West Ham’s 2025-26 fixtures have been leaked by a top club insider ahead of the official release and it’s a nightmare run to start for Graham Potter, kicking off at Sunderland.
It feels like West Ham have only just put their miserable 2024-25 season behind them but now all eyes turn to a new campaign.
Wednesday June 18th marks Premier League fixture release day and there has been the usual leaks doing the rounds on social media.
The jury is out on Graham Potter at West Ham after an inauspicious first six months in the job.
The Hammers won just five of Potter’s 19 games in charge.
West Ham also have no money to spend on a much-needed rebuild until players are sold.
As a result Paul Merson believes the likes of Sunderland will be licking their lips at surviving in the Premier League at West Ham’s expense.
Hammers legend Tony Cottee has also stated Potter will be in trouble if West Ham don’t start well in their first six games.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Well that task has been made all the more difficult.
At the start of a new season one of the main things any club wants to avoid is facing a newly-promoted side at home on the opening day.
The home crowd are usually excited and create a carnival atmosphere which the players, who are equally buzzing at being in the Premier League, feed off.
Now Potter has been handed a nightmare start at Sunderland as West Ham’s 2025-26 fixtures are leaked by a top club insider.
Graham Potter reacts during Manchester United FC v West Ham United FC in the Premier League
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Sean Whetstone counts West Ham majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his close contacts.
Whetstone has revealed ahead of the official release who the Hammers will be facing.
He claims the first game of the season for West Ham will be the long trip away at newly-promoted Sunderland.
That will be followed by London rivals Chelsea in the first home of the new campaign.
West Ham have never played a Boxing Day game at home since moving to the London Stadium.
There have always been rumours of a gentleman’s agreement to avoid scheduling fixtures at the London Stadium on that date due to the Boxing Day sales rush at neighbouring Westfield Shopping Centre.
Once again West Ham will not play at home on Boxing Day. But the Hammers are at home the day after, playing Fulham on December 27th.
Whetstone says the Sunderland game should be at 3pm on August 16th as it does not appear to have been selected among the first weekend’s TV fixtures.
First game of the season is Sunderland away
First home game is Chelsea
And 27th December (day after Boxing day) we are at home at the London Stadium to Fulham .. pic.twitter.com/X2xw7NUimh
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) June 18, 2025
View Tweet
The full fixture list for all Premier League teams will be released at 9am.
Sunderland away and Chelsea at home marks a very difficult start to the new season for a manager under pressure.
If the Hammers don’t come away with anything at buoyant Sunderland, his old club Chelsea at home is hardly what Potter would want next.
Enzo Maresca is being backed massively with top signings again including Liam Delap.
Chelsea are also mulling over whether to sign Mohammed Kudus.
So it could see an early return to face West Ham for the Ghanaian if that deal were to transpire.