Manchester United have started construction work to expand the home and away dugouts at Old Trafford before the new season.
United confirmed on Wednesday that the project forms part of their matchday preparations for 2026/27.
The official update states that both technical areas are being enlarged at Old Trafford. United also promoted the work through their official X account, making clear this is active construction rather than a future stadium concept.
The Sun reports that the work is linked to UEFA requirements after United’s Champions League qualification. The current dugouts have 16 seats, while the new layout will hold 21 seats across three rows.
Carrick Gets A Cleaner Matchday Platform
For Michael Carrick, the change is small in scale but useful in practice.
Expanded dugouts mean more functional space for coaches, substitutes and support staff during matches. That matters more now benches and technical teams operate with crowded matchday groups.
The timing is also relevant. ReadManUtd has already covered how United’s 9 July Carrington return gives Carrick a key pre-season control point. The Old Trafford work now fits that wider preparation picture.
This is not the headline-grabbing part of the wider stadium conversation. United recently confirmed they had secured most of the land required for a new 100,000-seater stadium, which remains the major long-term infrastructure story.
The dugout expansion is more immediate. It gives Carrick and both matchday teams a more practical touchline environment before the first ball of the new campaign.
