Why Man United are playing Europa League on Wednesday after radical UEFA change

Manchester United will face FC Twente on Wednesday in their opening Europa League match of the season.

The Reds qualified for Europe's second-tier competition after beating Manchester City in May's FA Cup final at Wembley. Erik ten Hag's team finished eighth in the Premier League last season but their cup victory secured a Europa League spot.

And United will be involved in a new league-style format which will see Ten Hag's side face eight different teams (four at home, four away). United have been drawn against Rangers, FC Porto, PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, FC Twente, FCSB and Fenerbahce with the top eight overall advancing directly to the round of 16. Sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the knockout round play-offs

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Europa League fixtures have traditionally been played on Thursdays after Champions League matches across the previous two days. However, the new format with 36 teams means that there are too many fixtures to take place on one day, hence why the Reds are playing on Wednesday.

United will be well aware that winning the Europa League will guarantee a place in next season's Champions League. Knockout matches begin in February with the final taking place at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Ten Hag has criticised the new Uefa competition formats, suggesting the commercial aspect has been prioritised over football. "I think there are two things you address," he said on Tuesday when discussing the huge number of fixtures in football.

"First of