Need to know
Manchester United unveiled their new away kit for the 2026/27 season that will see the club return to a blue second strip.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring a sensational free kick for Manchester United against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg in 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring a sensational free kick for Manchester United against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg in 2009
(Image: AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
All you need to know about Manchester United's storied history wearing blue:
This week, the Reds revealed their away kit for the 2026/27 season. United will wear a blue strip as their second kit this season.
It will debut against Rosenborg on Friday. United will also wear the kit for the Atletico Madrid clash on August 1.
United have a long and storied history in blue. In 1948, Sir Matt Busby won his first FA Cup wearing blue as United beat Blackpool 4-2 at Wembley Stadium.
20 years later, United lifted their first European Cup in a blue strip, beating Benfica 4-1 after extra time, again at Wembley. Sir Bobby Charlton's brace, along with goals from George Best and Brian Kidd, secured the silverware.
In more recent years, United fans can look back fondly at their blue kits. Holding a one-goal lead heading into the 2009 Champions League semi-final second leg at Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson's men brushed aside the Gunners 3-1 on the night to advance. The game was best remembered for Cristiano Ronaldo's 40-yard free kick.
Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in a blue kit in 2017 when Jose Mourinho's team beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League.
Then, ten years after Ronaldo's heroics at the Emirates Stadium, United returned in blue to beat the Gunners by the same scoreline in the FA Cup. Alexis Sanchez was on the scoresheet for United having left north London for Old Trafford a year prior.
In his first spell in temporary charge, Michael Carrick gained fond memories of a blue strip, securing United's place in the Champions League round of 16 with a 2-0 win at Villarreal in 2021. Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho were on the scoresheet.
The last time United had a blue away kit was in the 2024/25 season. While not remembered as a classic campaign, a blue kit was donned for a remarkable 3-0 Europa League semi-final first leg victory at Athletic Bilbao, to all but seal a spot in the final.
Fans are able to buy the new away kit now. Read the full story here.