Roma fans travelling to Manchester for their Champions League League Phase fourth-matchday fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford have been given a full guide covering tickets, entry, travel and meeting points. Roma are coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, and the trip is one of the most eagerly anticipated away fixtures of the season. Old Trafford, known as the "Theatre of Dreams", is a major stage in European football.
Ticket sales for the Old Trafford away section opened on Tuesday 6 October through the official AS Roma website. The first phase was reserved for holders of the 2026/27 Serie A PLUS season ticket, with any open sale planned from 12 to 15 October. Tickets for Roma supporters sold out during the pre-emption phase. Each purchase issued a PDF voucher, later converted into the actual ticket for stadium entry.
According to the club's communication of 30 October, tickets were sent to the email addresses given at the time of purchase. Entry is digital only and uses NFC technology, allowing fans to pass the turnstiles with a compatible smartphone. Screenshots, paper prints or simple copies of the voucher will not be accepted, so every fan must download the ticket to their device before reaching the stadium and make sure the phone has enough battery. For Android devices, fans must check that NFC is active and working. For some Samsung models, the club recommends setting Google Wallet as the default contactless payment app and checking the other NFC settings required. The away section is in the south-east corner of the stadium and includes sectors S229, E230, E231, E232 and E233. Holders of S229 tickets must use entrance S22 only, while the other sectors have access points E30-AE8.
The gates open two hours before kick-off, at 18:00 local time. Bags larger than an A4 sheet are not allowed, and tickets for other areas of the stadium will not grant access to the away section. For problems receiving or displaying tickets, the club has given the assistance number 06 89386000, open from 9:00 to 18:30.
Local authorities have designated Shambles Square in central Manchester as the official meeting point for Roma supporters. The square is in the Cathedral Gates area, at Manchester M3 1SW, close to the city cathedral. According to the club, Old Trafford can be reached on foot from there in about 45 minutes. Fans are asked to follow the instructions of the authorities and any directions given on site, including the security checks planned for an international match.
Travelling to Britain requires extra preparation compared with travel within the European Union. Italian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom for tourism or to attend the match normally need a passport valid for the whole stay. An identity card is not sufficient, except in specific cases linked to personal status. Since 2 April 2025, the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) has been mandatory for Italian citizens entering the UK without a visa who do not fall into an exempt category. The ETA is an electronic authorisation linked to the passport, to be applied for before departure through the official UK government website or the UK ETA app. It does not replace the passport and does not automatically guarantee entry, which remains subject to border checks. Applications should be made in advance and approval awaited before travelling. More information is available on the GOV.UK portal.
Flying is the most practical option from Rome. Fans can search for flights from Rome Fiumicino to Manchester Airport, checking for direct flights or connections depending on departure and return dates. A direct flight takes roughly three hours, while connecting routes can take considerably longer. From Manchester Airport, the city centre is easily reached by train. The railway station is inside the airport complex, linked to the terminals by covered walkways. Direct trains to Manchester Piccadilly generally take about 20 minutes. Metrolink tram links, buses and taxis are also available. Those arriving on match day should allow carefully for airport checks, the transfer into the city and access to the stadium.
Reaching Manchester from Rome by train alone is possible but very long, with several changes. One itinerary runs by rail to Milan and then Paris, before taking the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to London. From the British capital, fans must reach London Euston and take a direct train to Manchester Piccadilly, a journey of a little over two hours. Allowing for transfers between stations, border checks and connections, the full trip can take at least two days depending on the route, making it best suited to fans who want to turn the away trip into a longer journey across Europe.
Driving from Rome to Manchester is a demanding journey crossing several European countries. The total distance exceeds 2,000 kilometres, depending on the route, and requires at least a full day of actual driving, not counting stops, overnight stays and the Channel crossing. One possible route crosses northern Italy and France to Calais, then uses the Eurotunnel LeShuttle to Folkestone, from where British motorways lead towards Manchester. Drivers must remember that in the UK traffic drives on the left. Vehicle insurance and the documents needed for driving abroad must be checked before departure. For a short trip, driving is generally less convenient than flying.
Old Trafford, opened in 1910, is one of the most famous stadiums in international football history. Located in the Trafford district of Greater Manchester, it is the home of Manchester United. Nicknamed the "Theatre of Dreams", it is one of the largest stadiums in the United Kingdom, with a capacity of around 74,000 spectators.
