Following yet another turbulent start to a campaign, the FA Cup poses as the only realistic prospect of silverware for Manchester United.
The Red Devils entered 2025/2026 with no European football to account for following their 15th-placed finish in 2024/2025 – a lowest-ever on record for the 20-time champions of England.
How United fared in competitions as of late
Prior to the Premier League term drawing to a close, United had already squandered their only other chance of qualifying for Europe when they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the Europa League final at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur who, despite finishing in a staggeringly low 17th place, secured their spot in the Champions League.
Fast-forward to August, and United’s calamitous showing in their EFL Cup second-round tie away to Grimsby Town saw them knocked out at the earliest possible stage.
Two first-half goals from their League Two opponents had Ruben Amorim red-faced and slumped in his seat in the dugout before the interval. These were later countered thanks to two goals in the dying embers of the tie from Bryan Mbeumo (75’) and Harry Maguire (89’), but United proceeded to lose in the penalty shootout to round off a truly disastrous evening at Blundell Park.
Now, after matchweek seven in the league, United sit 10th-placed in the table on 10 points, and are only six points away from leaders Arsenal. Some optimistic supporters might be encouraged by the fact that it’s a narrower gap than United are used to, although the majority have likely accepted it’s going to be an uphill battle to finish amongst the top end of the table come May next year.
That’s why, from Amorim’s perspective, triumph in the FA Cup is imperative.
When the FA Cup gets underway for United in 25/26 – and why wins are essential
The first round of fixtures in the competition will take place between October 31 and November 3, with United, and the rest of the top-flight sides, not due to enter until the third round.
Amorim’s men were knocked out of the FA Cup last season in the fifth round via a shootout defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford.
The campaign prior, they won the trophy at Wembley following an emphatic 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Manchester City, securing Erik ten Hag his second piece of silverware in his second season as manager.
The fact that United have fewer fixtures to prepare for in comparison to their ‘big six’ rivals should give them a helping hand when it comes to navigating the FA Cup this time around – as well as the fact that over £200 million was shelled out by INEOS to bolster Amorim’s squad over the summer.
