Manchester United begins preseason in Helsinki under Carrick

Manchester United will begin their preseason schedule with a high-profile friendly against Championship side Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The match at the Olympic Stadium marks the first outing for new permanent manager Michael Carrick as he prepares for his first full season in charge.

Carrick, who took over as interim manager in January and guided the club to a third-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification, will be without a significant portion of his squad. Several key players remain absent following their involvement in the recent World Cup knockout stages. Among those not traveling are finalist Lisandro Martinez, new signing Youri Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, and others. Tielemans, a recent arrival from Aston Villa, is also recovering from a minor hamstring strain sustained during World Cup warm-ups.

The fixture offers a potential debut for one of United's summer signings. Midfielder Andrey Santos, who joined from Chelsea, could feature after being pictured in training. Other new arrivals, goalkeeper Karl Darlow and striker Benjamin Sesko, will not participate. Darlow underwent a minor operation and did not...