Ipswich Town had not won their opening top-flight match since the 1993–94 season before the 2026–27 Premier League campaign.
Ipswich ended that long wait by defeating Sunderland 2–1 at Portman Road on 22 August 2026. Emersonn opened the scoring after combining with Julio Enciso, while Sunderland equalised through Nilson Angulo’s direct free-kick.
Ipswich then secured victory in the 90th minute when substitute Clarke scored against his former club. The result was Ipswich’s first Matchweek 1 top-flight victory since 1993–94, making it a notable milestone during their return to the Premier League.
The match also featured two promoted teams, as Sunderland had joined Ipswich in moving up to the Premier League. Ipswich were managed by Gary O’Neil in his first competitive match in charge.