Manchester United will meet Rosenborg in a pre‑season friendly on 24 July 2026, the club announced on Tuesday. The fixture, to be played at the Norwegian side’s home ground in Trondheim, will be shown live in the United States on CBS Sports Network and will also be available via DIRECTV and the streaming service fuboTV.
Summer of Change
The match comes amid a whirlwind transfer window for Aston Villa, whose recent activity has reshaped the squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Brazil midfielder João Gomes arrived from Wolverhampton in a deal worth roughly £35 million, while winger Morgan Rogers completed a move to Chelsea for a British record fee of £117 million. Midfielder Youri Tielemans also left Villa Park for Manchester United in a £35 million switch, and the club confirmed that Amadou Onana will be sidelined for months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the recent World Cup.
These transfers have been accompanied by significant financial movements. UEFA imposed penalties of €7.5 million and €11 million on Villa in the past year, though the club is set to receive about €40 million in prize money after winning the Europa League. At the same time, construction work at Villa Park is expected to curtail revenue streams next season.
The ripple effects extend beyond the West Midlands. Carlo Ancelotti, who has guided Brazil’s national team, commented on the evolving landscape, while manager Unai Emery is overseeing the integration of new signings such as Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo, who are expected to add depth to the midfield. Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, João Gomes, Morgan Rogers, Johan Manzambi, Carlo Ancelotti, Unai Emery, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are all part of the narrative as the clubs navigate a busy summer.
Fans in the United States and across the globe will be watching closely as the Red Devils prepare to face Rosenborg, a game that will be streamed on multiple platforms and broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The encounter marks a rare meeting between an English giant and a Norwegian powerhouse, and it could serve as a litmus test for United’s pre‑season tactics under manager Erik ten Hag.