Let me be honest with you up front: getting a Premier League match ticket as a casual tourist in Manchester is genuinely hard. Old Trafford runs near capacity for almost every league fixture; the Etihad runs at 95%+ for almost every league fixture; the Manchester derby is essentially impossible. Almost every “five hacks to get cheap Manchester United tickets” article you read is either selling you a hospitality package, leading you to Viagogo (which is unauthorised and gets people refused entry), or hand-waving past the fact that you need to be a paid-up member with attendance history to get into a league game via official channels. I am not going to do that. I am going to tell you the actual five routes — official club membership, official hospitality, authorised hospitality resellers, the official ticket exchange, and women’s football at Joie Stadium and Leigh Sports Village — and explain honestly which one applies to your situation.
This is the 2026 ticketing guide for Manchester United and Manchester City — the official membership tiers, current face-value prices, hospitality pricing, the resale and scam landscape, and the smart routes most tourists end up using. For the matchday experience itself see our match day guide, and for stadium tours see Old Trafford and Etihad.
The honest preface — manage your expectations
Old Trafford’s capacity is around 74,244. The Etihad’s expanded capacity is about 61,474. Both clubs sell out home league fixtures (the Etihad runs at 95%+ for most matches; Old Trafford runs ~99%+). Demand vastly outstrips supply for almost every Premier League home match — and absolutely all Big Six matches (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, the rival Manchester club).
If you’re reading this because you want to attend a Premier League game in Manchester in the next 2–3 weeks, your realistic options are:
- Hospitality (£149–£700+ per person) — the most reliable route, no membership needed.
- Official Ticket Exchange (face value, members only, requires luck and persistence).
- Cup ties or pre-season friendlies (much easier than league fixtures).
- Women’s football (£9–£15, general sale, easy to get).
If you have 6+ months to plan, get an official membership now and enter the ballots for a Category C fixture (Bournemouth, Brentford, Wolves) — that’s the cheapest legitimate path at £30–£60 face value.
The five legitimate routes — overview
| Route | Cost | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official membership + ballot | £35–£75 face value | Hard for big games | Long-term planners |
| Official club hospitality | £149–£700+ per person | Easy (book direct) | Budget-flexible tourists |
| Authorised hospitality reseller | £200–£900+ per person | Easy (book online) | Last-minute tourists |
| Official Ticket Exchange | Face value | Medium luck | Members close to matchday |
| Women’s football (Joie / Leigh) | £9–£15 | Easy (general sale) | Anyone, any time |
Manchester United tickets — full breakdown
Membership tiers
Manchester United operates a tiered membership system. To get ticket access you need at least one of these for the 2025–26 season:
- Premium Membership — £75 (strongest ballot position, best home-ticket access, pathway to season ticket)
- Full Membership — £40 (home-ticket access, women’s discount, digital card)
- Lite Membership — £35 (priority access + perks; entry-level)
- Junior Membership — £20 (for under-16s)
- Forwarding Membership — £20 (newer 2024 tier, for receiving forwarded tickets only)
Memberships go on sale via manutd.com/en/officialmembership in May/June each year for the following season. For away tickets and Champions League away tickets you also need loyalty points — accumulated by attending home matches. A first-year member with zero loyalty points will struggle to get a derby or Big Six ticket.
Match-by-match prices (members, 2025–26)
- Category C (lower-demand opponents like Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace): £35–£55
- Category B (mid-tier opponents like Wolves, Newcastle, West Ham): £45–£75
- Category A (Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham): higher; derby and Liverpool fixtures the toughest tickets in English football
Manchester United hospitality (Old Trafford)
The smart route for tourists without member history. Official hospitality is sold direct via manutd.com/en/executive-club and through authorised partners like Seat Unique. Typical 2025–26 prices:
- Category C hospitality: from £149 per person
- Category B hospitality: from £199 per person
- Category A hospitality: from £299 per person
- Premium suites (Sir Bobby Charlton Suite, Heritage Club, Manchester Suite, No.7 Suite, Warwick Suite, Premier Suite, International): £400–£700+ per person depending on match and suite
Hospitality includes: padded seat (typically in the South Stand or executive areas), pre-match hot food, drinks (varies by package), post-match analysis (sometimes), museum entry on non-matchday. Derby and Liverpool fixtures push prices to the top end.
Ticket Office contact
Ticket Office: +44 161 676 7770
Accessible ticketing: +44 161 868 8001
Email: ticketingandmembershipservices@manutd.co.uk
Office location: Car Park W2, behind Sir Alex Ferguson Stand
Official Ticket Exchange
The Ticket Exchange is United’s official face-value resale platform — season ticket holders can list unused seats, members can buy them. This is the only safe resale route. Tickets typically appear 3–7 days before matchday. Refresh manutd.com regularly in the week before the match.
