Relegated Burnley and West Ham will meet on the opening weekend of the Championship season on Sunday, 16 August.

The Clarets finished 19th in the top flight last season and will host the Hammers, who went down on the final day.

Fellow relegated side Wolves will play the league’s curtain-raiser against Blackburn at Molineux on Friday, 14 August.

Elsewhere, Southampton, who will start the season on minus four points after the Spygate scandal, travel to Watford on the opening weekend and promoted Cardiff welcome Welsh rivals Wrexham on Monday, 17 August.

League One champions Lincoln start the season at beaten play-off finalists Middlesbrough on Saturday, 15 August and third tier play-off final winners Bolton begin the campaign with a home game against Preston on the same day.

The Championship season starts a week after clubs play their first competitive fixture in the first round of the Carabao Cup and one week before the Premier League gets under way.

Burnley, West Ham and Wolves will all be looking to secure Premier League promotions at the first time of asking.

The Clarets have now been relegated from or promoted to the top flight in each of the past four seasons.

However, now less than two months out from the start of the season they remain without a manager following the departure of Scott Parker in May.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has remained despite them dropping out of the top flight after 14 seasons.

The Portuguese led Wolves to the Championship title in his one previous season managing at this level in 2017-18.

Wolves finished bottom of the Premier League in 2025-26 and sacked boss Rob Edwards earlier this month to bring in Cesar Peixoto.

They have bolstered their squad with former England defender Kieran Trippier and returning Mexico striker Raul Jimenez.

However, all three will be aware that in both of the past two seasons a team relegated from the top tier has suffered a second successive demotion to League One.

Former Premier League champions Leicester City went the same way as Luton Town had in 2024-25.

Getafe president Angel Torres has confirmed that the club is open to selling Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche this summer.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder spent last season on loan at Premier League side Crystal Palace but failed to convince the Eagles to make the move permanent.

Uche featured in just 14 Premier League matches without registering a goal or assist, though he impressed in the UEFA Europa Conference League with two goals in four appearances.

Uche is set to return to Getafe at the end of June when his loan deal expires. However, Torres has made it clear that the club will not stand in his way if a suitable offer arrives.

“Uche has a contract with Palace until the 30th, so we can’t do anything
“He doesn’t mind coming back, and the coach wants him. If there’s an offer and we agree on it, we’ll sell him,” Torres told spherasports.com.

The Getafe president added that while the club is happy to keep Uche and the coach values him, they remain open to a sale if the right financial proposal comes in.

Uche’s future remains uncertain as several clubs are expected to monitor his situation once he returns to Spain.

Meanwhile, Real Betis and Everton have been credited with an interest in Uche. Especially, Everton, who are desperate to add creative talents to the side.

Uche may not have produced consistently while at Palace, but it is clear he has sufficient talent to thrive at a top club, provided the opportunities are available to him.

Iran left a message saying “may peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations” following their World Cup group match against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.

The handwritten note was left in their dressing room following a goalless draw in their second Group G game.

Iran are competing at the World Cup while their country and the United States – who are co-hosts along with Canada and Mexico – are in negotiations to end their war.

“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” read the message, which was released by the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI).

“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity,” the note continued.

“Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality.

“And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes.

“May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations.”

The message also made reference to an attack on a girls’ school in Minab, where at least 168 people were killed on the first day of the war.

Iran played their opening match – a 2-2 draw with New Zealand – at Los Angeles Stadium, and will play their third and final group game against Egypt in Seattle on 27 June (04:00 BST).

Their involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the war in the Middle East and related security concerns.

Multiple “integral” members of their backroom staff were denied entry visas for the US while the FFIRI called on Fifa to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations” after its allocation of tickets was revoked on the eve of the tournament.

Iran subsequently switched their base for the World Cup from Arizona in the US to Tijuana in Mexico, and face strict travel restrictions during their campaign.

They are allowed to fly into the US a day before they have a game and have to leave the country on the same day as the match, under the conditions of their visas.

This led to Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying they are the “most oppressed” team at the tournament following the draw with New Zealand.

However, Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, says there are “discussions going on” about the timings for Iran’s travel to and from their game against Egypt.

– BBC