Ipswich Town played Sunderland in their first 2026–27 Premier League match.
The fixture was scheduled for Saturday 22 August 2026 at 15:00. It marked Ipswich’s first Premier League game of the season after the club returned to the competition, and it also featured Sunderland, another club competing in the division after promotion.
Ipswich won the opening-round match 2–1. The result gave them an important three points in a fixture between two teams whose early-season priority was establishing themselves in the top flight.
Ipswich’s match should not be confused with the other opening fixtures involving promoted clubs. Coventry City faced Arsenal on Friday, while Hull City hosted Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime. Sunderland were the opponent specifically drawn against Ipswich in the opening round.