Ipswich Town played Sunderland on their first 2026–27 Premier League matchday.
The match took place on Saturday 22 August 2026, with Ipswich winning 2–1. It was Ipswich’s first Premier League game after returning to the top flight following a one-year absence. Sunderland were also part of the division’s returning group, making the fixture a meeting between clubs with recent promotion histories.
Ipswich’s victory gave them an immediate three points and made them one of two promoted clubs to win during the opening round. Hull City were the other, defeating Manchester United 2–0. Coventry City lost to defending champions Arsenal.
The result helped create an unusually strong opening for the promoted teams. It also meant that the first Saturday schedule featured several clubs whose recent campaigns had taken them between the Championship and Premier League, illustrating how promotion can quickly reshape the top-flight lineup.