WEST HAM start life in the Championship with a trip to fellow relegated club Burnley.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men make the tough hike to Turf Moor on Jattvibeday August 16 for a 4pm televised kick-off.
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Nuno Espirito Santo will lead West Ham into the Championship Credit: PA
The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League last term Credit: Shutterstock
It remains to be seen if any of their big-hitters like Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville, Taty Castellanos and Mateus Fernandes will still be at the club with Premier League and European vultures circling.
But those who do remain in East London are scheduled to go to The Den on Saturday September 19 to take on their fiercest enemies Millwall.
It will be the first Dockers’ Derby since 2012 — the last time West Ham were in the Championship — and the return is set to take place at the London Stadium on Saturday February 20.
Both games will worry Met Police chiefs, given the violent history between the clubs, and will almost certainly kick-off at lunchtime.
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Southampton — who were booted out of the play-offs in May for spying on Middlesbrough — will renew hostilities with Boro at St Mary’s on Saturday November 28.
While the Saints are sure to get a hot reception at the Riverside for the return on Saturday March 17.
Boss Tonda Eckert is still under an FA investigation for his part in Spygate but has yet to be charged.
They also host South Coast rivals Portsmouth on Saturday October 10 with a feisty Fratton Park waiting for them on Saturday February 20.
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Relegated Wolves and Blackburn will officially kick-off the season at Molineux on Friday, August 14 with two new men in the dugout.
Portuguese boss Cesar Peixoto will hope to get off to a winning start as Wolves bid to bounce back to the Prem at the first attempt— while Tony Mowbray returns for Rovers, having managed the club between 2017 and 2022.
Cardiff host Welsh rivals Wrexham in their opening game after returning to the Championship on Monday August 17.
But it is the two games against bitter rivals Swansea that Bluebirds fans will be looking forward to most.
And they are scheduled to travel to the Swans on Saturday November 28 with the return on Saturday March 13.
The glamour Welsh derby though is between Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric-backed Swansea and Wrexham with the Hollywood stardust of Ryan Reynolds.
They do battle in Swansea on Saturday September 5 with the return at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday April 19.
Lincoln make their first appearance in the second tier for SIXTY-FIVE years but will do so without manager Michael Skubala, who led them to the League One title but then walked out to join Bristol City.
West Ham last played Millwall when they were previously in the Championship Credit: Getty
Middlesbrough will try for promotion again after their playoff final heartbreak Credit: Getty
Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw have been appointed joint head coaches and will take charge of their opening game at Middlesbrough on Saturday August 15.
Their first home game will be against Portsmouth on August 22.
Bolton are back in the Championship also after seven years and they have a corker of an opening game — taking on north-west rivals Preston at home on August 15 in a live-televised 12:30 kick-off.
The standout Boxing Day games see West Ham host Norwich while Burnley travel to north-west rivals Bolton.
Fans will be clocking up the miles as always but spare a thought for Swansea supporters who face a 580-mile round trip to Middlesbrough on what surely will be a cold Tuesday night on November 24.
The 2016 Premier League champions Leicester travel to Meadow Lane to take on League Two play-off winners Notts County for an East Midlands derby in another live-televised 12:30 kick-off on the same day.
Foxes boss Russell Martin will take charge of his first game — hoping to bounce them back into the Championship at the first time of asking.
Their return will be on Saturday January 23.
Meanwhile, in League Two, York start life back in the EFL after 10 years in non-league with a home game against Bristol Rovers on August 15.
Their incredible 108 points meant that Rochdale had to contest the play-offs despite grabbing 106 points themselves.
But they prevailed at Wembley and return to the Football League with a trip to Newport, which is also on the box at 12:30 the same day.
Also all matches selected for broadcast for the period to the end of September will be announced on or before next Thursday while all selections up to the weekend of January 9 2027 will be made or before July 31.
