New Football Season Starts
EFL 2026-27 Fixtures Released: Wolves Host Blackburn, West Ham Visit Burnley in Championship.
Key Points
Wolves will open the 2026-27 Championship season at Molineux on Friday, August 14, with an 8pm kick-off against Blackburn Rovers, as they return to the second tier after relegation under new manager Cesar Peixoto.
West Ham United will begin their Championship campaign with an away game at Burnley on opening day.
Lincoln City, League One play-off winners, are back in the Championship and travel to Middlesbrough for their first second-tier game in 65 years.
Leicester City will start their League One campaign at Notts County, with a 12:30pm kick-off.
Bromley will begin their inaugural third-tier season with a trip to Barnsley.
The EFL has released its full fixture list for the 2026-27 season, with Burnley set to host West Ham United in a marquee Championship opener on Sunday, August 16 AOL. The match pits two recently relegated Premier League clubs against each other on the second day of the new campaign, headlining a packed opening weekend.
The season kicks off on Friday, August 14, when Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Blackburn Rovers to Molineux at 8pm — live on Sky Sports — as Wolves begin life in the second tier under new manager César Peixoto Sky Sports. Over 1,000 of the EFL's 1,891 games will be broadcast live this season, marking a record for English football below the top flight.
Three Big Clubs Drop Into a Loaded Championship
Wolves, Burnley, and West Ham all suffered Premier League relegation in 2025-26, creating what analysts are calling the "most expensive Championship in history" due to the parachute payments the trio will receive AOL. West Ham had finished 17 points above Burnley the season before — a gap that now means nothing as both start fresh in the second tier.
Burnley face their third Championship spell in recent years. The club is currently without a manager after Scott Parker left in April, and Wales boss Craig Bellamy has already turned down the role. West Ham, meanwhile, will play outside the Premier League for the first time in 14 years. Their opening schedule is steep — after Burnley on August 16, they face Millwall away on September 19 GB News.
Lincoln City Return to Championship After 65-Year Absence
Lincoln City won the League One title in 2025-26 with a record 103 points. That earns them a return to the Championship — their first since 1961 AOL. They begin with a tough trip to Middlesbrough on August 15 at 3pm, 65 years after they last competed at this level.
The club makes the step up under a new coaching duo of Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw. Promotion-winning manager Michael Skubala left for Bristol City after the title win. Lincoln's opening fixture against Middlesbrough also carries an extra edge — Boro fans are furious that Southampton manager Tonda Eckert remains in post while an FA investigation into a "Spygate" scandal is still active, and Southampton travel to Watford on August 16 as part of the same opening weekend Sky Sports.
Welsh Derby, Lancashire Clash, and Other Opening Weekend Highlights
Monday, August 17 brings a 8pm Welsh derby as Cardiff City host Wrexham — a fixture that carries huge commercial appeal given Wrexham's high-profile ownership and push for a third straight promotion Sky Sports. Bolton Wanderers, back in the Championship, face Preston North End at 12:30pm on August 15 in a Lancashire derby that doubles as a homecoming for both clubs at this level.
Sheffield United take on Birmingham City at 5:30pm on August 15, rounding out what amounts to a full four-day opening festival of Championship football. Exact kick-off times for all other matches across League One and League Two will be confirmed in August, according to Sky Sports.
Leicester and Bromley Begin Historic New Chapters Lower Down
Leicester City start life in League One — just ten years after winning the Premier League. Their first match is at Notts County on August 15 at 12:30pm, designated as the flagship League One broadcast game Sky Sports. New manager Russell Martin said his focus is on "setting clear standards" and rebuilding the club's connection with fans.
Bromley kick off their first-ever season in League One — the third tier of English football — with an away trip to Barnsley AOL. The club won League Two with 87 points in 2025-26. Their debut at this level marks one of several historic firsts that define the 2026-27 EFL campaign as unusually rich in storylines even before a ball is kicked.
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