With the Premier League fixtures now released, eyes turn to the Championship and the rest of the EFL as they prepare to announce who will be playing who on which date over the course of 2025/26.
Fixture release day is 26 June, and supporters will be getting more and more excited as they get ready to see who their team will be facing up to on the opening day.
With the summer transfer window already open, the new season is getting closer by the day and this year’s Championship has the potential to be the best ever.
EFL Analysis has taken a look at five games that will catch the eye next Thursday when the fixtures do drop, as well as how these lists are compiled.
Five Championship games to look for on EFL fixture release day
Portsmouth vs Southampton
It’s been 13 years since Portsmouth and Southampton last faced one another in the Championship, and these two will be more than ready to go at one another in the South Coast derby.
Jos Hooiveld (L) of Southampton heads narrowly wide as Greg Halford (2L) of Portsmouth challenges during the npower Championship match between Southampton and Portsmouth
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The Saints, who had a record-breaking 2024/25 Premier League campaign, do have the advantage in the head-to-head in this particular clash, having won 35 of the 71 contests between the two – losing 21 times.
However, this is perhaps the most level-playing field that the bitter rivals have been on for a long time, and there will be fireworks when they meet at both Fratton Park and St. Mary’s this season.
Ipswich Town vs Norwich City
While fans have not had to wait as long for this one, the East Anglia derby returns for the 2025/26 campaign following Ipswich Town’s relegation back to the Championship.
Liam Manning will get his first taste of this clash from a head coach’s perspective having grown up as a Canaries supporter and he will be looking to continue his side’s recent dominance in the fixture.
Ipswich have not beaten Norwich since 2009, and they have not run out as victors at Carrow Road for 19 years. However, the two are tied on 43 wins each against one another, with 23 draws – adding another twist to the rivalry.
Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday
Preparation for this season could not be going worse for Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls have a three-window fee restriction and they look to be in real trouble of relegation to League One.
Sheffield Wednesday FC v Sheffield United FC - Sky Bet Championship
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On the other hand, Sheffield United have sacked Chris Wilder with Ruben Selles looking likely to take charge at Bramall Lane. It is all change in the Steel City derby for the upcoming campaign, and it will only add further spice to the clash.
The Blades ran out 1-0 winners in both fixtures last season, and they have not been beaten by their rivals since 2012. Wednesday have won 48 times, while United have 51 victories to their name with 47 draws between them.
Coventry City vs Leicester City
Coventry City and Leicester City are two clubs bidding to make their way out of the EFL and back to the Premier League next season, and the M69 derby is surely going to throw up some new storylines in 2025/26.
Frank Lampard is yet to get a taste of the rivalry, but he will be looking to pick up from where Mark Robins left off following a 3-1 win at the CBS Arena in the last game between the pair.
Leicester have been more successful in this game throughout history as they have picked up 38 wins from the 88 games. Coventry have 26 to their name, while the game has ended level 24 times.
Birmingham City vs Wrexham
The ‘Hollywood’ derby will not be lost by the EFL next season following promotion for both Birmingham City and Wrexham to the Championship.
Director Andrew Shannahan, Interim Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Dale, Minority Shareholder Tom Brady and Chairman Tom Wagner look on from the box following Birmingham City's defeat during the Vertu EFL Trophy Final match between Birmingham City and Peterborough United
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Blues sent a cheeky jibe to the Red Dragons at the end of last season as Chris Davies’ side waltzed to the League One title, and the two will now face off in the second tier.
Birmingham took four points off the Welsh outfit in the third tier, and they will be hoping for a repeat of their home performance when the two next meet. Wrexham have run out as winners just twice against Blues in the past, as Phil Parkinson looks for a remarkable fourth successive promotion.
How fixtures are decided in the EFL
With plenty to look out for on 26 June, there will be questions asked about how the order of games is decided.
According to the EFL’s website, while there is still a random generator used at the very start of the process, local clubs are put together in pairs to ensure that there is less of a strain on emergency services.
Teams will not play any more than two consecutive home or away games at a time, and the system ensures that clubs play as close to equal alternative home/away matches on a Saturday.
A detailed view of the EFL logo on a football before a Championship game
Photo by David Watts | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The EFL then sends out questionnaires to their teams and police to identify the biggest games and if they will have an impact on that area.
Work is then done to have correspondence with the Premier League, with international breaks, mid-week matches and FA Cup fixtures all factored in. Clubs who play away on Boxing Day will play at home on New Year’s Day to ensure distance travelled over the festive period is not too great.
Fixtures are then reviewed and announced. So while the initial process is random, there are plenty of factors that perhaps make it a little bit more structured than many would like.