Manchester United will play Real Betis in a San Diego friendly on July 31.
The game will be staged at the 35,000-capacity Snapdragon stadium where United’s Under-21 side lost against Wrexham last July.
United were based in San Diego for much of their US tour in 2023, with Erik ten Hag’s training sessions held at the University of San Diego. This year, the
team will be based in Los Angeles and will play Arsenal in the 70,000 capacity SOFI stadium on July 27.
After the Betis game, United will take on Liverpool at the Williams-Bryce Stadium in South Carolina on August 3. It’s anticipated that United will announce more pre-season games in Europe.
United’s friendly against Wrexham filled the 35,000 Snapdragon stadium, a record for a soccer game. Snapdragon will replace Team Viewer as United’s principal shirt sponsor from the start of next season. Ticket prices averaged $150, which appeared to cause more of a stink in England than in the United States where the game quickly sold out.
Several stars were in attendance including Wrexham’s owners, plus prominent social media personalities including Dixie D’Amelio, followed by over 60million on social media, who were pictured wearing United shirts. The club were keen to be as visible as possible in the United States.
The headlines were made when United’s goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, who has just agreed to join Sunderland, fouled Wrexham’s star striker Paul Mullin, who went off with a punctured lung.
Real Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, are currently seventh in La Liga, one point off a spot for European qualification. United had never played Betis, until a friendly game at the club’s home in Seville in December 2022 during the World Cup finals.
The two teams then drew each other in the Europa League four months later, with United qualifying and then being drawn with Betis’ neighbours Sevilla.
(Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
