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Championship 2025/26 fixtures – live: EFL opening matches and full schedule revealed
Teams in the Championship, League One and League Two discover their schedules for next term
The Championship’s 2025/26 fixtures have been revealed as all 72 clubs of the English Football League (EFL) find out their journey through the season.
The schedule for the Championship, League One and League Two were released simultaneously with the three divisions following quickly after the Premier League’s matches were confirmed earlier in June.
After a play-off final win, Charlton are back in the second tier of English football along with Birmingham City and Wrexham, while Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton dropped down from the top-flight.
Barnet and Oldham navigated out of non-league at the end of last season to return to League Two, replacing Carlisle and Morecambe. In League One, meanwhile, the quartet of Doncaster, Port Vale, Bradford City and play-off winners AFC Wimbledon take the places of Crawley, Cambridge United, Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury, who were all demoted in 2024/25.
Follow the fixture release for the 2025/26 season as it happens with our live blog below, plus watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free on DAZN: Sign up here now.
Sheffield Wednesday charged over failing to pay players as EFL sounds warning
Sheffield Wednesday have been charged by the EFL for "multiple breaches" relating to the club's payment obligations.
In March, the Championship club failed to pay the players their salaries on time due to what were described as "cashflow" issues.
It has since been reported there were also problems with payments for May - which are also said to have included non-playing club staff and other employees.
Sheffield Wednesday charged over failing to pay players as EFL sounds warning
Wales, golf, Argyle: Gareth Bale part of group seeking Plymouth takeover
Gareth Bale is part of a US investment group in talks over a buyout of League One club Plymouth.
The Telegraph were first to report that the 35-year-old former Real Madrid and Wales forward was part of the group seeking to buy Argyle.
It is understood the group featuring Bale has registered an interest in buying Argyle, but the process is at a very early stage.
Wales, golf, Argyle: Gareth Bale part of group seeking Plymouth takeover
When is Carabao Cup first round draw?
Also today is the Carabao Cup first-round draw, taking place this afternoon.
There will be 70 of the 72 EFL clubs entering the first round after two preliminary matches between the two sides promoted from the National League last season and the clubs who finished 21st and 22nd in League Two.
Here’s everything you need to know about the draw:
When is Carabao Cup first round draw? Start time, teams and how to watch
Premier League fixtures 2025/26: Every first round game as champions Liverpool face Friday night test
Miss the Premier League’s schedule reveal for next season? We’ve got you covered.
Here’s how 2025/26 kicks off in the top-flight:
Premier League fixtures 2025/26: Every first round game
Key 2025/26 dates
The 2025/26 EFL season will begin on the weekend of 1-3 August in League One and League Two, and 8-10 August in the Championship. The second-tier’s fixtures take place over 33 weekends, nine midweeks and four Bank Holidays, while League One and Two’s match rounds are structured across 33 weekends, five midweeks and eight Bank Holidays and International Breaks.
The final games of the season take place on the weekend of 2/3 May 2026, before the play-offs begin:
Championship Play-Off Final – Saturday 23 May 2026
League One Play-Off Final – Sunday 24 May 2026
League Two Play-Off Final – Monday 25 May 2026
When are the EFL fixtures released?
The EFL fixtures will be confirmed at midday BST on Thursday 26 June. Every Championship, League One and League Two team will have their schedule confirmed for the new campaign simultaneously.
The round one draw for the Carabao Cup will also be made later in the afternoon.
EFL 2025/26 fixtures LIVE
The schedule for the Championship, League One and League Two will be released simultaneously with the three divisions following quickly after the Premier League’s matches were confirmed earlier in June.
Stay tuned to find out your team’s schedule for the season.
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