Which club played Aston Villa in the first Sunday match of the 2026–27 Premier League opening round?
Answer
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion played Aston Villa in the first Sunday match of the 2026–27 Premier League opening round.
The fixture was scheduled for Sunday 23 August 2026 at 14:00 BST. It shared that kick-off time with Manchester City versus Bournemouth, while Newcastle United versus Liverpool was played later at 16:30.
Brighton’s participation in the UEFA Conference League qualification play-offs on the preceding Thursday was specifically noted in the official fixture announcement. The scheduling therefore gave the club a Sunday match rather than placing it among Saturday’s fixtures.
Brighton’s home venue is the American Express Stadium, commonly called the Amex, in Falmer. Aston Villa play at Villa Park in Birmingham. Both clubs were part of the 20-team Premier League lineup for the 2026–27 campaign.