Manchester United add Atlético Madrid date to complete list of preseason friendlies

Atlético Madrid is enjoying a promising present — and already building toward the future. The club has officially announced its first preseason friendly ahead of the 2026–27 campaign: a showdown with Manchester United in the Snapdragon Cup on August 1 at Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. The game is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 a.m. EDT / 6:00 a.m. PDT

It’s a high‑level test before the start of LaLiga, and not the first time these two sides have met in preseason. They met in a friendly at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on July 30, 2022 - a game that was settled by a late João Félix strike and which also saw Fred ordered back to the locker room in stoppage time.

United and Atlético Madrid: European meetings

In official competition, Atleti and United have met four times. The first, in the second round of the 1991/92 European Cup Winners Cup. The first leg at the Calderón ended in a 3-0 victory with Paulo Futre bagging a brace. United attempted a comeback at Old Trafford and were given hope when Mark Hughes nodded in after just four minutes. It was all over when Bernd Schuster rifled in the equalizer from a free-kick with 20 left on the clock.

The next encounter was more recent - the 2021/22 Champions League Round of 16. The first leg in Spain finished 1-1 and the tie was put to bed by Lodi who scored the only goal in the return leg at Old Trafford.

United to spend the summer in cooler climes

United have five preseason friendlies already confirmed - starting with a game against Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland on Saturday July 18. Six days later the team takes on Rosenberg in Trondheim, Norway.

After facing Atlético, United bring the preseason to a close against Paris Saint-Germain at the Ullevi in Gothenburg, Sweden on August 8 before completing their preparations for the new campaign against Leeds in Dublin on August 12.

Busy summer

With it being a World Cup year, both clubs are keen to stay close to home and keep traveling to a minimum

Atlético are already mapping out what will be a demanding summer. Facing one of the Premier League’s giants just two weeks before the league season kicks off is exactly the kind of challenge the team wants as it prepares for a packed calendar.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.