Which promoted club faced Sunderland in its first 2026–27 Premier League match?

Ipswich Town faced Sunderland in its first 2026–27 Premier League match.

The fixture was played at Portman Road on Saturday 22 August 2026. Ipswich Town won 2–1, beginning their return to the Premier League with three points.

Ipswich were one of three promoted clubs in the 2026–27 competition, alongside Coventry City and Hull City. Coventry opened the season away to Arsenal, while Hull City hosted Manchester United. Ipswich’s opening opponent was Sunderland, another club with a strong English football history.

The wording can cause confusion because “promoted club” refers to Ipswich, not Sunderland in this particular fixture. Ipswich returned to the Premier League after a one-year absence, whereas Coventry and Hull had been away from the top flight for much longer periods.