United’s World Cup links: Group H
Our World Cup feature series concludes with a closer look at Group H, and United’s ties to Ghana, Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay…
ARE THERE ANY CURRENT REDS IN THIS GROUP?
Yes. Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes are part of Portugal’s 26-man group looking to win their first-ever World Cup. Elsewhere, young United winger Facundo Pellistri is in Uruguay’s squad for the tournament and could face his Reds team-mates when the two nations meet in Lusail on Monday.
Yes. Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes are part of Portugal’s 26-man group looking to win their first-ever World Cup. Elsewhere, young United winger Facundo Pellistri is in Uruguay’s squad for the tournament and could face his Reds team-mates when the two nations meet in Lusail on Monday.
Pellistri: The World Cup is special Video
Pellistri: The World Cup is special
Facundo Pellistri assesses Uruguay's chances at Qatar 2022 and the prospect of making his World Cup debut...
PLAYERS, PAST AND PRESENT…
A player born in Ghana is yet to represent United's first team, but we do have an ongoing link with the nation through our representatives down the years. Ex-Reds Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Memphis Depay both have Ghanaian parents, and the country is also the origin of Danny Welbeck’s father. Current Academy players Omari Forson and Kobbie Mainoo were both born in England but also have close family of Ghanaian descent.
Six Portuguese players in total have represented United, with Cristiano Ronaldo the first to do so back in 2003 and going on to score 145 times in 346 appearances across two spells at the club. Nani, Bebe and Joel Pereira have since followed suit in coming to M16, as have current Reds Dalot and Fernandes.
A player born in Ghana is yet to represent United's first team, but we do have an ongoing link with the nation through our representatives down the years. Ex-Reds Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Memphis Depay both have Ghanaian parents, and the country is also the origin of Danny Welbeck’s father. Current Academy players Omari Forson and Kobbie Mainoo were both born in England but also have close family of Ghanaian descent.
Six Portuguese players in total have represented United, with Cristiano Ronaldo the first to do so back in 2003 and going on to score 145 times in 346 appearances across two spells at the club. Nani, Bebe and Joel Pereira have since followed suit in coming to M16, as have current Reds Dalot and Fernandes.
Ji-sung Park won exactly 100 senior caps for South Korea and is United’s sole representative from the nation. The former Red enjoyed a highly successful period at the club between 2005 and 2012 while amassing 205 outings for the club – the most of anyone to hail from Asia.
United’s links to the nation of Uruguay go back further than young Pellistri, with Diego Forlan the first player from the country to call Old Trafford home. Full-back Guillermo Varela, now at Penarol in his homeland, broke into the senior side as a young player in the 2015/16 and went on to make 11 appearances in that campaign before departing in 2017 following several loan spells. Edinson Cavani spent two seasons with the club, after signing in 2020, scoring 19 times across all competitions.
United’s links to the nation of Uruguay go back further than young Pellistri, with Diego Forlan the first player from the country to call Old Trafford home. Full-back Guillermo Varela, now at Penarol in his homeland, broke into the senior side as a young player in the 2015/16 and went on to make 11 appearances in that campaign before departing in 2017 following several loan spells. Edinson Cavani spent two seasons with the club, after signing in 2020, scoring 19 times across all competitions.
ANY OTHER LINKS?
There are. United have never played in Ghana or faced a Ghanaian side but our players have matched up against the country down the years at World Cups, while at the club. Nemanja Vidic’s Serbia were edged out by a late Asamoah Gyan penalty in both sides’ opening game of the 2010 tournament, before Nani played 90 minutes in a 2-1 group-stage win over the African nation four years later, a game in which Ronaldo got the winner.
As a club, we have met numerous times with Portuguese counterparts down the years, most commonly their trio of footballing giants: Benfica, Porto and Sporting. Benfica were, of course, our opponents at Wembley when we triumphed in the 1968 European Cup final.
South Korea has been a pre-season destination for us in the past, with our last visit to the nation coming back in 2009. Former Reds midfielder Kleberson joined United just over a year after winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, hosted in South Korea and Japan, during which, the Selecao played all three of their group-stage games in the nation.
Over recent years, as well as having four our own, we’ve faced several Uruguayans in the Premier League, including the likes of Luis Suarez, Gus Poyet and Lucas Torreira.
There are. United have never played in Ghana or faced a Ghanaian side but our players have matched up against the country down the years at World Cups, while at the club. Nemanja Vidic’s Serbia were edged out by a late Asamoah Gyan penalty in both sides’ opening game of the 2010 tournament, before Nani played 90 minutes in a 2-1 group-stage win over the African nation four years later, a game in which Ronaldo got the winner.
As a club, we have met numerous times with Portuguese counterparts down the years, most commonly their trio of footballing giants: Benfica, Porto and Sporting. Benfica were, of course, our opponents at Wembley when we triumphed in the 1968 European Cup final.
South Korea has been a pre-season destination for us in the past, with our last visit to the nation coming back in 2009. Former Reds midfielder Kleberson joined United just over a year after winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, hosted in South Korea and Japan, during which, the Selecao played all three of their group-stage games in the nation.
Over recent years, as well as having four our own, we’ve faced several Uruguayans in the Premier League, including the likes of Luis Suarez, Gus Poyet and Lucas Torreira.
DO UNITED HAVE ANY SUPPORT IN THESE COUNTRIES?
We do. Across our 277 official supporters’ clubs, there are 212 outside of England. Two are in Ghana (the Ghana Supporters’ Club and the Ghana Red Devils Supporters’ Club), while we also have a Korea Supporters’ Club.
We do. Across our 277 official supporters’ clubs, there are 212 outside of England. Two are in Ghana (the Ghana Supporters’ Club and the Ghana Red Devils Supporters’ Club), while we also have a Korea Supporters’ Club.
GROUP H FIXTURES
THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER
Uruguay v South Korea (13:00 GMT)
Portugal v Ghana (16:00 GMT)
MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER
South Korea v Ghana (13:00 GMT)
Portugal v Uruguay (19:00 GMT)
FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER
South Korea v Portugal (15:00 GMT)
Ghana v Uruguay (15:00 GMT)
THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER
Uruguay v South Korea (13:00 GMT)
Portugal v Ghana (16:00 GMT)
MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER
South Korea v Ghana (13:00 GMT)
Portugal v Uruguay (19:00 GMT)
FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER
South Korea v Portugal (15:00 GMT)
Ghana v Uruguay (15:00 GMT)
Back to Top