Manchester United officially included in 2026 World Sevens Football tournament

Manchester United Women are entering a crucial stage of their season.

Recent results have highlighted both their attacking quality and defensive vulnerabilities, leaving plenty for the coaching staff to assess heading into the final stretch.

With the Women’s Super League table tightening and key fixtures still to come, focus remains on finishing the season strongly.

But attention is also beginning to shift toward what comes next.

Manchester United Women will take part in the World Sevens Football tournament for a second consecutive year following the success of the 2025 edition, as United announced on their website.

The competition is set to take place from 28 to 30 May at Gtech Community Stadium in West London, forming part of a major weekend of women’s football ahead of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final on 31 May.

The tournament, now in its third edition, will feature eight teams from the Women’s Super League competing in a fast-paced 7 vs 7 format.

Matches will be played on a reduced-size natural grass pitch, with 30-minute games and rolling substitutions designed to maintain intensity and manage player workloads.

There is a £1.1 million prize pool on offer.

United already have history in the competition.

They reached the final in the inaugural edition last year, eventually finishing as runners-up after losing to Bayern Munich Women, a side they have also recently faced in European competition.

That familiarity adds another layer of intrigue heading into this year’s tournament.

Speaking ahead of the event, Ameesh Manek, United’s Director of Football Operations & Women’s Football, said: “Everyone is looking forward to returning to the World Sevens Football tournament.

“It is an excellent format that I know the team really enjoyed last year.

“Naturally, all of our focus right now is on finishing our WSL campaign strongly but we hope that this tournament will provide an exciting finale to the season.”

Domestically, United currently sit fourth in the WSL standings, 11 points behind leaders Manchester City Women, meaning their hopes of a title challenge are fading.

Their recent 5-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals also underlined the gap they are trying to close at the highest level.

However, there are still positives to build on.

United have shown attacking threat throughout the season, and with key players continuing to develop, there remains a strong foundation for growth.

Their next league fixture against Tottenham Hotspur Women presents another opportunity to regain momentum and solidify their position in the top four.

The return to the World Sevens Football tournament now offers more than just a post-season showcase.

It presents a chance to end the campaign on a high, test themselves against familiar rivals in a different format, and build confidence heading into next season.

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