Manchester United exited the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the first hurdle this season
Manchester United players look dejected
Manchester United crashed out of both domestic cup competitions this season(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Manchester United's troubled season has extended beyond the pitch and into the boardroom, leaving the club facing embarrassment after a high-profile sponsorship arrangement went awry.
United kicked off the previous campaign with a lucrative £180million shirt sponsorship deal with American technology firm Snapdragon. Whilst the Qualcomm subsidiary's branding continues to feature prominently, now a secondary "levelled up" partnership has left officials red-faced.
In an attempt to promote Microsoft's latest Copilot+PC range, United agreed to display the brand's logo on the reverse of the men's first-team shirts throughout all domestic cup fixtures this season. The arrangement was designed to deliver worldwide visibility across the FA Cup and Carabao Cup competitions.
Qualcomm were delighted with the partnership at the time, with their Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Don McGuire, stating in July: "What better way to celebrate than once again with Manchester United? And of course, we leveled it up this time. The Copilot+ PC logo will be prominently featured on the back of the men's kit for Snapdragon Cup at Old Trafford on August 9 and all domestic cup matches in the 2025/26 season, as well as all the women's and Academy team matches all season long."
Regrettably for the men's first team, these additional cup fixtures totalled merely two matches. United suffered elimination in the opening round of the Carabao Cup following a humiliating loss to Grimsby in August.
Players of Manchester United looks dejected during the penalty shoot-out during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town
Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town in August(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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United managed a 2-2 draw before succumbing to a tense 12-11 defeat in a penalty shootout. Then, in their first match in the FA Cup, they were knocked out by Brighton and Hove Albion in the third round.
Interim head coach Darren Fletcher witnessed his team suffer a 2-1 home defeat to the Seagulls, with ex-United player Danny Welbeck netting the winning goal. This marks the first occasion since the 1981-82 season that United have lost their opening match in both domestic cups.
As a result, the Copilot+PC logo only made an appearance twice out of a possible 13 times. However, it will be used throughout the season by the women's and academy teams. Snapdragon's sponsorship does not cover the training kit, which is currently without a sponsor, leading to a significant financial loss for United.
However, they are reportedly keen on securing the naming rights for the stadium, potentially resulting in the Theatre of Dreams officially being renamed Old Trafford@Snapdragon.
United revealed scale models and images of their proposed new £2billion stadium at a London event earlier last year. However, several issues have cropped up during the development phase, causing delays.
Manchester United have been contacted for comment.