How to get tickets for the Manchester Derby

Step1

Confirm the fixture details before you buy
The next Old Trafford Manchester Derby (Premier League) is Saturday, 17 January 2026, with a 12:30 pm UK (GMT) kick-off. Times can still shift for TV, so always re-check close to matchday.

Step2

Try official club routes first (especially if you’re a member)
Manchester United’s match-by-match tickets are category-priced this season, and official access is typically tied to membership windows, releases, and club processes.

Step3

Expect top-tier demand and pricing
United uses fixture categories (A/B/C) for league games, with Category A being the highest-demand bracket (and the quickest to sell out). The club’s published Cat A range is £59–£97 for members’ match-by-match tickets, and City is commonly treated as a Cat A opponent.

Step4

If official tickets are gone, switch to verified resale and compare properly
On 1BoxOffice, filter listings by stand/section, number of seats together, price, and ticket format/delivery (mobile/e-ticket, transfer timing, etc.)-then choose what fits your plan, not just the cheapest option.

Step5

Do not mix up home vs away sections
Away allocations are tight and enforced-City’s official away allocation is limited (and can sell out), and tickets are issued as mobile and sent close to the match. Buying the wrong end can mean being refused entry at the turnstiles.

Step6

Buy early for better choice-buy smart to avoid scams
Derby inventory moves fast. Use platforms with clear seat info and secure checkout (like 1BoxOffice), avoid random DMs, and double-check section details before paying.

Price guide (home vs away)

Home Fans (Manchester United Supporters)

Ticket Source	Category / Seat Type	Typical Price Range
Official Manchester United Face Value (Category A match – top-tier opponent)	Main Lower Tier	£65 – £86+ (adult)*
	Main Upper Tier / Centre	£96 – £145+ (adult)*
(Members Ballot / Ticket Exchange)	Young Adult / Senior	£75 – £143 (concession)*
(Members Ballot / Ticket Exchange)	Under 18	£37 – £95 (junior)*
Resale Secondary Market (general resale sites)	Any home section	£335+ average
Resale Secondary Market (general resale sites)	Premium or better seats	£400 – £900++
VIP / Hospitality Packages	Premium seating + extras	£500 – £800

Away Fans (Manchester City Supporters)

Ticket Source	Category / Fan Section	Typical Price Range
Official Away Allocation (Premier League cap applies)	Adult	£30 (cap)
	Senior (65+)	£22 – £23.25
	Young Adult (24 & under)	£26 – £26.50
	Junior (16 & under)	£17 – £17.25
(Official away allocation via Manchester City ticketing)	Other concession categories	Similar to the above estimates

Why Book Tickets to Manchester United vs Manchester City at Old Trafford with 1BoxOffice?

When the Manchester Derby lands at Old Trafford, tickets are among the hardest to secure in English football. If official allocations are limited, sold out, or tied to memberships/ballots, 1BoxOffice gives fans a clear, straightforward way to lock in seats without the long wait.

What you get with 1BoxOffice (and why it matters for a derby)

Access when official tickets are difficult

Derby demand is extreme, and many fans miss out on official releases. 1BoxOffice helps you find available options even when primary sales are gone.

No membership requirements

You don’t need to navigate membership tiers, loyalty points, or complicated release windows, just choose your seats and book.

Choose seats by section and budget

From lower-tier views close to the action to higher tiers with wider sightlines, you can compare listings by stand/section, price, and quantity of seats together, so you’re not buying blind.

Home vs away end clarity

The Manchester Derby is one of those fixtures where buying the wrong section can ruin your day. 1BoxOffice listings make it easier to pick the correct side and avoid issues at entry.

Secure checkout and clear order details

You will see the key buying details up front, seat location, ticket type/delivery method, and total cost, so there are fewer surprises.

Ideal for international fans

If you are travelling to Manchester, you usually can’t “risk it” and hope tickets appear at the last minute. Booking in advance on 1BoxOffice helps you plan flights, hotels, and matchday logistics with confidence.

