Manchester United begin their FA Cup campaign at Old Trafford this Sunday, January 11, 2026, as they host Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round.
Interim manager Darren Fletcher remains in charge for his second match following the departure of Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils are buoyed by the recent return of several key players to the matchday squad, including Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo, all of whom gained minutes in the midweek draw at Burnley. Harry Maguire is also back and could potentially start to manage the team’s defensive load.
However, Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined with an injury, and Amad Diallo is unavailable due to his involvement in AFCON.
Brighton
Brighton travel to Manchester in high spirits after holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in midweek. Manager Fabian Hürzeler has indicated he may rotate his squad for this cup tie, providing opportunities for players like Jason Steele and James Milner.
The Seagulls are boosted by the return of Joël Veltman and Charalampos Kostoulas, who are expected to be available after recent knocks.
However, they will be without Carlos Baleba, who is on international duty at AFCON, and long-term absentees Solly March, Adam Webster, and Mats Wieffer. Having won three of their last four visits to Old Trafford, Brighton will be confident of causing another upset.
Match Details and Kick-off Time
The Manchester United v. Brighton game will kick off at 4:30 PM GMT. For fans in other regions, the match timings are as follows:
- United Kingdom: 4:30 PM GMT
- Central Europe (Spain/France/Italy): 5:30 PM CET
- Egypt (GMT +2): 6:30 PM
- United States (Eastern Time): 11:30 AM EST
- India: 10:00 PM IST
- Australia (AEDT): 3:30 AM (Monday, Jan 12)
The match will be held at Old Trafford and officiated by referee Simon Hooper.
How to Watch Manchester United V. Brighton Live
TV Broadcast:
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports 1 / TNT Sports Ultimate.
- United States: ESPN Unlimited (includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes for selected coverage).
- Canada: Sportsnet / SN Now.
- Australia: Stan Sport.
Online Streaming:
- discovery+: Available for UK subscribers on mobile and desktop.
- ESPN Select: The primary streaming home for the FA Cup in the US.
- MUTV: Global fans can listen to live audio commentary and watch the full match replay starting Monday.
- Disney+: Available in selected international regions (e.g., South America).
Radio Broadcast:
- Live national commentary is available on TalkSport and BBC Radio 5 Live.
- Club-specific audio is available through the Manchester United Official App.
