Wrexham is set to kick off their first Championship season in over four decades with an away match against former Premier League team Southampton.
Following an unprecedented achievement as the first English club to secure three consecutive promotions, Wrexham, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, faces a challenging introduction to the second tier. Their early schedule includes an away fixture against Millwall and subsequent games against Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion within the first five matches.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City, co-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, will open the Championship season against Ipswich Town on August 9. The League One champions will also take on Blackburn Rovers, Oxford United, Leicester City, and Stoke City in their initial five matches.
A highly anticipated encounter, dubbed the “Hollywood derby,” sees Wrexham host Birmingham on October 4. The return match on April 11 at St. Andrews could have significant consequences for promotion aspirations.
In other news, newly promoted Charlton will host Watford in their season opener, while Sheffield United, eager to rebound from their playoff final defeat, will face Bristol City under new manager Rubén Sellés.
Relegated clubs Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich are all aiming for a quick return to the Premier League. Leicester is expected to start strong, taking on Championship underdogs Oxford United and Preston North End in their opening matches, leading up to an exciting matchup with Frank Lampard’s Coventry City on September 20.
Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich will face a tough start to their pursuit of promotion, with matches against Birmingham, Southampton, and Sheffield United within their first five fixtures.
Southampton, now under the management of Will Still, 32, begins the season with a home match against Wrexham, followed by challenging away games at Ipswich and Watford.
The first South Coast derby of the season between Southampton and Portsmouth is scheduled for September 13 at St. Mary’s, with the return leg set for January 24 at Fratton Park.
Mark your calendars for October 4, when the East Anglian derby will see Ipswich welcome their rivals, Norwich City, to Portman Road.