Manchester United have opened discussions with Wrexham over staging a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with Scandinavia emerging as a surprise potential host nation.
Although no agreement has been formalised, talks are advancing as both clubs map out their preparations for next season.
According to The Athletic, a match on Scandinavian soil is among several options being considered, with the location offering strong logistical appeal and a growing Premier League fanbase.
The fixture would be the clubs’ first meeting since July 2023, when Wrexham stunned a youthful United side 3-1 in front of over 34,000 supporters in San Diego, a crowd that set a new record at Snapdragon Stadium.
The proposed 2026 encounter would offer both clubs a fresh platform, while tapping into international demand for high-profile fixtures ahead of a long season.
Wrexham vs Manchester United friendly set to renew rivalry
The clash would rekindle a fixture not seen competitively since 1995, when third-tier Wrexham briefly threatened a major FA Cup upset after taking a shock 1-0 lead at Old Trafford, though United ultimately overpowered the visitors 5-2.
Manchester United have maintained a global pre-season footprint in recent years, opening their 2024 summer schedule against Leeds in Sweden before heading to the United States for games against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton.
Wrexham, meanwhile, continue their extraordinary ascent under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, competing in the Championship for the first time in 43 years and playing a team like United will bring more attention to the club.
A meeting between two teams with major stadium plans
As talks progress over a potential Scandinavian showdown, both clubs find themselves deep in significant stadium projects, adding further intrigue to a possible meeting abroad.
Manchester United remain engaged in drawn-out deliberations over the future of Old Trafford, with designs and costings under review following the unveiling of an ambitious new stadium vision under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Wrexham, meanwhile, have already begun major construction on their long-delayed Kop Stand rebuild at the Racecourse Ground, with fresh steelwork and foundations recently emerging. The project includes public investment support and is central to a broader regeneration plan for the city.
A neutral-venue friendly in 2026 would allow both clubs to capitalise on their global profile while navigating the constraints and opportunities of these evolving stadium developments.
FGG Says
Wrexham vs United abroad in 2026 would be a headline-grabber, a reunion of Hollywood-backed ambition and Premier League pedigree, all while both clubs reshape their long-term futures off the pitch.
This is the type of games a club like Wrexham would want to engage in, as it adds more interesting twists to their already great story on the way up.