Manchester City tickets — full breakdown
Cityzens membership tiers
Manchester City’s system can be confusing because there are two different “Cityzens” memberships and they do different things:
- Official Cityzens Membership — £25 (18+; benefits and perks; can RECEIVE transferred season tickets from 2025–26; does NOT give you direct ticket buying access)
- Cityzens Matchday Membership — £35 (this is the one you need to actually buy match tickets; gives ballot access to non-season-ticket-holder home matches)
- Junior Cityzens — £20 (0–17; junior version of standard Cityzens)
The £35 Cityzens Matchday Membership is the cheapest entry point to buying City tickets. Joined via mancity.com/memberships/cityzens.
Match prices (Cityzens Matchday Member, adult, general admission)
- Lower-category fixtures: £30–£50
- Higher-category fixtures: £40–£60
- Full range: £30–£60 face value
Manchester City hospitality (Etihad)
City offers more diverse hospitality than United, partly because the Etihad was designed in 2003 with hospitality in mind:
- Tunnel Club (premium, behind glass-walled view of the players’ tunnel) — £269–£399 per person for standard fixtures; up to £699 per person for Manchester derbies or Liverpool
- 1894 Suite (named for the club’s founding year)
- 93:20 Lounge (named for the time on the clock when Aguero scored the title-winning goal vs QPR)
- Chairman’s Club, Citizens Lounge, Commonwealth Bar, Managers’ Corner, Executive Boxes
The 2026 North Stand expansion (the Pep Guardiola Stand) added new premium hospitality product lines — including the new Skybar with 450 premium seats linked to the planned 400-room hotel. Book direct via mancity.com/hospitality.
Cup competitions and pre-season — the easier wins
If your priority is “see Manchester United or City play live in their home stadium”, and you don’t care which competition, your easiest path is a cup competition or pre-season friendly:
FA Cup and EFL Cup early rounds
Both clubs enter the FA Cup at the third round (early January) and the EFL Cup in the second or third round (August–September). Early-round home fixtures against lower-league opposition (Wycombe, Carlisle, Bradford) have significantly lower demand than Premier League home matches. Often available to Lite members or sometimes even general sale.
Champions League / Europa League group/league stage
Home games against smaller European clubs (especially in the new league phase format) are easier than Premier League home fixtures. Big nights against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich are not — those are member-priority.
Pre-season friendlies
Both clubs play pre-season friendlies in July/August. Many are played abroad on tours (Asia, USA, Australia). When played at home, the ticket process is far more relaxed, often general sale, prices are typically £20–£40.
The Manchester derby and Big Six fixtures — managing expectations
The Manchester derby is the hardest ticket at either club. Both clubs categorise it as their top-tier fixture. It sells out immediately via member ballots. Loyalty points are required (a first-year member has effectively zero chance via official channels).
Away derby tickets typically require a high loyalty-point threshold; the published cut-offs in recent seasons have excluded essentially any first-year member.
Realistic tourist routes for the derby: hospitality only (£500–£900+ per person), or accept that your trip won’t include the derby. The same logic applies to United vs Liverpool and City vs Arsenal/Liverpool.
Resale, scams and the Viagogo warning
This is the bit most articles tiptoe around. The clear position:
- It is illegal to resell football tickets in England unless you are an authorised reseller or agent (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 166).
- Viagogo and StubHub are both explicitly listed as unauthorised by Premier League clubs. Arsenal publishes a do-not-use list naming them.
- The risk: denied entry at the turnstile, no refund, ticket may already have been used by the original holder, the original member can be sanctioned (suspension, loss of season ticket) if the trace is run.
- The only safe resale routes: Manchester United’s Official Ticket Exchange (face value, members only) and Manchester City’s official Seasoncard Holder Ticket Transfer to Cityzens Members (new 2025–26 system).
Authorised hospitality resellers (Seat Unique, Sports Breaks, P1 Travel, Rocket Hospitality, Event Masters, Hospitality Centre, Circuit Hospitality) are legitimate. They mark up significantly above club face value but they are not scams — they are licensed by the clubs to sell hospitality packages. Worth checking against direct club prices first.
Women’s football — the tourist’s secret weapon
If your goal is to see top-class Manchester football in a real stadium, with a real crowd, on the actual matchday — women’s WSL football solves your problem for under £15.
Manchester City Women at the Joie Stadium
- Venue: Joie Stadium, on the Etihad Campus (literally next door to the Etihad)
- Capacity: 7,000
- Adult ticket: From £13 (concessions £10, under-16s £5)
- How to buy: General sale via mancity.com/tickets/womens
- Rarely sells out except for the Manchester derby; tickets often available 1–2 days before matchday.
- Combine with an Etihad Tour for the full City experience.
Manchester United Women at Leigh Sports Village
- Venue: Leigh Sports Village, Leigh (about 25 minutes from Manchester city centre by car)
- Ticket prices: Members £9 / concessions £4.50; Non-members £12 / £6
- Hospitality: From £45 per person (two-course meal, balcony box)
- How to buy: General sale via manutd.com/en/manchester-united-women
- Train to Atherleigh + bus; or drive; or coach.
