Croke Park set to host Manchester United and Leeds in pre-season friendly this summer

Croke Park Stadium and TEG Sport have announced that Manchester United will take on Leeds United in a pre-season fixture at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park Stadium in August. 

Kicking off at 19:30 on Wednesday August 12, the fixture will see one of English football’s biggest rivalries brought to Ireland for the first time, in what will be one of the standout sporting events of the summer.

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Pre-sale tickets will be available from today, Thursday April 2 to Croke Park Premium and Suite members and to Manchester United and Leeds United season ticket holders and members, before going on general sale from 10 am on Friday, April 10 via Ticketmaster. Tickets start from €50 for an Adult and €25 for under-16s, plus booking fees.

Fans are strongly encouraged to register their interest here to put themselves at the head of the queue.

The match marks a historic return of elite association football to Croke Park and will be the first football fixture at the venue since November 2009, when the Republic of Ireland faced France in a FIFA World Cup play-off in front of 79,000 fans.

With a huge following for both clubs across Ireland, the game, which has been sanctioned by the FAI, is expected to attract a capacity crowd and create a unique atmosphere at the iconic venue.

Both clubs have a rich Irish heritage with football icons Roy Keane, Denis Irwin, John O’Shea and Frank Stapleton among the legends to have starred for Manchester United, while Gary Kelly and Ian Harte had memorable careers at Leeds. Johnny Giles played for both clubs over the course of his career.

Croke Park Stadium, one of Europe’s largest venues with a capacity of 82,300, hosted a landmark NFL regular-season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings in September last year.

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The stadium has also staged FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship qualifiers, Six Nations matches, and European Rugby Champions Cup fixtures, alongside major concerts by global artists such as Oasis, Coldplay, and Taylor Swift.

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United Director of Football, said:

“We’re excited to be heading to Dublin to face Leeds United as part of our pre-season preparations ahead of a big campaign.

“Playing an important fixture against one of our biggest rivals gives us a fantastic opportunity to connect with our supporters in Ireland. Their passion and energy will be invaluable as we build momentum and ensure the squad is in the strongest possible shape for the start of the 2026/27 season.”

Leeds United Chief Business Officer Morrie Eisenberg said:

“We are excited at the prospect of returning to Dublin again this summer, our support in Ireland is huge which was demonstrated last year.

“Croke Park is one of the most historic venues in the world and we are looking forward to renewing our rivalry with Manchester United in what will be the first football match at the stadium since 2009, which will also serve as important preparation for the campaign ahead.”

Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium Director, said:

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“We are absolutely delighted to welcome two of football’s most iconic clubs to Croke Park for what promises to be a very special occasion.

“Following the success of hosting the NFL in 2025, this is another opportunity to bring world class sport to Dublin and Irish fans. We know there is a huge following for both clubs in Ireland and look forward to delivering a special experience in Croke Park Stadium.”

In addition to the August fixture, Manchester United’s men’s first team will also travel to Dublin for a training camp from 6th to 9th April as the squad continues its push to finish the season as strongly as possible.