Ipswich Town played its first Premier League match back against Sunderland during the 2026–27 opening round.
The match was scheduled for Saturday 22 August 2026 at Portman Road. Ipswich had returned to the Premier League after only one season away, while Sunderland were also part of the league’s 20-team field for the new campaign.
Ipswich were one of three promoted clubs in 2026–27, alongside Coventry City and Hull City. Their quick return contrasted with Coventry’s 25-year absence and Hull’s nine-year gap. Those differing timelines made the promoted group unusually varied in experience.
The fixture was one of three matches listed for the traditional 15:00 Saturday slot. The other two were Everton versus Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest versus Leeds United, before Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur closed Saturday’s programme.