MANCHESTER UNITED AND WREXHAM WILL MEET AT THE HELSINKI OLYMPIC STADIUM IN JULY
Manchester United FC will face Wrexham AFC in a pre-season fixture at the historic Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, on 18 July.
The match brings together one of the most successful clubs in world football and one of the game’s most talked-about modern success stories for a unique summer encounter in the Finnish capital.
The game marks Manchester United’s return to Helsinki for the first time in more than six decades. The club last played in the city in September 1965, when Matt Busby’s side defeated HJK Helsinki 3–2 in the European Cup before winning the return leg 6–0 at Old Trafford. Those matches featured legendary United players such as Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best, and formed part of the club’s journey during one of its most iconic eras.
Manchester United, founded in 1878 and based at Old Trafford in Manchester, are among the most decorated clubs in world football, having won numerous English league titles, domestic cups and major European trophies. The club enjoys a particularly strong following across Scandinavia, making Helsinki a fitting host city for this summer’s fixture.
“We have the best fans in the world, and this schedule gives us a great opportunity to connect with our supporters across Europe. We’re really looking forward to getting out there and putting in the hard work ahead of a big season,” says Jason Wilcox, Director of Football at Manchester United.
Their opponents, Wrexham AFC, are the third-oldest professional football club in the world, founded in 1864. In recent years, the Welsh club has experienced a remarkable resurgence under the ownership of actors Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, gaining global attention through the documentary series Welcome to Wrexham and record-breaking back-to-back-to-back promotions through the English football pyramid.
The match will also renew a long-standing footballing connetion between the two clubs
Historically, Manchester United have held the upper hand in competitive meetings with Wrexham, winning five previous official matches between the sides, including a 5–2 FA Cup victory at Old Trafford in 1995 and a two-legged triumph in the 1990–91 European Cup Winners’ Cup on their way to lifting the trophy that season.
More recently, the clubs met in a high-profile pre-season friendly in the United States in July 2023, when Wrexham recorded a 3–1 victory in San Diego in a match that attracted worldwide attention.
The Helsinki fixture forms part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming season and highlights the continued international appeal of both clubs. With strong fan bases throughout the Nordic region and growing global interest in Wrexham’s rise, the match is expected to attract supporters from across Finland and beyond.
The Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, one of the most iconic sporting venues in Northern Europe, will provide the backdrop for what promises to be a memorable summer evening of football.
“It is an honour to host a truly unique international football match at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Events like this bring together fans, players and communities from different countries, highlighting the unifying power of sport. We warmly welcome teams, supporters and visitors to be part of this special occasion. In July, Helsinki will offer a chance to experience an unforgettable moment together,” says Ari Kuokkanen, CEO of Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
The match is produced by Starsquad, and the production team includes Joel Harkimo, Jasmine Pajari and Leo Harkimo. The match is organised in cooperation with the Norwegian company Scandsports.
“It is truly exceptional to welcome both clubs to Finland. We expect ticket sales to be highly active, so we encourage fans to act early, as we believe tickets will sell out quickly. It’s a great opportunity to bring an international-level football experience to Finnish fans,” says Joel Harkimo.
Ticket Sales
Tickets will go on sale on Friday, 10 April at 12:00 via Lippupiste www.lippu.fi.
VIP packages will go on sale at the same time at Rivents Oy.
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