OXFORD United will take on a Manchester United XI in a prestigious pre-season friendly at the Kassam Stadium.

And the U’s could really hit the jackpot if the match against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side four years ago – when the last World Cup took place – is anything to go by.

The game will take place on Tuesday, July 27 at the Kassam Stadium, with ticket prices and details to be announced at a later date.

While the side Manchester United send will be largely made up by members of their youth team, there is a chance – and quite a good one at that – that one or two of the Red Devils’ players competing in this summer’s World Cup will feature.

That was the case four years ago, when Cristiano Ronaldo – who famously played a huge part in getting Wayne Rooney sent off when Portugal beat England on penalties in the quarter-finals – made a surprise appearance.

All Manchester United players who got to the latter stages of that World Cup missed a pre-season tour of South Africa – and United struck gold when Ronaldo got back into the swing at the Kassam Stadium.

This year, Manchester United start their pre-season preparations a day after the World Cup final when they fly out for a three-country tour of North America.

They will face Celtic in Toronto on July 12, Philadelphia Union on July 21, Kansas City Wizards four days later, an MLS all-stars team on July 28 and then take on Chivas in Mexico on July 30.

The club has already said that none of the World Cup players will feature on that tour, meaning that they are instead likely to be eased back into action in some low-key friendlies back in England.

And that can only bode well for Oxford, who can look forward to a near sell-out.

The U’s are awaiting confirmation about another home pre-season fixture against, potentially, a Premier League or Championship club, which will take place on Saturday, July 31.

OXFORD UNITED PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE AS IT STANDS Tuesday, July 13: Didcot Town (a).

Saturday, July 17: Dumbarton (a) Tuesday, July 20: Livingston (a).

Monday, July 26: Brackley (a).

Tuesday, July 27: MANCHESTER UTD XI (H).

Friday, July 30: Oxford City (a).

Saturday, July 31: TBC Monday, August 2: Banbury United (a).