BBC Sport has announced that it will stream the highly anticipated FA Youth Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United this Thursday. The match, which is set to be a thrilling encounter between two of England's top youth teams, will be available for viewing on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
This streaming opportunity comes as part of an agreement with TNT Sports. This partnership ensures that fans won't miss out on any action from this exciting fixture, irrespective of their location. The stakes are high as Manchester United's senior head coach Michael Carrick is confirmed to attend the match. The Red Devils are bidding for their 12th Youth Cup trophy against 2024 winners City, who were runners-up to Aston Villa last year.
Carrick himself is no stranger to the competition having been an FA Youth Cup winner with West Ham in 1999. However, he expressed disappointment over City's refusal of United's offer to host the showpiece at Old Trafford.
Despite being designated as the home side for this final showdown, Man City have chosen Joie Stadium - a venue with a capacity of 6,000 - due its ongoing work at Etihad Stadium. This decision has added another layer of intrigue to what promises already be an intense rivalry match-up.
Look back at history
For those unfamiliar with past encounters in this tournament; back in 1986 during their first-ever Youth Cup victory, Man City triumphed over Man Utd by beating them 3-1 across two legs played at Old Trafford and Maine Road respectively.
Director of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, said:
"This is a brilliant occasion featuring two outstanding academies and some of the brightest young talent in English football. We're really pleased that, through this collaboration, fans who can't be there in person will also be able to watch the match live across BBC digital platforms."
The much-awaited Youth Cup final kicks off at 19:00 BST and will be broadcast live from 18:50 BST on both BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. This is a fantastic opportunity for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts to witness the future stars of English football in action, as they battle it out for the prestigious FA Youth Cup trophy.