City vs United in the last five seasons at Old Trafford

Form summary at Old Trafford (last five seasons):

Metric (at Old Trafford)	Total
Games	6
Man United Wins	1
Draws	2
Man City Wins	3

Match-by-match at Old Trafford (last five seasons):

Season	Date	Competition	Score
2020/21	12 Dec 2020	Premier League	Man United 0-0 Man City
2020/21	6 Jan 2021	EFL Cup (Semi-final)	Man United 0-2 Man City
2021/22	6 Nov 2021	Premier League	Man United 0-2 Man City
2022/23	14 Jan 2023	Premier League	Man United 2-1 Man City
2023/24	29 Oct 2023	Premier League	Man United 0-3 Man City
2024/25	6 Apr 2025	Premier League	Man United 0-0 Man City

Squad Comparison of Manchester United and Manchester City

Team	Shirt No	Player	Position	Nationality	Market Value (€)
Man United	31	Senne Lammens	Goalkeeper	Belgium	25m
Man United	1	Altay Bayındır	Goalkeeper	Türkiye	7m
Man United	22	Tom Heaton	Goalkeeper	England	0.15m
Man United	15	Leny Yoro	Centre-Back	France	55m
Man United	4	Matthijs de Ligt	Centre-Back	Netherlands	40m
Man United	6	Lisandro Martínez	Centre-Back	Argentina	35m
Man United	5	Harry Maguire	Centre-Back	England	10m
Man United	26	Ayden Heaven	Centre-Back	England	10m
Man United	33	Tyler Fredricson	Centre-Back	England	3m
Man United	13	Patrick Dorgu	Left-Back	Denmark	30m
Man United	23	Luke Shaw	Left-Back	England	10m
Man United	12	Tyrell Malacia	Left-Back	Netherlands	5m
Man United	35	Diego León	Left-Back	Paraguay	4m
Man United	2	Diogo Dalot	Right-Back	Portugal	28m
Man United	3	Noussair Mazraoui	Right-Back	Morocco	22m
Man United	25	Manuel Ugarte	Defensive Midfield	Uruguay	30m
Man United	18	Casemiro	Defensive Midfield	Brazil	8m
Man United	37	Kobbie Mainoo	Central Midfield	England	40m
Man United	8	Bruno Fernandes	Attacking Midfield	Portugal	40m
Man United	7	Mason Mount	Attacking Midfield	England	32m
Man United	19	Bryan Mbeumo	Right Winger	Cameroon	75m
Man United	16	Amad	Right Winger	Côte d’Ivoire	50m
Man United	10	Matheus Cunha	Second Striker	Brazil	70m
Man United	30	Benjamin Šeško	Centre-Forward	Slovenia	60m
Man United	11	Joshua Zirkzee	Centre-Forward	Netherlands	25m
Man United	32	Chido Obi	Centre-Forward	Denmark	5m
Squad Worth					719.15 Million

Team	Shirt No	Player	Position	Nationality	Market Value (€)
Man City	25	Gianluigi Donnarumma	Goalkeeper	Italy	45m
Man City	1	James Trafford	Goalkeeper	England	25m
Man City	18	Stefan Ortega	Goalkeeper	Germany	5m
Man City	13	Marcus Bettinelli	Goalkeeper	England	0.5m
Man City	24	Joško Gvardiol	Centre-Back	Croatia	70m
Man City	3	Rúben Dias	Centre-Back	Portugal	60m
Man City	45	Abdukodir Khusanov	Centre-Back	Uzbekistan	35m
Man City	5	John Stones	Centre-Back	England	18m
Man City	6	Nathan Aké	Centre-Back	Netherlands	18m
Man City	68	Max Alleyne	Centre-Back	England	0.8m
Man City	21	Rayan Aït-Nouri	Left-Back	Algeria	40m
Man City	33	Nico O’Reilly	Left-Back	England	40m
Man City	27	Matheus Nunes	Right-Back	Portugal	38m
Man City	82	Rico Lewis	Right-Back	England	35m
Man City	16	Rodri	Defensive Midfield	Spain	75m
Man City	14	Nico González	Defensive Midfield	Spain	45m
Man City	44	Kalvin Phillips	Defensive Midfield	England	6m
Man City	4	Tijjani Reijnders	Central Midfield	Netherlands	65m
Man City	8	Mateo Kovačić	Central Midfield	Croatia	15m
Man City	47	Phil Foden	Attacking Midfield	England	80m
Man City	10	Rayan Cherki	Attacking Midfield	France	50m
Man City	20	Bernardo Silva	Attacking Midfield	Portugal	27m
Man City	30	Claudio Echeverri	Attacking Midfield	Argentina	15m
Man City	11	Jérémy Doku	Left Winger	Belgium	65m
Man City	26	Savinho	Left Winger	Brazil	45m
Man City	42	Antoine Semenyo	Right Winger	Ghana	65m
Man City	52	Oscar Bobb	Right Winger	Norway	25m
Man City	9	Erling Haaland	Centre-Forward	Norway	200m
Man City	7	Omar Marmoush	Centre-Forward	Egypt	65m
Squad Worth					1,273.3 Million

A United City Divided: The History of Manchester Derby

This rivalry didn’t start as a global broadcast event. It started as a local bragging-rights match, then kept upgrading itself with every decade. Born in the 1880s, the Manchester Derby grew from a neighbourhood feud into English football’s fiercest city rivalry: Manchester United vs Manchester City. It’s red vs blue, Old Trafford vs the Etihad, pride on the line and bragging rights that last all season. Title races, last-minute winners, iconic goals, and heated moments have shaped derby folklore for generations. Whether it’s Premier League pressure, Champion League battle or cup-night chaos, the Manchester Derby is where the city’s identity gets decided in 90 minutes.

