New Manchester United stadium could stage games at 2035 Women’s World Cup – FA

Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000-capacity stadium could stage matches at the 2035 Women’s World Cup, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has said.

The United Kingdom is all but certain to host a first football World Cup since 1966 after the four-nation plan to stage the women’s finals in 10 years’ time was confirmed as the sole bid by FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday.

Bullingham said the four associations would be “really comfortable” if the finals were expanded to 48 teams, which is possible under the bidding regulations published by FIFA. That would likely require 16 venues, which Bullingham believes would allow the tournament to create more impact across the four nations.

He said it was the “assumption” Wembley would host the final but admitted the 10-year lead-in meant a number of new stadia, including United’s new ground, could feature.

Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2025 13:45

Ruben Amorim ‘in a rush’ to restore Manchester United’s glory days as he sets title timeline

Ruben Amorim declared that he is in a rush to bring back the glory days to Manchester United but said he would not be crazy enough to think they will win the title next season.

Chief executive Omar Berrada launched ‘Project 150’, United’s plan to try and win the Premier League title by their 150th anniversary in 2028, but while Amorim said he does not have a timetable, he will not ask for time and is putting pressure on himself to succeed soon.

Richard Jolly6 April 2025 13:30

Manchester United are desperate for goals and a surprise solution could make derby impact

But for Murillo’s injury-time goal-line clearance, it would have seemed an inspired change by Ruben Amorim. As it is, it may look like a move that stemmed more from desperation than inspiration.

A Manchester derby will occur without a player with two hat-tricks in them, plus the scorer of probably the most celebrated goal of Amorim’s time at Old Trafford: Amad Diallo delivered a dramatic winner at the Etihad Stadium. It was both an anomaly – Amorim’s other best Premier League results are arguably draws, against Liverpool and Arsenal – and typical: United’s goalscorers that day were Bruno Fernandes and Amad.

Neither is a striker. Indeed, Fernandes has often operated in central midfield for Amorim while Amad has not played at all for eight weeks. And yet they are United’s two top scorers in the Portuguese’s reign.

Richard Jolly6 April 2025 13:15

I’ll be back – Manchester City striker Erling Haaland makes injury vow

There’ll be no Erling Haaland for Manchester City today, of course, with the striker set to miss perhaps as much as seven weeks of action. But the Norwegian has pinched the line of another terminator as he sets his sights on a return:

Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2025 13:00

Pep Guardiola hails ‘extraordinary’ Kevin De Bruyne after Man City exit news

Pep Guardiola feels Kevin De Bruyne’s glittering Manchester City career has been “extraordinary”.

The Belgium playmaker announced on Friday he would leave City when his contract expires at the end of the season.

In a glorious decade at the club, the 33-year-old has won 16 trophies, including six Premier Leagues and the Champions League, and scored 106 goals and made 174 assists in 413 appearances.

Yet after two seasons of declining returns due in no small part to injury problems, both club and player have come to an acceptance that the time is right to part ways.

City manager Guardiola said: “There are players who are unique, who represent what the club wants to be, and Kevin is one of them.”

Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2025 12:45

Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2025 12:30

United and City face off in lowest-calibre Manchester derby for decades

Derby day is always special in Manchester, but could this be the lowest-calibre meeting between these two for decades? Richard Jolly makes the case…

Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2025 12:15

Man Utd vs Man City LIVE

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Manchester derby in the Premier League.

City enter the game looking to consolidate a place in next season’s Champions League, while United are simply playing for pride as they start the weekend in 13th.

We’ll have all the latest team news and updates here.

Chris Wilson6 April 2025 12:00