Manchester United fans in Istanbul on Wednesday 29 November are hoping for a positive result from their club's do-or-die Champions League clash with Galatasaray.
After a dismal group stage, the Reds head to Istanbul knowing that anything other than a win will simply not do. If Erik ten Hag's men are to leave Turkey in high spirits then they will have to do something no United team has ever managed before – win an away match against Galatasaray.
The match marks United's first trip to Istanbul since 2020 when they lost to Istanbul Basaksehir in a shock defeat in the group stages of the Champions League. A similar result on Wednesday would see them exit the competition.
How many Manchester United fans in Istanbul will there be? Where are they drinking? Are there any security notices they should know about, or places they should avoid? Everything you need to know in our fan-led guide below…
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How many Manchester United fans in Istanbul?
Manchester United were given an allocation of just over 2,500 tickets for the away game against Galatasaray and all tickets were snapped up fairly quickly. As ever, there will be some United fans making the trip without a ticket or with tickets in the home end so there could be upwards of 3,000 United fans in Istanbul on matchday.
There will be some United fans there who made the same trip 30 years ago for the famous “welcome to hell” match. Back then, the United squad were welcomed off the plane at Istanbul airport by an army of Galatasaray fans who made it known to the travelling players that their stay in Turkey would be far from friendly.
Where do the Manchester United fans sit in Rams Park?
Manchester United fans will be tucked away in the upper tier of the south-east corner of the stadium. The positioning of away fans at Rams Park is deliberate to make the opposition team feel as if the whole stadium is against them. The blocks that the travelling Manchester United fans will enter Rams Park through are sections 418-421.
Full fans' matchday guide for Galatasaray vs Manchester United
Istanbul is a huge city with plenty of scenic spots but also plenty of areas to avoid. The city is football mad, and has a reputation for being hostile if you are an away supporter so as a general rule of thumb, avoid wearing colours around the city particularly as kick off draws closer. In terms of eating and drinking, check out our guide below.
Where to eat and drink for Manchester United fans in Istanbul
Manchester United have advised their supporters to avoid Taksim Square while they are in Istanbul with the square notorious for being a hub for Galasarary supporters. Away from Taksim Square, there are several great drinking spots around the city for football supporters while you will find local cuisine being sold everywhere you turn, particularly in Sultanahmet Square.
Three bar recommendations in Istanbul for Manchester United fans:
- Corner Irish Pub – Asmalı Mescit Meşrutiyet Cd. No:11/A Galatasaray, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
- The United Pub – Sinanpaşa, Şht. Asım Cd. No:26, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
- Red River Pub – Hoca Paşa, Hüdavendigar Cd. No:44, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul
Ticket collection info for Manchester United fans in Istanbul
Manchester United declined to set up a ticket collection spot in Istanbul and will email all match tickets to supporters on Monday 27 November to print at home.
How to get to Rams Park: Guide for Manchester United fans in Istanbul
Rams Park is the most difficult stadium in Istanbul to get to due to the fact that it is situated 12km north of the city centre. Manchester United have announced that they are putting on buses for their supporters from Sultanahmet Square to Rams Park before kick off with a match ticket the only requirement to board. The same buses will run after the match to take supporters back to the city.
For supporters who don't want to get the bus, they can use the Istanbul metro system. Get on the metro on line two and get off at Seyrantepe for Rams Park. The stadium is then just a short walk from the station and you can use it to return to the city centre after full time.