Category News

Manchester United want to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup final in their new 100,000-seater stadium.

The club announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK – an “iconic” new £2bn ground close to Old Trafford – in March.

And they still hope to realise co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire for a ‘new’ Old Trafford to be completed within five to six years – despite widespread doubts outside the club over the likelihood of hitting that timescale.

The 2035 Women’s World Cup is expected to be held across the four nations of the United Kingdom, which is the sole bidder.

The Football Association is working on a bid to present to football’s world governing body Fifa by the end of the year, setting out its vision for the tournament.

Club sources say they anticipate the new stadium being open a long time before 2035 and believe Ratcliffe’s stated timescale from his March announcement is still valid.

The club’s ambition was announced as Lord Coe was named as Chair-Designate of the Mayoral Development Corporation for the Old Trafford Regeneration project, a move which Manchester United have welcomed.

He was previously the chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force set up by Ratcliffe last year to examine the feasibility of a new 100,000-capacity stadium for United, the first drawings for which were unveiled in London almost four months ago.

He has also chaired London’s successful 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid.

United chief executive Omar Berrada said: “The continuity it brings for the wider project will be a huge positive.

Industry and football experts outside Old Trafford have identified numerous reasons why completion in 2030 may be unlikely, with one saying privately if the spades are in the ground within two years, United will have done very well.

Early discussions over how to fund the £2bn project have begun, although this is being done at the same time as the club are in negotiations over the refinancing of significant chunks of United’s current debt.

While those specific loans are not set to expire until 2027, informed sources say they need to be refinanced a year before that. In their latest financial statement in June, United confirmed £327.9m of its ‘senior secured notes’ and £180m of its revolving credit facility is set to mature on 25 June 2027.

It is thought highly unlikely United will look to load its stadium debt on to that sum at a time when global interest rates are rising.

Ratcliffe and co-owners the Glazer family have the option of putting in the sums themselves, or reducing their stake in the club through a share sale, but neither of these options are felt to be realistic either.

Outsiders think the most likely option is having a subsidiary company own the stadium, which could bring in investment.

Yet others feel the economics of building a 100,000-capacity stadium from scratch requires the men’s first team to be a far more attractive proposition than they are now because a significant number of corporate tickets will have to be sold to make it financially viable.

A secondary complication is whether there is a possibility of being able to buy nearby land currently being used for the Freight Liner terminal.

There is still time to tone down some of the more expensive elements of the vision Ratcliffe unveiled in March.

United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche will lead the club’s drive on the project, with fan focus groups set to discuss key aspects, including seating and pricing options, in a series of meetings next week.

It is not known yet when planning permission will be submitted, although issues such as transport expansion will be dealt with at local government level, with United’s input.

“This is about so much more than just a stadium,” said Lord Coe.

“It’s about listening to and working with residents to create a vibrant, inclusive district, with high quality housing, green spaces, world class leisure and education facilities, and improved transport links.

Wimbledon 2025

Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England Club

Two-time defending wheelchair doubles champions Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid got their campaign off to a winning start at Wimbledon.

The British pair beat Takuya Miki of Japan and American Casey Ratzlaff 6-3 6-2 to progress to the semi-finals.

Six of their 22 major triumphs have come at the All England Club, while Hewett has 10 Grand Slam singles titles and Reid has two.

Both continue their singles campaigns on Thursday, with defending champion Hewett taking on China’s Ji Zhenxu and Reid facing Argentine fourth seed Gustavo Fernandez.

Another all-British pair – Ben Bartram and Dahnon Ward – were also in last-eight action on Wednesday but they lost 7-5 6-4 to Ji and Israel’s Sergei Lysov.

In the women’s wheelchair doubles, Briton Lucy Shuker and her Dutch partner Diede de Groot advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-4 6-4 victory over all-Netherlands pair Lizzy de Greef and Aniek van Koot.

Another British-Dutch pairing, Cornelia Oosthuizen and Jinte Bos, could not join them in the last four as they were beaten 6-4 5-7 6-4 by Chile’s Macarena Cabrillana and Japan’s Saki Takamuro.

Greg Slade reached the semi-finals of the men’s quad wheelchair singles, defeating Chilean Francisco Cayulef 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4, but 2019 finalist Andy Lapthorne was beaten 6-2 1-6 6-2 by Turkey’s Ahmet Kaplan.

Both Slade and Lapthorne are back in action on Thursday in the men’s quad wheelchair doubles.

Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier

Italy 167-6 (20 overs): Gay 50, Stewart 44; Leask 3-18

Scotland 155-5 (20 overs): Munsey 72, Berrington 46*; Manenti 5-31

Italy won by 12 runs

Italy captain Joe Burns says it feels “very surreal” after his side took a major step towards qualifying for their first T20 World Cup with a surprise 12-run victory over Scotland.

The Azzurri, ranked 32nd in the world, have moved to the top of the European Regional Qualifying group on five points, two ahead of Scotland, and have a superior net run rate.

Victory over second-placed Netherlands in their final game will rubberstamp Italy’s place at the tournament, but they remain in a good position even if they lose.

Scotland will need to win big against Jersey in their final game on Friday (10:00 BST) to substantially improve their net run rate of -0.150 and hope Italy’s, currently +1.722, takes a hit.

Burns, who played 23 Tests for Australia before pledging his allegiance to Italy last year, said he side “technically cannot celebrate too hard at the moment” after the win in the Hague and acknowledged “there’s still a big game on Friday”.

“I am really proud of the boys for this moment,” Burns said. “To come and beat Scotland, who are a fantastic team, is a nice reward for sacrifices our players, staff and federation have made.

After Burns won the toss at Voorburg Cricket Club and decided to bat, Italy posted 167-6 from their 20 overs thanks largely to an blistering 50 off 21 balls from Emilio Gay.

The Durham batter, who qualifies via his English-Italian mother, smashed six fours and two sixes before he was caught by George Munsey off the bowling of Michael Leask.

Off-spinner Leask then dismissed Marcus Campopiano next ball to stymie Italy’s momentum en route to figures of 3-18.

However, Grant Stewart played a crucial hand for the Italians as he finished unbeaten on 44 having hit three sixes and two fours off 27 balls.

Scotland, who beat the Dutch and saw their match against Guernsey washed out, appeared on course for victory when opener Munsey and captain Richie Berrington put on 105 for the third wicket as Italy looked set to be punished for dropped catches.

However, when Munsey was caught by Burns off Manenti for a 61-ball 72 with 16 balls remaining, Italy’s bowlers started to turn turned the screw.

New batters Leask and Matthew Cross struggled to time the ball on a pitch which took time to get in on and both were dismissed by Manenti, who finished with 5-31, as he and Stewart conceded just one boundary in the final three overs.

The Dutch moved into second place by easing aside bottom-placed Guernsey by 73 runs in the afternoon match, with the islanders falling short on 99-9 in response to the hosts’ 172-1.

Scotland’s best chance of qualification now rests with beating Jersey and hoping the Italians can beat the Dutch in Friday’s later game.

Scotland captain Berrington, who finished unbeaten on 46 off 37 balls, said his side must quickly pick themselves up for the meeting with Jersey.

“We kept ourselves in it but just didn’t manage to execute at the end,” he said. “A lot of the credit has to go to Italy, who outskilled us with the ball in those conditions.

“Obviously today’s a tough one, but it’s important we learn what we can from this game. We will be looking to come back strong.