MANCHESTER: Sept 5, 2026 — Manchester United will kick off their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign by hosting Sabah at Old Trafford on Sept 11, with kick-off set at 3am Malaysian time.
The fixture marks Manchester United’s return to Europe’s elite competition after a one-season absence.
However, the Sabah in question is not Sabah FC from Malaysia’s Super League, but rather Sabah FC from Baku, Azerbaijan.
The two clubs, which share the same name, previously caught the attention of football fans through a friendly exchange on social media.
Malaysia’s Sabah FC had wished their Azerbaijani counterparts good luck, receiving the reply: “Salam from Sabah too.”
Sabah FC from Baku made history last season by winning the Azerbaijan Premier League for the first time, earning a spot in the Champions League group stage.
Now, the Azerbaijani side are set to face the English giants in their European opener at the Theatre of Dreams.
