Manchester United host Azerbaijani side Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday at 16:00 Brasilia time in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League league phase.
The fixture marks Manchester United's return to Europe's premier club competition after a three-season absence. The English side did not feature in any European tournament during the 2025-26 campaign, a situation the club had not experienced since the 2014-15 season.
Thursday's match marks Manchester United's 26th appearance in the Champions League main tournament. That total represents more appearances in Europe's top competition than any other English club in football history.
The UEFA Champions League is the flagship annual club tournament in European football, bringing together top division teams from across the continent to compete for continental honors.
Recent domestic form
The host team enter their European opener following a 2-2 draw against Everton on Sunday, 6 September. Manchester United have picked up four points from their opening three games of the Premier League season, placing them 11th in the table and five points behind leaders Manchester City.
Manchester United are based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, and compete in the Premier League, the top division of English football. Founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club before changing their name in 1902, the club has won 20 English league titles and three European Cups. Their home stadium, Old Trafford, has been their venue since 1910.
Sabah's historic qualification
Sabah reach the league phase following a considerably longer qualifying journey. The Azerbaijani club began their European campaign back in July, competing in eight qualification matches before securing a historic first entry into the main stage of the tournament.
The Azerbaijani team enters Thursday's match following a 5-0 victory against Zira in the Azerbaijani Championship. That domestic win boosted team confidence ahead of their first match in the Champions League main stage.
Sabah FC are a professional football club based in Masazir, competing in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the top tier of football in Azerbaijan. Established in 2017, the club reached the main phase after overcoming Welsh club TNS, Finnish side KuPS, Danish team Aarhus, and Israeli club Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the qualifying rounds.
Match details and broadcast coverage
The match between Manchester United and Sabah takes place on Thursday, 10 September 2026, at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 Brasilia time.
Television viewers can watch the fixture live on Space, while digital streaming is provided by HBO Max. Live text updates and real-time coverage will also be delivered by CNN Esportes.
