Championship fixtures and schedule 2023/24: Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton kick off new season

The highly anticipated 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship season is just around the corner, and fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports. The season kicks off on Friday, August 4, with League One play-off winners Sheffield Wednesday hosting Southampton at Hillsborough in a match that will be broadcasted live on Sky Sports.

Exciting Opening Weekend Fixtures

On Saturday, August 5, League One champions Plymouth will host Huddersfield, while Middlesbrough and Blackburn have home fixtures against promotion hopefuls Millwall and West Brom respectively. The following day, on Sunday, August 6, Leicester City and Leeds United, who recently dropped down from the Premier League, will play their first Championship matches at home. Leicester will face rivals Coventry City at the King Power Stadium, and Cardiff City will travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds, a match that will also be televised on Sky Sports. Ipswich Town, the League One runner-up from the previous season, will travel to Sunderland for an exciting encounter that will be aired on Sky Sports.

Derby Matches and Rivalries

The Championship season will feature several captivating derby matches and intense rivalries. Cardiff and Swansea will contest the South Wales derby on September 16 and March 16. The Yorkshire derbies between Leeds and Huddersfield are scheduled for October 28 and March 2. Additionally, Norwich and Ipswich will renew their historic rivalry on December 16 and April 6.

Season Finale and Play-Offs

The regular Championship season will conclude on Saturday, May 4, with all matches kicking off simultaneously at 3 pm. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the play-off semi-finals will take place, although the exact dates for these fixtures will be finalized closer to the time. The highly anticipated Sky Bet Championship play-off final is set to be held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, May 26, marking the culmination of the season.

Highlighted Opening Weekend Fixtures

Here are the fixtures for the first round of the 2023/24 EFL season:

Friday, August 4

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton, 8 pm (Live on Sky Sports)

Saturday, August 5

Blackburn vs West Brom, 3 pm
Bristol City vs Preston, 3 pm
Middlesbrough vs Millwall, 3 pm
Norwich vs Hull, 3 pm
Plymouth vs Huddersfield, 3 pm
QPR vs Watford, 3 pm
Stoke vs Rotherham, 3 pm
Swansea vs Birmingham, 3 pm
Sunday, August 6

Leicester vs Coventry, 12 pm (Live on Sky Sports)
Leeds vs Cardiff, 2:30 pm (Live on Sky Sports)
Sunderland vs Ipswich, 5 pm (Live on Sky Sports)
Key Dates to Remember

Here are some key dates for the 2023/24 EFL season:

Start Date: Friday, August 4
League One Play-Off Final: May 18
League Two Play-Off Final: May 19
Championship Play-Off Final: May 26

FAQs

Q1: What is the opening match of the 2023/24 Championship season?
A: The opening match of the 2023/24 Championship season is Sheffield Wednesday versus Southampton, which will take place on Friday, August 4.

Q2: Which team won the League One play-off and will be playing in the Championship?
A: Sheffield Wednesday won the League One play-off and secured promotion to the Championship.