Manchester United are set to continue their pre-season preparations in the Premier League Summer Series with a clash against AFC Bournemouth at Chicago’s iconic Soldier Field. The match, scheduled for a 2:30am BST kick-off on July 31, 2025, sees both teams aiming to build on winning starts to their United States tour.
Manager Ruben Amorim has made six changes to the side that defeated West Ham United 2-1 over the weekend. A significant development is the inclusion of Mason Mount, who makes his first start of the pre-season. He joins Amad Diallo in supporting striker Rasmus Hojlund. The starting lineup also sees Tom Heaton in goal, with a back three of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw. Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu will operate as wing-backs, flanking a central midfield pairing of Casemiro and captain Bruno Fernandes.
A notable absentee from the squad is new signing Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian forward, who impressed in his first two outings, is missing the match due to fatigue. Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed the decision was a precautionary measure, stating, “Cunha has fatigue. Need to assess all the players. Have to be careful with everyone. He’s available for the next one,” as reported by the Manchester Evening News. United will also be without goalkeeper Andre Onana and defender Lisandro Martinez, who are recovering from injuries.
The Red Devils are debuting their new 2025/26 home kit for the fixture. Their pre-season began with a 0-0 draw against Leeds United in Stockholm, followed by the victory over West Ham in New Jersey, where a brace from Bruno Fernandes secured the win.
Bournemouth, managed by Andoni Iraola, also enter the match in strong form. The Cherries began their Summer Series campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Everton, showcasing their attacking prowess. For the Chicago clash, Iraola has named a strong side, featuring a back three of James Hill, Marcos Senesi, and Illia Zabarnyi, with Djordje Petrovic in goal. Their attack will be led by Evanilson, supported by Antoine Semenyo and Dango Ouattara, who was on the scoresheet against Everton.
While pre-season results are secondary to performance and fitness, this match holds significance as the winner will be in a prime position to claim the Premier League Summer Series trophy. United have found Bournemouth to be a difficult opponent in recent competitive fixtures, having gone winless in their last four encounters, according to Sports Illustrated. This friendly provides an opportunity for Amorim’s squad to build momentum and test themselves against a confident Premier League rival.
Following this game, both teams will travel to Atlanta for their final matches of the tour. Manchester United will face Everton, while Bournemouth will take on West Ham. With the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season just over two weeks away, both managers will be keen to see a sharp and organized performance from their respective sides as they finalize their preparations.
