Need to know
Manchester United will host tournament debutants Sabah upon their return to the Champions League
Abdulakh Khaibulaev and Tellur Mutallimov of Sabah show the Champions League pin after winning the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play-offs 2nd leg between Sabah and H. Beer-Sheva at Tofig Bahramov Stadium
Sabah will kick off their first Champions League campaign away to Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
All you need to know about Manchester United's Champions League opponents Sabah
Nine years old: Founded in September 2017, Sabah FK are based in Masazır, Azerbaijan. The club was created by Yagub Huseynov, the chairman of the Bridge Group construction conglomerate, with the name "Sabah" translating to "tomorrow" or "the future" in Azeri.
Rapid ascent: Despite finishing fifth in the Azerbaijani second division during their inaugural season, Sabah earned promotion to the top flight after higher-placed clubs failed to obtain a license. They steadily built up their squad over subsequent years, securing their first piece of major domestic silverware by winning the Azerbaijan Cup in May 2025.
Game-show winning manager: Under the management of Lithuanian head coach Valdas Dambrauskas - who won the equivalent of £725 on Lithuania's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2002 - the team reached new heights during the 2025/26 season by securing their maiden Azerbaijan Premier League title.
Historic qualification: The club earned their place in the Champions League league phase for the first time in their history through a dramatic qualifying run during the summer. After eliminating The New Saints, KuPS and Aarhus, they secured a dramatic 6–4 aggregate victory after extra time against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the play-off round.
Record breakers: At just nine years old, the Azerbaijani outfit enters the prestigious competition as the youngest club to ever qualify for the Champions League league phase. Their ground-breaking qualification has set up high-profile matches against major European powerhouses, including home fixtures against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli.
Old Trafford tie: Their continental campaign begins with a historic journey to face United at Old Trafford on Thursday. This fixture represents a landmark occasion for the club as they go head-to-head with one of the most famous teams in world sports on the biggest stage.