Fixture news: United to play Athletic Bilbao in Dublin
Manchester United will visit Dublin to play La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, in our final warm-up game before the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
The match, which will be played on Sunday 6 August at the Aviva Stadium, will provide a final opportunity for Erik ten Hag to finetune his first-team squad before the season opener, and a rare chance for fans in Dublin to see United play on Irish soil.
It will be the third time that United have played at the 51,700-capacity arena, with a 7-1 win over a League of Ireland XI in the 2010 opening game, followed by a 2-1 victory over Italian side Sampdoria six years ago.
United last faced Athletic Club in the 2012 Europa League and, before that, in the 1957 European Cup – our first season in European competition.
Manchester United ambassador and former Republic of Ireland full-back Denis Irwin travelled to Dublin to announce the match.
Manchester United’s football director John Murtough said: “United has such strong connections with Ireland, being the birthplace of great players such as George Best, Roy Keane and, of course, Denis Irwin. We know how passionate our Irish supporters are and it’s a pleasure to be able to bring this game to Dublin.
“After returning from tour in the US, Erik and the team will be eager to put the finishing touches on their preparations for the new season. A game against high-quality La Liga opposition, such as Athletic Bilbao, will be a great opportunity to gain fitness and playing time before the start of the 2023/24 campaign, as well as providing entertainment for our Irish fans.”
Tickets for this match go on pre-sale to fans who have pre-registered and Manchester United Season Ticket Holders, Official Members and Executive Club Members from 14.00 BST on 13 June, before going on general sale from 12.00 BST on 15 June.
Access to pre-sale can be obtained by registering your interest at www.manutd.com/pre-season2023alerts.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
12 July | Leeds United, Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo
19 July | Olympique Lyonnais, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
6 August | Athletic Bilbao, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
TOUR 2023 FIXTURES
22 July | Arsenal, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
25 July | Wrexham, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
26 July | Real Madrid, NRG Stadium, Houston
30 July | Borussia Dortmund, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas