Carrick ends Manchester United's 24-year pre-season tradition with European tour plan

Michael Carrick has ended Manchester United’s 24-year tradition of travelling to destinations such as Asia, North America and Australia for pre-season, replacing it with a European tour as he begins shaping the club in his own image ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

United have not staged a pre-season outside of those far-flung regions since 2002, but Carrick — who signed a two-year contract in May — has opted for a closer-to-home approach as the club prepares to compete in the Champions League next season. The decision is widely seen as an attempt to manage player fatigue during what promises to be a congested schedule.

The six-game tour opens against Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18, before United travel to Norway to face Rosenborg on July 24. They then move to Sweden for back-to-back fixtures: Atletico Madrid at Solna’s Strawberry Arena on August 1, followed by European champions Paris Saint-Germain on August 8. A trip to Dublin’s Croke Park to meet Leeds on August 12 precedes the tour finale — a clash with AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland, on August 15, the eve of the new season.

Sporting director Jason Wilcox welcomed the schedule after the Milan fixture was confirmed. “We’re excited to be concluding our pre-season tour in Wroclaw, Poland, with a big game against AC Milan,” he said. “With fixtures now confirmed across five countries and six fantastic cities, these matches will provide strong preparation for the 2026-27 season and a valuable opportunity to connect with our incredible fans across Europe. Their support will be vital as we build momentum.”

Overseas pre-season tours have long served as revenue-generating exercises for top clubs, allowing them to grow their commercial footprint in emerging markets. United’s shift away from that model under Carrick signals a recalibration of priorities, with competitive readiness placed ahead of global marketing opportunities — at least for this summer.

The quality of opposition across the six fixtures ensures there will be no shortage of meaningful preparation, with Atletico Madrid, PSG and Milan offering genuine tests of where Carrick’s squad stands before competitive football resumes.