United Women enter World Sevens tourney

Manchester United Women will reportedly join the inaugural Women’s World Sevens tournament this May, a seven-a-side competition taking place May 21-23, in the days leading up to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final.

BBC Sport women’s football reporter Emma Sanders reported the news today, noting that the tournament is part of an effort to drive investment in women’s club football.

“We want Manchester United to be at the forefront of growth and innovation in women’s football and that includes experimenting with new formats such as World Sevens Football, in parallel with the traditional 11-a-side game,” club COO Collette Roche said in a club statement on Thursday. “We welcome new ideas for how women’s football can attract new audiences around the world, working together with clubs, players, and governing bodies.”

United are joining European sides Ajax, Benfica, and Bayern Munich for the tournament in Estoril, Portugal, competing on a downsized pitch in matches of 15-minute halves. The prize money pot of $5 million is provided by Gotham FC and Chelsea FC minority owner, Jennifer Mackesy.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to be part of something new for the women’s game,” United manager Marc Skinner said of the tournament. “Our only focus right now is on finishing the domestic season as strongly as possible in the WSL and the FA Cup; then we can travel to Portugal to enjoy what promises to be an entertaining three days of fast, fun, seven-a-side football.”

The World Sevens matches will stream exclusively through DAZN.

United currently sit in third place in the Women’s Super League table, two points behind Arsenal and eight points behind league leaders and defending champions Chelsea.

The Reds will meet Chelsea to defend their FA Cup crown in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 18, the week before departing for the World Sevens tournament.