A guide to United Women's February internationals

The Reds who have been called up departed following our trip to Manchester City in the WSL on Sunday and have since been preparing to feature in invitational tournaments across Europe.

Our players will be involved in a total of four over the next week or so and several members of Marc Skinner’s squad are likely to go head-to-head for national pride this month, with a number of further match-ups also possible.

Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about those games, including more information on the various tournaments and when you can see your United favourites in action…

ALGARVE CUP 

Participants: Denmark, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden.

United involvement: Signe Bruun (Denmark), Maria Thorisdottir and Vilde Boe Risa (Norway). 

After its absence in 2021, the Algarve Cup returns for its 28th edition over the next week. It’s an invitational tournament conventionally hosted in Portugal, that will see five sides compete for glory. Each team will play two matches each before the two nations with the most points from these games advance to the competition’s final. The remaining three countries will compete against each other in 45-minute contests on the same day as the finale, which will be on 23 February, to decide the third, fourth and fifth place standings. 

Key fixtures (all kick-off times are listed at GMT): 16 February – DENMARK v Italy (12:00), NORWAY v Portugal (18:30). 18 February – Italy v NORWAY (12:00), Sweden v DENMARK (17:05). 23 February – TBC. 

ARNOLD CLARK CUP 

Participants: England, Canada, Germany, Spain. 

United involvement: Alessia Russo, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem and Mary Earps (England), Ona Batlle (Spain). 

A new competition that will see four teams inside the top 10 of the world rankings face off against each other over the coming week. Hosted in England, the tournament includes a round-robin format with matches hosted at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, Norwich City’s Carrow Road and Wolves’ Molineux home. The winner will be the side with the most points following the three rounds of games.

Key fixtures: 17 February – Germany v SPAIN (14:30), ENGLAND v Canada (19:30). 20 February – ENGLAND v SPAIN (15:15). 23 February – SPAIN v Canada (14:30), ENGLAND v Germany (19:30).

PINATAR CUP 

Participants: Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Wales. 

United involvement: Diane Caldwell (Republic of Ireland), Kirsty Hanson, Kirsty Smith and Martha Thomas (Scotland), Carrie Jones, Chloe Williams and Hayley Ladd (Wales). 

Up to seven of our Reds could play their part in the second-ever Pinatar Cup, which will take place in Spain over the next week or so. Eight countries will be involved in the knockout tournament, which kicks off at the quarter-final stage on 16 February before the semi-finals (19 February), third-place play-off and final (22 February). However, unlike a traditional cup-type format which would eliminate any teams that lose a match, the four sides to be beaten in the quarter-finals will form a consolation bracket and play sudden-death encounters to determine the standings of the fifth to eighth positions, ensuring that each of the tournament’s teams will play three times during this month’s break.

Key fixtures:16 February – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v Poland (14:30), WALES v SCOTLAND (14:30). 19 February – TBC. 22 February – TBC. 

TOURNOI DE FRANCE 

Participants: Brazil, Finland, France, Netherlands. 

United involvement: Jackie Groenen (Netherlands). 

Two-time champions and hosts France will be hoping to keep their 100 per cent success rate of winning the tournament up during the third edition this month. After its inaugural year in 2020, the competition was reduced to just the home nation and Switzerland in 2021 due to the pandemic, but it is to be contested between four teams again this time around. Jackie Groenen’s Netherlands form part of that quartet, in a competition that will consist of round-robin matches, with the winner being the team with most points. 

Key fixtures: 16 February - Brazil v NETHERLANDS (18:00). 19 February – Finland v NETHERLANDS (19:00). 22 February – France v NETHERLANDS (20:10).

After the international break, our return to action will be a Manchester derby at home to City in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Click here for more information and to find out how you can secure your seat.