Former Manchester United and England international Sir Bobby Charlton has welcomed 26 of the 33 rescued Chilean miners to the UK.
The men were freed in October after two months trapped underground.
Sir Bobby, whose father was a miner in Northumberland, told the Chileans: "You took it in your stride and the whole world was very proud of you."
Omar Reygadas said they were delighted to be at Old Trafford and jokingly challenged United to a game.
The men will be guests of honour at Old Trafford for Manchester United's Premier League game against Arsenal on Monday night.
They will be given a tour of the ground and have a chance to meet the players before the match.
Mr Reygadas, a 56-year-old bulldozer operator, said: "It's an honour to be at Old Trafford. It's the theatre of dreams and we have only seen it on television.
