Wrexham’s Championship Return
Wrexham are set to kick off their long-awaited return to the Championship, marking the club’s first appearance in this league in over 40 years, with an opening match against ex-Premier League team Southampton. After an extraordinary feat of achieving three consecutive promotions—an English football first—Wrexham, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will face significant challenges ahead. Their initial schedule includes tough away games against Millwall and encounters with Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion in the first five matches of the season.
Birmingham City and Other Notable Fixtures
Birmingham City, co-owned by NFL star Tom Brady, will start their Championship journey against Ipswich Town on August 9. As the League One champions, they will then meet Blackburn Rovers, Oxford United, and Leicester City shortly after, with Stoke City also lined up in their opening five fixtures. A highlight for Wrexham will be their matchup with Birmingham on October 4, which has been dubbed “The Hollywood derby.” The teams will meet again on April 11 at St. Andrew’s, a game that could have significant implications for promotion.
Relegated Teams and Rivalries
In additional notable fixtures, newly promoted Charlton will host Watford right from the beginning of the season, while Sheffield United aims to rebound from last season’s playoff final loss with a matchup against Bristol City under their new manager, Rubén Sellés. The trio of relegated teams—Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich—will each be vying for a quick return to the Premier League. Leicester, in particular, will be expected to gain momentum, beginning their season against Oxford United and Preston North End before a noteworthy clash with Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, on September 20.
Ipswich will have a demanding start to their campaign, facing off against Birmingham, Southampton, and Sheffield United. Southampton’s new manager, Will Still, who is only 32 years old, will lead his side into the season opener against Wrexham before facing tough road trips to Ipswich and Watford.
Upcoming Rivalries
The fierce rivalry continues as the first South Coast derby between Southampton and Portsmouth is scheduled for September 13 at St. Mary’s Stadium, with the return match planned for January 24 at Fratton Park. Additionally, fans can look forward to the East Anglian derby on October 4 when Ipswich will welcome Norwich City to Portman Road.
