Manchester United were handed a major Champions League boost on Tuesday night thanks to Arsenal's victory at Sporting
Old Trafford will host men's Champions League football again next season if Manchester United finish in the Premier League's top five
Old Trafford will host men's Champions League football again next season if Manchester United finish in the Premier League's top five
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Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick will be the first to say the job is not done yet. However, the Reds took a step closer to the Champions League on Tuesday without playing. Kai Havertz's late winner for Arsenal at Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals means England is guaranteed an extra qualification spot next season.
This means the top five in the Premier League will automatically qualify for the Champions League next season instead of the traditional four. United now have breathing room in their quest to reach Europe's top competition. While the aim remains to finish third, the Reds will be grateful of the insurance.
Not wanting to jinx United, MEN Sport has taken a look at all the details surrounding the Champions League and the Reds' potential involvement in next season's competition.
When can United qualify?
United will qualify for the Champions League if they secure a top five finish in the Premier League. That will be certain should they reach 70 points. Chelsea currently sit sixth and can only finish on a maximum of 69 points this season.
Should Chelsea win all their remaining matches, including a clash with United in 10 days, the Reds must win five other fixtures to seal their spot in the Champions League. If that was to happen, the earliest date they would confirm their spot would be after a victory over Nottingham Forest on May 17.
However, considering Chelsea's recent form, United could seal their spot much sooner than that.
When is the Champions League 2026/27 draw?
The second legs of the Champions League play-offs will be played on Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26. This means the draw for the league phase will be completed on Thursday, August 27.
Which pot will United be in?
Currently, there are too many variables to accurately predict which pot United would be in. However, pots are decided based on where each team ranks in UEFA's club co-efficients.
United currently sit 20th in these rankings and would therefore be in Pot C if every team above them qualified for the Champions League. However, teams like Atalanta, Frankfurt and Tottenham sit above the Reds in the rankings and they more than likely won't qualify for the Champions League, albeit it is possible United could get usurped by clubs below them in the table who are still in European action this season and might be in next season's Champions League - such as Aston Villa.
The best guess at the moment would be that United enter the draw in Pot B.
Who would United face?
Again, once the season ends, we will gain a clearer picture on who United could face. However, we do know United will play two teams from Pots A, B, C and D in the league phase between September and January. With United certain not to be a top seed, and clubs from England prevented from facing each other in the league phase, the likes of PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich could lie in wait.
When does the league phase start?
United's first match in the Champions League league phase will be on either Tuesday, September 8, Wednesday, September 9 or Thursday, September 10, if they qualify. The other matchdays are as follows:
Matchday Two - Tuesday, October 13 or Wednesday, October 14
Matchday Three - Tuesday, October 20 or Wednesday, October 21
Matchday Four - Tuesday, November 3 or Wednesday, November 4
Matchday Five - Tuesday, November 24 or Wednesday, November 25
Matchday Six - Tuesday, December 8 or Wednesday, December 9
Matchday Seven - Tuesday, January 19 or Wednesday, January 20
Matchday Eight - Wednesday, January 27