Ipswich Town returned to the Premier League by playing Sunderland in the 2026–27 opening round.
Ipswich hosted Sunderland on Saturday 22 August 2026 and won 2–1. It was Ipswich’s first Premier League match after a one-year absence from the division. Sunderland were also back in the top flight, making the fixture a meeting between two returning clubs.
Ipswich had been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the previous season, but promotion immediately restored their top-flight status. Their return was shorter than Coventry City’s 25-year wait and Hull City’s nine-year absence.
The game is often mixed up with Arsenal versus Coventry or Hull City versus Manchester United because all three matches involved promoted or returning clubs. Ipswich’s defining opening-round opponent was Sunderland, and the 2–1 result gave Ipswich three points in their first match back.