Manchester United’s Cup Competition Fixture Dates: All You Need To Know

Although the Premier League fixture list will not be revealed until Thursday morning, the dates for Manchester United’s cup competition campaigns have already been revealed.

For Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, finishing top four in the Premier League is no doubt the single top priority for next season. However, shortly behind this priority will be the notion of winning a trophy through any of the three cup competitions the club are also part of – the Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and the Europa League.

These cup competitions are often always held around the same time, however due to the unique scheduling of the 2022 World Cup being in winter, some of these usual dates have been altered.

Carabao Cup

One of two domestic cups, the Carabao Cup, also sometimes referred to as the EFL Cup, will commence on 8 August, although due to European commitments, Manchester United will not be entering the competition until the third round, which is held on the 8/9 November.

Due to the need to fit in many more Premier League fixtures ahead of the World Cup, this means the first round of the Carabao Cup that Manchester United will be taking part in happens just one week before all domestic football ceases to make way for Qatar 2022.

Manchester United last won the Carabao Cup, then called the EFL Cup, under the captaincy of Wayne Rooney in February 2017. (Alamy)

Should United make it past said round, the fourth round is held on 20/21 December; mere days after the World Cup final.

The semi-finals of the competition are still to be played over two legs, with the final taking place at Wembley in late February.

Full Carabao Cup fixture dates:

• Third round: 8/9 November
• Fourth round: 20/21 December
• Quarter-finals: 10/11 January
• Semi-finals: 25 January/1 February
• Final: 26 February

FA Cup

Just like the Carabao Cup, Manchester United will not be entering this season’s FA Cup competition until the third round of the competition, which takes place on 7 January – this date is fairly unaffected, as the FA Cup third round normally commences in the new year.

What is interesting is that this season’s FA Cup final is taking place at a much later date than usual: 3 June.

The semi-finals take place well before this date, on 22 April, meaning whichever two sides do make it to the final will have a long wait on their hands to battle it out for England’s most historic trophy.

The fifth round of the competition is to be staged in midweek, with the other rounds being dedicated to a weekend fixture.

Full FA Cup fixture dates:

• Third round: 7 January
• Fourth round: 28 January
• Fifth round: 1 March
• Quarter-finals: 18 March
• Semi-finals: 22 April
• Final: 3 June

Europa League

The Europa League is a competition that most fans do not want to be in; however due to the club’s 6th-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Manchester United will once again be taking part in the competition they won back in 2017.

Often seen as a burden due to the nature of the competition being held on Thursday evenings and subsequent domestic fixtures having to then be held on the following Sunday/Monday, the Europa League offers an alternative path to Champions League football should a club not qualify via their domestic league position.

The draw for the Europa League group stage takes place on the 26th August. This is due to other sides having to play qualifying rounds leading up to the group stage in order to secure a spot in this season’s competition.

Manchester United won the Europa League for the first time in 2017, however have failed to win it since despite reaching the final again in 2021. (Alamy)

Due to the World Cup scheduling, the group stage this season will be completed by early November, as opposed to the usual mid-December ending.

Full Europa League group stage fixture list:

• Matchday 1: 8 September
• Matchday 2: 15 September
• Matchday 3: 6 October
• Matchday 4: 13 October
• Matchday 5: 27 October
• Matchday 6: 3 November 

Should Manchester United qualify for the knockout stage of the competition, which bar very unique circumstances is likely to happen, they will then enter the knockout phase of the competition.

Those clubs who finish first in their respective group will automatically enter into the round of 16, however those who finish second in their respective group will enter into a play-off round alongside those clubs who have dropped into the competition via a third-placed finish in their Champions League group.

Full Europa League knockout stage fixture list:

• Play-offs: 16 & 23 February
• Round of 16: 9 & 16 March
• Quarter-finals: 13 & 20 April
• Semi-finals: 11 & 18 May
• Final: 31 May

Erik ten Hag will be looking to go far in all of these competitions, with one eye definitely on trying to win a trophy in his first season at the club.

While aiming to win the Premier League trophy this season seems far-fetched, these three cup competitions provide a brilliant chance for Manchester United to end their 5-year trophy drought after winning the Europa League back in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.