Both WSL matches offer a real Premier League-level football experience — minus the membership lottery, the £200+ hospitality price tag, and the queues. The atmosphere is loud, family-friendly, the football is high quality (both clubs are regularly in the WSL top four). It’s the easy mode of Manchester football, and the cheaper one. Most tourists ignore it. Don’t.
“How to actually do this” — a decision tree
Path A: I have 6+ months to plan
- Buy a Manchester City Cityzens Matchday Membership (£35) or Manchester United Lite Membership (£35) as soon as the new season’s memberships open (May/June).
- Diarise the member ballot opening dates for the period you’ll be in Manchester.
- Target a Category C fixture (lower-demand opponents — Bournemouth, Brentford, Wolves).
- Pay £35–£60 face value — the cheapest legitimate route.
Path B: I have 1–3 months and budget
- Book hospitality through the club’s official site or an authorised partner (Seat Unique, P1 Travel, Rocket Hospitality).
- Budget £150–£300 per person for a non-marquee fixture.
- Includes seat, meal, drinks — no membership needed.
Path C: I’m here next week
- Check the Manchester United Ticket Exchange daily — face value if a season ticket holder releases.
- Check mancity.com and manutd.com general-sale releases for cup ties.
- Consider a WSL women’s match at the Joie Stadium or Leigh Sports Village — £9–£15, easily available.
- Combine with a stadium tour for the matchday-area experience without the ticket lottery.
Path D: I must see the Manchester derby
- Accept it’ll cost £500–£900+ per person for hospitality, or
- Watch in a Manchester pub — try a Northern Quarter pub for United-leaning company or a pub near the Etihad for City-leaning. See our match day guide for recommendations.
FAQ — Manchester football tickets
How much are Manchester United tickets?
Members pay £35–£75 face value for most home games (Cat C £35–£55; Cat B £45–£75; Cat A higher). Hospitality starts at £149 for low-demand matches and rises to £299+ for Cat A fixtures. Authorised resellers and secondary markets ask £200–£900+ for Big Six opponents.
How can tourists buy Premier League tickets?
Five legitimate routes: (1) Official Membership + ballot, (2) official club hospitality, (3) authorised reseller hospitality, (4) the Official Ticket Exchange close to matchday, (5) cup ties, friendlies or women’s WSL matches. Avoid Viagogo and StubHub.
Is it hard to get Man United tickets?
Yes — Old Trafford operates at near capacity. Members get first access; tourists without membership history rarely succeed for Big Six or derby fixtures. Hospitality is the most reliable route.
What are the cheapest Premier League tickets in Manchester?
Manchester City Cityzens Matchday Member tickets from £30, and Manchester United Cat C from £35 are among the cheapest face-value options. Women’s WSL tickets at Joie Stadium (from £13) and Leigh Sports Village (from £12) are cheaper still.
How much is Manchester United hospitality?
From £149 per person for Cat C, £199 for Cat B, £299+ for Cat A. Premium suites (Sir Bobby Charlton, Heritage Club, No.7) range £400–£700+. Derby and Liverpool fixtures push prices to the top end.
What is the difference between Cityzens and Cityzens Matchday Membership?
The £25 Cityzens Membership gives benefits but does NOT give direct ticket buying access. The £35 Cityzens Matchday Membership is the one you need to actually buy match tickets via ballot.
Can I buy tickets at the stadium on the day?
Walk-up tickets are extremely rare at both clubs and effectively impossible for big games. Don’t plan a trip around this.
What about Viagogo and StubHub?
Avoid both — Premier League clubs class them as unauthorised and you risk denied entry. Use only the official Manchester United Ticket Exchange or Manchester City’s official transfer system for face-value resale.
When do Manchester United and City tickets go on sale?
Member sales typically open 4–6 weeks before each fixture in batched windows. Check the club’s online ticketing portal weekly.
Are MUTV / Cityzens memberships worth it?
Cityzens Matchday Membership (£35) is essential if you want to buy match tickets — yes, worth it. Standard Cityzens (£25) gives benefits only, not direct ticket access. Manchester United Full Membership (£40) is the entry point for ticket access. MUTV is a streaming subscription, not a ticket route.
How do I get Manchester derby tickets?
Realistically, only via hospitality at £500–£900+ per person. Member ballots open but loyalty points effectively exclude first-year members.
How easy is it to get women’s WSL tickets?
Easy — general sale via the club websites, tickets from £9–£15, rarely sell out except for the Manchester WSL derby. The recommended route for tourists who want a Manchester football matchday without the ticket lottery.
Plan more of your Manchester visit
Once you’ve got your ticket, our Manchester match day guide covers pre-match pubs, getting to the stadium, and the post-match logistics. For the stadium tours, see our Old Trafford guide and Etihad guide. Our National Football Museum guide covers the city-centre football collection. For the broader Manchester sporting scene see our other sports guide. For everything, see our Manchester football and sports pillar.
