The new 2026/27 English Football League campaign has officially begun, and the excitement is already palpable across the three professional divisions. The opening fixture on Friday night pits Wolverhampton Wanderers against Blackburn Rovers, and Sky Sports will broadcast every Championship, League One and League Two match throughout the opening weekend, delivering more than a thousand live games across the league, the Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy. One of the headline‑making developments this summer is the expansion of the Championship play‑offs.
For the first time in decades the play‑off places have been extended from the traditional top six to the top eight clubs. This structural change gives two additional teams a realistic shot at promotion, intensifying the battle for points right down to the final weeks of the season and offering a fresh incentive for clubs that might previously have settled for a mid‑table finish.
Among the clubs tipped as early favourites for an immediate return to the Premier League are West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. West Ham are back in the second tier after a 14‑year absence, and they have retained head coach Nuno Espírito Santo as well as key forward Jarrod Bowen. Both men know the rigours of the Championship: Nuno guided Wolves to the title in 2018, and Bowen featured for Hull City during his earlier spell in the division before moving to east London. Wolves, meanwhile, have made a bold managerial switch, dismissing Rob Edwards and appointing the relatively unknown Portuguese coach César Peixoto.
The Wolves squad still boasts a solid core, with the likes of Andre, Mateus Mane, Santiago Bueno and Hugo Bueno anchoring the side, and they have bolstered their depth by signing former Liverpool striker Raúl Jiménez and seasoned England full‑back Kieran Trippier. Burnley present a slightly more ambiguous picture.
The club has hired Belgian manager Nicky Hayen, a 45‑year‑old who previously led both Club Brugge and Genk in the Belgian Pro League. Despite the new appointment, Burnley’s recent track record in the Championship is impressive – they secured promotion in each of the last two seasons, amassing over 100 points on both occasions. According to Sky Sports' predictive model, West Ham and Wolves sit at the top of the betting odds, with Burnley positioned just behind Middlesbrough in the fourth‑most‑likely slot. Middlesbrough’s own story is one of near‑misses and drama.
Last season they spent more weeks in the top two than any other side but ultimately finished fifth. Their campaign was marred by the "Spygate" controversy, a semi‑final defeat to Southampton, a reinstatement to the final, and a heartbreaking loss to Hull City at Wembley after Oli McBurnie scored in stoppage time. However, the club appears to have shaken off any lingering hangover, largely thanks to an aggressive summer transfer window. Owner Steve Gibson has opened the club’s purse strings, bringing in striker Will Lankshear – who netted the winning goal against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup and scored 11 goals for Oxford last season – as well as former US international Sebastian Berhalter and goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who impressed on loan at Bristol City after returning from Manchester United.
While some supporters questioned the timing of this spending earlier in the season, the new arrivals have already generated a buzz among the Riverside faithful. Southampton’s narrative has been dominated by the fallout from the Spygate scandal, which saw them expelled from the previous season’s play‑offs.
The club swiftly backed manager Tonda Eckert, even as an FA charge remains pending. Player turnover has been minimal; midfielder Shea Charles was the only departure, while the team secured permanent deals for goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and striker Cyle Larin, both of whom excelled during their loan spells. Southampton also face a four‑point deduction this season, but their late‑season resurgence last year suggests they possess the quality to overcome the handicap and contend for promotion. Several other managerial changes merit attention.
Tony Mowbray returns to Blackburn Rovers after a four‑year absence, and Watford have appointed Italian tactician Alessio Dionisi. Lincoln City’s promotion‑winning boss Michael Skubala left for Bristol City, prompting the Imps to adopt an unusual joint‑manager model with Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw at the helm. Leicester City, ten years removed from their Premier League triumph, find themselves in League One for only the second time in their history. Russell Martin, whose recent spells at Southampton and Rangers ended poorly, now leads the Foxes and has already added experienced players such as Liam Cullen, Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns to the squad.
Sheffield Wednesday have entered a new era under owner David Storch after the Chansiri era ended. Henrik Pedersen, who steered the Owls through a difficult 2025/26 campaign, now has a chance to extract more from a side built for competition. New signings include promising youngster Louie Barry, who impressed at Stockport County despite injury setbacks, and veteran midfielder Barry Bannan, back from a stint at Millwall.
Luton Town, guided by former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, and Plymouth Argyle, who have been strong contenders this season, are also among the clubs to watch. Oxford United made a headline‑grabbing appointment by naming former Tottenham midfielder Aaron Ramsey as manager – his first permanent role – after Matt Bloomfield’s unexpected departure. Ramsey’s start has been challenging, with a transfer embargo preventing any new signings for the relegated side. Further down the ladder, Daniel Stendel returns to Barnsley, Martin Drury takes charge at Huddersfield Town, and Jimmy McNulty leaves Rochdale for Stockport after Dave Challinor’s exit.
Bromley, promoted to the EFL for the first time in 2024, achieved a second‑season rise by winning League Two and will now compete in League One. Their rivals, the newly‑promoted Ravens, are favorites for relegation, yet manager Andy Woodman hopes to repeat his previous survival feats. York City have re‑entered the EFL after a decade away, but their celebration was dampened when manager Stuart Maynard – the architect of their 100‑point promotion – left just weeks before the season began. His successor, Scott Lindsey, has struggled to win over supporters, as evidenced by a hostile Carabao Cup debut where fans called for Maynard’s return.
Similarly, Rochdale’s manager Jimmy McNulty departed after leading the club to promotion via the play‑offs, and the team has appointed Ian Watson from National League North side South Shields. Salford City, now in their seventh year in League Two, remain eager to break the play‑off final barrier after a narrow defeat to Notts County last season. Manager Karl Robinson has been replaced by Peter Cklamovski, who previously coached the Malaysia national team. The club has splashed the cash market, signing striker Macaulay Langstaff and defender Luke Molyneux, fueling speculation that the Gary Neville and David Beckham‑owned side could finally reach League One.
Other notable appointments include Chris Hogg at Northampton Town, Alex Bruce at Rotherham United, Darrell Clarke at Tranmere Rovers, Lee Grant at Walsall and Hayden Mullins at Newport County. As the season unfolds, fans can enjoy live coverage of every league match on Sky Sports, catch free highlights on the Sky Sports app after each round, and tune into the Essential EFL podcast and The EFL Show on Sky Sports News every Monday at 2 pm for analysis and debate.
The 2026/27 EFL season promises a blend of historic change, fresh managerial ideas and a host of new signings that will shape the fortunes of clubs across the English football pyramid.