season, the Round 2 fixtures will begin in the week commencing on August 25, so United will have a game sandwiched between their trip to Fulham and hosting Burnley.
While most teams that they hope to compete with will play three games in August, United will play four, a fact that Amorim will want to avoid in 2026/27 by qualifying for Europe.
United last played a second-round game in the League Cup in 1996/97, and have done so only eight times in their entire history.
Season Opponent Legs Result Aggregate Score Progressed?
1960–61 Exeter City Single W 4–1 4–1 Yes
1966–67 Blackpool Single L 1–2 1–2 No
1973–74 Brentford 2 Legs W 5–1 (agg) 5–1 Yes
1977–78 Wimbledon 2 Legs W 3–1 (agg) 3–1 Yes
1980–81 Chester 2 Legs W 5–2 (agg) 5–2 Yes
1981–82 Southend United 2 Legs W 2–1 (agg) 2–1 Yes
1993–94 Port Vale 2 Legs W 4–1 (agg) 4–1 Yes
1996–97 Swindon Town 2 Legs W 5–3 (agg) 5–3 Yes
The Carabao Cup fixture could be a welcome addition
While the game has come as a result of United’s failures in 2024/25, Amorim might not be too grumpy about having it this season.
United’s fixture list is daunting, so to have a run of games against Fulham, Carabao Cup, and Burnley before facing Man City after the international break might be a good thing.
Even if United drop points against Arsenal, that run ideally puts them in a position to be on a three-game winning streak when they travel for the Manchester derby.
Then there’s the added advantage of trying out some youth players in that cup fixture since the opponent is likely to be of a much smaller profile than United.
Young players are likely to be a big part of the squad next season, so if a player or two impresses in that game, it could strengthen United’s hand in the market, which would be close to ending at the time.
Ultimately, it’s not a position United should ever find themselves in, but if there was ever a time to be in that position, the 2025/26 season is it.