The 2026/27 English Football League campaign has officially begun, and the excitement is palpable across all three divisions. Sky Sports will broadcast every Championship, League One and League Two fixture this opening weekend, giving fans a front‑row seat to the action.
This season is notable for several headline‑grabbing developments: a historic expansion of the Championship play‑offs, a wave of managerial appointments, and a flurry of high‑profile player acquisitions. Below is an in‑depth look at the storylines shaping the new term. One of the most consequential changes to English domestic football in decades is the enlargement of the Championship play‑off format. Previously limited to the teams finishing third to sixth, the play‑offs now accommodate the clubs placed third through eighth.
This adjustment means that two additional sides will have a realistic shot at promotion, intensifying the competition for mid‑table positions and keeping more clubs in the hunt for longer periods. The early betting markets quickly identified West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers as the leading contenders for an immediate return to the Premier League.
West Ham are making their first appearance in the second tier in 14 years, but they have retained manager Nuno Espírito Santo and retained key forward Jarrod Bowen. Both individuals are no strangers to the Championship: Nuno guided Wolves to the league title in 2018, while Bowen previously featured for Hull City during his early career.
Wolves, on the other hand, have taken a bold step by appointing the relatively unknown Portuguese coach César Peixoto to replace Rob Edwards. Their season started modestly with a 2‑2 home draw against Blackburn Rovers, suggesting that the new manager will need time to imprint his ideas. Burnley present a slightly more uncertain picture.
The Clarets have installed Belgian manager Nicky Hayen, a 45‑year‑old who previously led Club Brugge and Genk. Despite the change at the helm, Burnley’s recent pedigree is impressive – they secured promotion in each of the last two Championship campaigns, both times amassing over 100 points. According to Sky Sports' predictive algorithm, West Ham and Wolves sit at the top of the favourite list, with Burnley positioned fourth, just behind Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough’s own narrative is a roller‑coaster. Last season they spent more weeks in the top two than any other side but ultimately finished fifth. Their campaign was marred by the infamous Spygate controversy, a semi‑final defeat to Southampton, a reinstatement to the final, and a heartbreaking loss to Hull City after Oli McBurnie's stoppage‑time winner at Wembley. However, the club appears to have moved past those setbacks, bolstered by a vigorous transfer window.
Owner Steve Gibson has opened the club’s coffers, signing striker Will Lankshear – who netted the winning goal against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup and previously scored 11 goals for Oxford – and adding U.S. international Sebastian Berhalter and former Manchester United loanee goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who impressed while on loan at Bristol City.
This influx of talent has reignited optimism among the Riverside faithful. Southampton, still reeling from the Spygate fallout, have managed to stabilise. Although they were expelled from last season’s play‑offs, the club quickly reaffirmed its confidence in manager Tonda Eckert, despite an ongoing FA charge. The Saints have mitigated fears of a mass exodus; midfielder Shea Charles is the sole departure to date.
In contrast, they have secured permanent deals for goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and striker Cyle Larin, both of whom excelled during loan spells. A four‑point deduction remains a hurdle, but the team’s remarkable second‑half resurgence last season suggests they can still compete for a top‑six finish. Several other managerial moves deserve attention.
Tony Mowbray returns to Blackburn Rovers after a four‑year hiatus, while Watford have appointed Italian tactician Alessio Dionisi. Lincoln City’s successful boss Michael Skubala departed for Bristol City, prompting the Imps to experiment with a joint‑managerial structure – Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw now share the reins at Sincil Bank. Leicester City’s descent to League One marks a historic low for a club that lifted the Premier League trophy a decade ago.
Russell Martin has been tasked with halting the back‑to‑back relegations and restoring credibility after disappointing spells at Southampton and Rangers. The Foxes have already bolstered their ranks with seasoned players such as Liam Cullen, Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns, aiming to blend experience with youthful vigor. Sheffield Wednesday have entered a new era under owner David Storch after the Chansiri family’s tenure ended. Henrik Pedersen, who steered the Owls through a difficult 2025/26 season, now has the chance to extract more from a squad built for promotion.
Notable signings include promising forward Louie Barry, whose injury‑hit development at Stockport County hinted at his potential, and veteran midfielder Barry Bannan returning from Millwall. In the lower divisions, Luton Town are viewed as strong contenders under Jack Wilshere, while Plymouth Argyle have already demonstrated consistency, narrowly missing out on the play‑offs despite an impressive start. Oxford United made a headline‑grabbing appointment by naming former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey as manager – his first permanent role – after Matt Bloomfield’s unexpected exit.
Ramsey’s tenure has begun under a transfer embargo, restricting his ability to reinforce the squad. Other notable changes include Daniel Stendel’s return to Barnsley, Martin Drury’s appointment at Huddersfield Town, and Jimmy McNulty’s move from Rochdale to Stockport after Dave Challinor’s departure.
Bromley, promoted to the EFL for the first time in 2024, have already secured back‑to‑back promotions, winning the League Two title and now competing in League One. Despite being tipped for relegation, Andy Woodman’s side remain defiant and could surprise critics. York City re‑entered the Football League after a decade away, but their start has been rocky.
Long‑time manager Stuart Maynard left just weeks before the season began, and his successor Scott Lindsey has struggled to win over supporters, with a Carabao Cup exit and vocal fan dissent marking his early tenure. Rochdale, another club that earned promotion via the play‑offs, also faced a managerial shake‑up as McNulty departed for Stockport. Their replacement, Ian Watson, arrives from National League North side South Shields, adding another layer of intrigue to the lower‑league landscape.
Salford City, now in their seventh year in League Two, remain hungry for promotion. After a heartbreaking play‑off final loss to Notts County last season, manager Karl Robinson has been replaced by Peter Cklamovski, formerly of the Malaysian national team. The club has splashed the cash market, signing striker Macaulay Langstaff and defender Luke Molyneux, fueling speculation that this could be the season Gary Neville and David Beckham finally guide the team to League One.
Additional managerial 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. The season officially kicks off with a Championship clash between Wolves and Blackburn on Friday night, and Sky Sports will broadcast over 1,000 live matches across the EFL, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy throughout the campaign.
Fans can also catch free highlights on the Sky Sports app after each round, and enjoy weekly analysis on the Essential EFL podcast and The EFL Show, aired every Monday at 2 pm. The opening weekend promises a thrilling start to what looks to be an unforgettable 2026/27 season.