Fletcher and Cunha set to open United's World Cup with Scotland and Brazil

Manchester United’s World Cup begins on Saturday, with teenager Tyler Fletcher in line to feature for Scotland against Haiti and Matheus Cunha hoping to impress for Brazil when they face Morocco.

United have 13 registered players taking part in the tournament, making it a significant few weeks for Ruben Amorim’s squad-building — and for supporters eager to assess options across the pitch.

Fletcher, 19, was a surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad having managed just 17 minutes of first-team football for United. The midfielder is not expected to start against Haiti but could come off the bench, and the club view him as a potential first-team option next season under Michael Carrick.

The Brazil versus Morocco fixture carries its own United subplot. Cunha is fighting to retain his place in the Brazil attack, with Igor Thiago and Endrick providing competition up front and Vinicius Jr and Raphinha entrenched as the preferred wide options. A growing push to reintegrate Neymar — who will not be fit for the Morocco game — adds further pressure on Cunha to perform.

That same match will also give United fans their first look at Noussair Mazraoui in competitive action, with the Morocco right-back set to line up against Cunha’s Brazil.

Also of note is midfielder Ederson, who has agreed a £35 million move from Atalanta and will undergo a medical and sign paperwork after the tournament concludes. He is expected to feature for Brazil, meaning Saturday’s game could serve as an early preview of a player not yet officially a United signing.

Casemiro, meanwhile, will officially become a free agent during the tournament when his contract expires at the end of June, meaning his World Cup appearances could be among his last as a United player.

Altay Bayindir and Amad Diallo enter the competition on Sunday with Turkey and Ivory Coast respectively. Later in the week, Senne Lammens, Manuel Ugarte, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford are all due to begin their campaigns.