2026-27 season preview: Manchester United

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is over, and that means one thing: the return of global club soccer.

The 2026-27 European season kicks off across the continent in mid-August. Spain's La Liga returned on Saturday, Aug. 15; England's Premier League and France's Ligue 1 will return on Friday, Aug. 21; Italy's Serie A will return on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Germany's Bundesliga will return on Friday, Aug. 28.

The world's top clubs have been busy since the end of the World Cup. But what are their stories? How did they perform last season? Which players have they signed and sold to prepare for this one? And what will success look like for them throughout this new campaign?

We're breaking down Europe's top teams in advance of the 2026-27 season. We've covered Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona — next up is dark horse title challenger Manchester United.

How did things go for Man United last season?

Things started off exceptionally poorly, with under-fire Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim losing the locker room, the fanbase and the global media in quick succession. By the time he left the club in January, things were looking dire — and United, desperate to bring some good feeling back into the team, hired club legend Michael Carrick as an interim coach to replace him.

Carrick's drama-free style — and support of young United prospects like Ayden Heaven and the Fletcher twins — brought unity and order back into the club. United finished the season strong, secured a third-place finish and a Champions League berth for 2026-27, and promptly hired Carrick as its full-time leader.

What will success look like for Man United this season?

It's been a long, long time since Man United was a legitimate title challenger, and that's simply unacceptable for one of England's winningest clubs. Success for Man United in 2026/27 would be fighting Arsenal for first place ... and with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea entering seasons of intense transition, success might just be achievable for Man United.

Which players have arrived?

The biggest (and potentially most impactful) arrival is Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans, who joined United after winning the Europa League with Aston Villa last season. Tielemans is an experienced Premier League operator; he's exactly the kind of player Carrick needs to help get his young stars like Kobbie Mainoo into title-winning shape.