Manchester United have completed a six-match preseason schedule for 2026–27 with a final friendly against AC Milan in Poland. The match will take place at the Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław on Saturday, Aug. 15, a week before the scheduled start of the new Premier League season. The stadium was built for use during Euro 2012 and primarily serves as the home of two-time Polish champions Śląsk Wrocław.

All six fixtures this summer are in Europe and the programme is Scandinavia-heavy. The full schedule lists Wrexham at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on July 18, Rosenborg at Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim on July 24, Atlético Madrid at Strawberry Arena in Stockholm on Aug. 1, Paris Saint-Germain at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg on Aug. 8, Leeds Utd at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Aug. 12, and AC Milan in Wrocław on Aug. 15.

One clear reason for a Europe-only preseason is the 2026 World Cup, which runs until July 19 and reduces the available preparation window. Manchester United will have 12 players at the tournament. Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Šeško and Harry Maguire will report for training after summer vacation on day one of Michael Carrick’s permanent premiership in early July, while many others will still be involved in national team action.

Keeping the tour within Europe shortens travel demands; United are never more than a two-hour, 45 minute flight away from Manchester this summer, which should ease the strain on players returning later from the World Cup.

Historically, United have sometimes travelled long distances in World Cup years, including tours to South Africa in 2006, the U.S. and Mexico in 2010, the U.S. in 2014, the U.S. in 2018 and Thailand and Australia in 2022. The last season with a largely local preseason was 2002, when the club regrouped after the tournament with matches in Ireland, England, Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark. The club’s earliest overseas tour dates back to 1908, when a side featuring Billy Meredith, Sandy Turnbull, George Wall, Dick Duckworth and Harry Moger played six matches on a central Europe trip.

Federico Chiesa has admitted he needs more regular minutes and has left the door open to leaving Liverpool this summer. Across two campaigns he has made 50 appearances for Liverpool, contributing 10 goal involvements, but he has started only nine times. That lack of continuity is the central reason Chiesa is considering his future.

“I want to play and if I don’t find continuity in the Premier League I’ll need to find it elsewhere,” the 28-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport. “This season just gone, I got next to no minutes. I’ll go to the U.S. for preseason, then I’ll talk to the club and Iraola and we’ll see.”

Chiesa was frank about the period since the start of 2026 and his relationship with Liverpool. “I’ve honestly not played a lot since the start of 2026. I’ve got a great relationship with Liverpool. Back in January the club and Slot said I couldn’t leave. They needed me. It was about numbers. We were in crisis.

“I understood the situation and stayed, keeping a smile on my face. We’re still talking about Liverpool. Last year they allowed me to win the Premier League .”

Despite a reported good relationship with the club, the prevailing expectation is that Chiesa will move on and likely return to Serie A. Several Italian clubs are mentioned repeatedly as potential destinations. Napoli may be interested, particularly after recent success recruiting Premier League departures such as Scott McTominay, Rasmus Højlund and Romelu Lukaku. That pursuit may be tempered by managerial uncertainty in Naples after Antonio Conte’s exit and the speculation linking Massimiliano Allegri to the role, given Chiesa’s reported fallout with Allegri at Juventus.

Roma’s return to the 2026–27 Champions League after seven years away positions them to strengthen a squad described in the draft as relatively mediocre; Roma were linked with Chiesa previously, though Gian Piero Gasperini’s 3-4-2-1 system may not suit the winger. AC Milan are also mentioned as a remote option while they search for a successor to Massimiliano Allegri and look for a replacement for Rafael Leão, but their lack of Champions League football would limit their appeal. Any transfer involving Chiesa appears likely to hinge on managerial clarity and the promise of more minutes.

Goalkeepers are no longer only shot-stoppers. They are required to command their area, organise defence, save penalties and also initiate attacks with accurate passing. That combination of traditional and modern demands can make the difference between progress and early exit at a major tournament.

Bart Verbruggen retained the Netherlands’ No. 1 spot as they reached the Euro 2024 semifinals and is expected to keep that role at the World Cup. He conceded fewer than a goal per game for the Netherlands and recorded a 50% clean sheet rate. His distribution and sweeping ability stand out, drawing comparisons to Manuel Neuer and attracting interest from Europe’s elite.

Jordan Pickford is not the most glamorous name but remains crucial for England. The Everton shot-stopper celebrates saves with characteristic fervour, even screaming “Vamos!” in his distinctive Mackem voice. He often delivers in big moments, producing spectacular saves and performing in penalty shootouts; he might already be seen as a national hero had England’s attackers not faltered in the Euro 2020 final shootout.

Diogo Costa is a modern-day sweeper-keeper, comfortable with the ball at his feet and vital to Portugal’s possession style. He offers precise short and long passing and is an exceptional penalty specialist, saving over a quarter of spot-kicks he has faced for club and country (excluding shootouts). In Euro 2024 he repelled all three of Slovenia’s penalties in the round of 16, a feat not previously achieved at the European Championships.

Manuel Neuer, now in his forties, remains among the world’s best. As Bayern Munich stormed to another Bundesliga title in 2025–26, Neuer continued to excel with the aggressive sweeper-keeper game he helped pioneer. His reflexes may have dipped but his reading of the game, command of the penalty area and ability on the ball remain world class.

Switzerland moved on following Yann Sommer’s international retirement in 2024 and have Gregor Kobel as a capable successor. The 6’5″ Borussia Dortmund keeper conceded just two goals in five qualifying appearances and finished the club season with a Bundesliga-high 15 clean sheets, reinforcing his standing among Europe’s elite shot-stoppers.

Forget Lionel Messi—it was Emiliano Martínez who was truly Argentina’s hero in the 2022 World Cup final. He made a last-gasp added-time save to deny France a winner, got a glove to Kingsley Coman’s penalty in the shootout and used mind games ahead of Aurélien Tchouaméni’s miss. Martínez has continued to deliver for Aston Villa, helping them to a top-four Premier League finish and the Europa League title in 2025–26.

Alisson Becker remained reliable for Liverpool in an injury-disrupted campaign, excelling in one-on-one situations and offering pinpoint distribution. Heading into the tournament he has five clean sheets in nine World Cup appearances and 44 shutouts in 77 caps for Brazil.

Mike Maignan wears the No. 16 shirt for France but is his country’s first-choice keeper. Despite AC Milan’s torrid 2025–26 season, Maignan ranked among Serie A’s top performers for clean sheets, saves made and penalties saved. His reflexes mark him out as a truly elite shot-stopper and a strong World Cup could accelerate talk of a move away from San Siro.