Derby at Blackburn and Blades visit Preston to start Championship

Derby County were promoted back to the Championship at the second time of asking in 2023-24 and face a trip to Blackburn on the opening night of the season

Relegated Premier League side Sheffield United will start the new Championship season with a trip to Preston on Friday, 9 August.

That is one of two games being played at 20:00 BST that evening, along with promoted Derby's trip to Blackburn.

Eight games kick off at 12:30 BST on Saturday, including beaten play-off finalists Leeds at home to promoted Portsmouth - with no games at 15:00 BST.

New Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney takes his side to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, 11 August and relegated duo Luton and Burnley meet at Kenilworth Road the following day.

The Blades will start the season on minus two points after being punished by the EFL for defaulting on payments to other clubs during the 2022-23 season, when they won promotion to the Premier League.

All of the opening round of fixtures in all three divisions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports as part of their new £935m five-year deal with the EFL.

It means only games in League Two will kick-off at 15:00 BST on 10 August, with Saturday's League One fixtures starting at 17:30 BST.

First round of fixtures in full

All 12:30 BST unless stated

Friday, 9 August

Blackburn Rovers v Derby County (20:00 BST)

Preston North End v Sheffield United (20:00 BST)

Saturday, 10 August

Cardiff City v Sunderland

Hull City v Bristol City

Leeds United v Portsmouth

Middlesbrough v Swansea City

Millwall v Watford

Oxford United v Norwich City

Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion

Stoke City v Coventry City

Sunday, 11 August

Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle (16:00 BST)

Monday, 12 August

Luton Town v Burnley (20:00 BST)

Promoted Pompey handed tricky start

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke will look to go one better this season after his side lost to Southampton in last season's Championship play-off final

Portsmouth ended their 12-year stay out of the Championship last season as they won the League One title.

After a trip to Elland Road on the opening day they then face relegated side Luton at home the following weekend before making the long trip to Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough in their third league match of the campaign.

Oxford United won promotion back to the second tier through the play-offs to end their own 25-year wait to play at this level and start with a home game against Norwich, who will be under the management of Johannes Hoff Thorup for the first time.

New Hull City boss Tim Walter will hope to get off to a good start in his new role when they welcome Bristol City on the opening day, while Sunderland's new boss Regis Le Bris will take his men to Cardiff.

The other opening weekend games see Boro host Swansea, Millwall welcome Watford, beaten play-off semi-finalists West Bromwich Albion travel to Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City entertain Coventry.

Burnley are currently without a manager after Vincent Kompany left to take over Bayern Munich last month and they welcome east Lancashire rivals Blackburn for the first derby of the season on Saturday, 31 August after starting at fellow relegated side Luton.

Sheffield United, who claimed just 16 points as they slumped out of the Premier League in 2023-24, host Queens Park Rangers after their opening day trip to Preston.

The first Steel City derby of the season is scheduled for Bramall Lane on Saturday, 9 November.