Hull City return to the Premier League for the first time in nine years on Saturday, hosting Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in the opening fixture of the 2026-27 season.
Sergej Jakirović’s side reached the top flight the long way round — sixth in the Championship, a play-off semi-final win over Millwall, then Oli McBurnie’s stoppage-time winner against Middlesbrough at Wembley.
Manchester United arrive under Michael Carrick for his first full season in permanent charge, having finished third last season and secured a return to the Champions League. Hull have never beaten United in ten previous Premier League meetings, winning just three of 18 across all competitions.
Hull City vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026
- Kick-off: 12:30 BST
- Venue: MKM Stadium
- Referee: Darren England
- VAR: Michael Salisbury
- Last meeting: Manchester United 0–0 Hull City, 1 February 2017, Premier League
Team news
Hull City
Jakirović is without seven first-team players. Jack Butland, Eliot Matazo, Darko Gyabi, Oscar Zambrano, Charlie Hughes, Joe Gelhardt and Hidemasa Morita are all confirmed out, while Cody Drameh and Matty Jacob face late fitness tests.
Record signing Nobel Mendy is in line to make his debut in central defence, with Konstantinos Tzolakis, Jens Hjertø-Dahl and Elliot Stroud also expected to feature for the first time. Oli McBurnie, who scored 19 times in all competitions last season, leads the line.
Manchester United
Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton are all unavailable, with Ugarte expected to miss much of the season through injury. Mason Mount faces a late fitness test after a foot injury sustained against PSG in pre-season, and Benjamin Seško remains touch-and-go after working his way back from a shin problem.
Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos are both in line to make their Manchester United debuts in a rebuilt midfield. Lisandro Martínez and Kobbie Mainoo are likely to feature from the bench, having returned late from international duty with limited match fitness.
Form
Hull City
The Tigers were a transfer embargo side as recently as last summer, and their rise to the Premier League via the play-offs represents a remarkable turnaround under Jakirović. Pre-season brought two wins, two draws and one defeat, including a goalless stalemate with Nice in their final warm-up match. Eleven new signings have refreshed the squad significantly, addressing a defence that shipped 66 goals in the Championship last season — the fourth-highest total in the division.
Manchester United
Carrick’s side finished third last season and were the division’s form team after the turn of the year, taking more points in the second half of the campaign than any other club. Pre-season was a mixed picture — wins over Rosenborg, Atlético Madrid and Leeds United sandwiched around a draw with PSG, before a chastening 4–2 defeat to AC Milan in their final warm-up. The summer rebuild through Tielemans and Santos gives United a fresh look in midfield as they begin a campaign that will also include Champions League football.
Predicted lineups
Hull City predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Coyle, Ajayi, Mendy, Targett; Slater, Crooks; Belloumi, Hjertø-Dahl, Stroud; McBurnie
Manchester United predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Tielemans, Santos; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
How to watch Hull City vs Manchester United?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and HBO Max.
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