It began before the clubs were ‘United’ and ‘City’

The first derby (1881) was played under their original names, when the fixture barely registered beyond the local paper.

A century of “my side of Manchester” identity

United became a worldwide brand; City became the local constant, then modern City flipped the script.

The words that poured petrol on it

Sir Alex Ferguson’s “noisy neighbours” line (2009) became a derby meme that still gets recycled every time City win a big one.

Iconic moments that changed the temperature:

Denis Law’s backheel in 1974 at Old Trafford is football folklore even now.
City’s 6-1 at Old Trafford (2011)-a symbolic power shift moment in the modern era.
The derby became a “world event” without losing its local edge-fans still treat it like a family argument that happens to be televised.

Historical Head-to-Head (competitive matches)

As of the most recently recorded totals on 11v11:

Metric	Total
Total derbies (competitive)	197
Man United wins	80
Draws	54
Man City wins	63

(The January 2026 meeting is billed as the 198th derby.)

Players who played for Both Clubs

1. Carlos Tevez (United → City)

He didn’t just change clubs-he changed the tone of the rivalry. After leaving United, he joined City in 2009 and instantly became a symbol of City’s ambition in the modern era.

2. Owen Hargreaves (United → City)

More “career rescue” than rivalry theatre: he joined City on a one-year deal in 2011 after leaving United, looking for fitness, minutes, and a restart.

3. Andy Cole (United → City)

Late-career pragmatism. By the time he played for City, his United legacy was already written. City offered a new chapter and a new role.

4. Peter Schmeichel (United → City)

It was brief, but unforgettable: a legendary United icon wearing City colours because football careers don’t always end neatly.

5. Denis Law (City ↔ United ↔ City)

The most poetic (and painful) “both sides” story: he’s celebrated at Old Trafford, yet also part of derby lore in City colours.

FAQs

1. Can I buy Manchester United vs Manchester City tickets without a membership?

Yes. You can buy Manchester United vs Manchester City tickets without a club membership on 1BoxOffice. This is useful for fans who don’t have access to official member-only sales, especially for a high-demand derby at Old Trafford.

2. How can non-members buy Manchester United vs Manchester City tickets?

Non-members can purchase on 1BoxOffice by selecting the Old Trafford fixture, choosing the number of tickets and seats available, then completing checkout online. No membership is required to place an order.

3. Can I buy Manchester United vs Manchester City tickets from another country?

Yes. 1BoxOffice supports international buyers with secure online payments and ticket delivery options (depending on the listing), so you can book from outside the UK and plan your matchday.

4. How much do Manchester United vs Manchester City tickets cost?

Prices vary by demand, competition, and seat location at Old Trafford. Derby fixtures are typically premium-priced, and resale listings can be above face value, especially for central seats and lower tiers.

5. Are there hospitality tickets for Manchester United vs Manchester City at Old Trafford?

Yes. Hospitality options may be available for this derby, offering premium seating and an upgraded matchday experience. Availability can be limited, so it’s best to check listings early.

6. Where do Manchester City fans sit at Old Trafford?

Away fans are usually allocated seats in the away section, typically in the corner area of the stadium with dedicated entry and stewarding. Always confirm the “home” vs “away” section before buying. You can check the stadium seating plan here.

7. Can I buy Manchester City away tickets for Old Trafford?

Yes. Away-end tickets may appear on 1BoxOffice depending on availability. Make sure the listing clearly states it is for the away section to avoid entry issues on matchday.

8. How can I find cheaper Manchester United vs Manchester City tickets?

Look for earlier listings, consider upper-tier seats, and be flexible on exact block or row. Prices can rise sharply closer to kick-off for derbies, so buying early often helps.

9. Can I buy multiple seats together for the Manchester Derby?

Sometimes. Derby tickets often sell in small quantities, so adjacent seats can be limited. Always check listing details to confirm seats are together before booking.

10. Are children allowed at Manchester United vs Manchester City matches at Old Trafford?

Yes. Children can attend but must follow stadium entry rules and ticketing policies. Each attendee must have a valid ticket.

11. How do I get to Old Trafford on matchday?

Old Trafford is well connected by public transport, including tram services to Old Trafford or Wharfside, plus train links into central Manchester. Arrive early on derby days due to security checks.

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