Ipswich Town faced Sunderland in their first Premier League game after returning in 2026–27.
The match took place at Portman Road on Saturday 22 August 2026, one of three opening-round games scheduled for 15:00 BST. Ipswich’s return followed a one-year absence from the Premier League.
Sunderland were also among the division’s returning clubs, having won promotion from the Championship. Their meeting with Ipswich therefore brought together two sides with recent promotion stories rather than a traditional top-six pairing.
Ipswich Town’s stadium, Portman Road, is in Ipswich, Suffolk. The club’s return contrasted with Coventry City’s 25-year gap and Hull City’s nine-year gap, giving the promoted teams different comeback timelines.