U21s to play Hertha Berlin at Peninsula Stadium

Friday 20 September 2024 10:01

Manchester United's Under-21s will play Hertha Berlin at Salford City's Peninsula Stadium on Tuesday 1 October (19:00 BST) in our first Premier League International Cup fixture of the 2024/25 season.

The 32-team competition, originally launched in 2014, pits the top 16 finishers in Premier League 2 against 16 invited international clubs. The PLIC begins with eight groups, each made up of four English and four international clubs.

All games are played between Premier League 2 and international clubs only, and are always hosted in England. The top two sides from each group progress.

United's international opponents this season are Hertha Berlin, Nordsjaelland, PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Prague.

Kobbie Mainoo starred when our U21s last played at Salford's ground in October 2023.

With the U21s' regular home ground of Leigh Sports Village unavailable, our October date against Hertha Berlin is to be played at Salford City.

The young Reds most recently played at the Peninsula Stadium last autumn, when Kobbie Mainoo starred in the EFL Trophy against the Ammies. United put in a spirited performance but a 95th-minute penalty condemned the boys to a gutting 4-3 defeat.

Kobbie is one of several Academy graduates to have featured in the PLIC en route to becoming a first-team regular. Like the FA Youth Cup and EFL Trophy, the tournament provides a fantastic opportunity to see our talented youngsters playing in a new environment, under pressure against unfamiliar opponents with different playing styles and physicality.

Reds fans are encouraged to attend the match at Salford, with the chance to see the next generation and lend them your support. Tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1 for children and are available to purchase now on Salford City's website.

Supporters have regularly shown their commitment to youth in past seasons, with a record-shattering 67,000-crowd witnessing our 11th FA Youth Cup triumph at Old Trafford in May 2022 and huge away followings present at EFL Trophy games at Salford, Stockport County, Bolton Wanderers and many others.

Only recently, several hundred Reds watched as Travis Binnion's side mounted a three-goal second-half comeback to down Barnsley in the EFL Trophy, with Jack Fletcher scoring two and Ethan Ennis the other.

EFL Trophy highlights: Barnsley 2 United 3 Video

EFL Trophy highlights: Barnsley 2 United 3

Highlights | See how the young Reds came from behind to beat Barnsley in the EFL Trophy...

Hertha Berlin are a historic Bundesliga club who were founding members of the German FA in 1900 and won back-to-back titles in 1930 and 1931. They've played their senior home games at Berlin's famous Olympiastadion - recently host to the Euro 2024 final - since the 1960s. 

Buy tickets for the Hertha Berlin game on 1 October here.

Find out more with Salford's supporter guide.

Watch our Academy documentary series:

  • How to watch our new Lifeblood film

     Article

    'Developing People' provides unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to our Academy, with a star turn from Kobbie Mainoo.

  • Why young Reds wear black boots Video

    Why young Reds wear black boots

    LIFEBLOOD CLIP | In our new film, Head of Academy operations Steve Higham explains why young Reds wear black boots...

  • Lifeblood: Innovation Video

    Lifeblood: Innovation

    LIFEBLOOD 2 | 'Innovation' revealed the incredible science behind young players' strategic development...

  • Lifeblood Short: Garnacho's story Video

    Lifeblood Short: Garnacho's story

    Watch Garna's extended interview from 'Lifeblood: History', where he talks about his amazing United journey...

  • Lifeblood: History Video

    Lifeblood: History

    LIFEBLOOD 1 | ‘History’ tells the story of our iconic Academy, with a focus on Alejandro Garnacho’s emergence…

  • Cox brings you inside the Academy Video

    Cox brings you inside the Academy

    Lifeblood clip | Director of Academy Nick Cox walks you down a corridor of great history at Carrington...