Championship games: Derby promoted open at Blackburn, Sheffield United at Preston

Sheffield United, relegated from the Premier League, will kick off the new Championship season with a trip to Preston on Friday, August 9.

This is one of two matches played at 20:00 BST that evening, along with Derby’s promoted trip to Blackburn.

Eight games kick off at 12:30 BST on Saturday, including beaten play-off finalists Leeds at home to promoted Portsmouth.

New Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney takes his side to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, August 11, while relegated duo Luton and Burnley meet at Kenilworth Road the following day.

All of the opening round of games in the second tier will be shown live on Sky Sports as part of their new five-year £935m deal with the EFL.

All 12:30 BST unless specified

Blackburn Rovers v Derby County (20:00 BST)

Preston North End v Sheffield United (20:00 BST)

Cardiff City v Sunderland

Leeds United v Portsmouth

Middlesbrough v Swansea City

Oxford United v Norwich City

Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion

Stoke City v Coventry City

Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle (4pm BST)

Luton Town v Burnley (20:00 BST)

Portsmouth ended their 13-year stay outside the Championship last season by winning the League One title.

After a trip to Elland Road on the opening day, they face relegated Luton at home next weekend before making the long trip to Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough in their third game of the campaign.

Oxford United won promotion back to the second tier via the play-offs to end their own 25-year wait to play at this level and start with a home game against Norwich, who will be under Johannes Hoff Thorup for first time. .

New Hull City boss Tim Walter will be hoping to get off to a good start in his new role when they host Bristol City on the opening day, while new Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will take his men to Cardiff.

The weekend’s other opening games see Boro host Swansea, Millwall host Watford, beaten play-off semi-finalists West Bromwich Albion travel to Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City entertain Coventry.

Burnley are currently without a manager after Vincent Kompany left to take over at Bayern Munich last month and welcome East Lancashire rivals Blackburn for the first derby of the season on Saturday, August 31, after starting at the relegated side from at Luton.

Sheffield United, who took just 16 points when they dropped out of the Premier League in 2023-24, host Queens Park Rangers after their opening day trip to Preston.

The first Steel City derby of the season is scheduled for Bramall Lane on Saturday 9 November.