Soccer
EFL Championship 2024/25 opening weekend: Schedule, kick-off times, how to watch
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The football season kicks off this weekend as the EFL begins its 2024-25 campaign with the opening games from the Championship, League One and League Two.
Friday night's curtain raisers will see Preston and relegated Sheffield United lock horns along with Derby's first game back in the second tier as they travel to Ewood Park to play Blackburn.
The weekend's Championship action is headlined by one of the favourites for promotion, Leeds, entertaining newly promoted Portsmouth as well as Wayne Rooney in charge of his first game as Plymouth boss when Argyle travel to Sheffield Wednesday.
Matchday one concludes on Monday when Luton and Burnley battle it out, looking to bounce straight back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Here's the full schedule for Matchday 1 of the new EFL Championship season.
Live on DAZN: Serhii Bohachuk vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. on August 10. Click here for details.
EFL Championship Matchday 1: Schedule, fixtures
| Date | Time (UK) | Match |
| Fri. Aug. 9 | 8 p.m. | Preston v Sheffield United |
| Fri. Aug. 9 | 8 p.m. | Blackburn v Derby |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Hull v Bristol City |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Leeds v Portsmouth |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Middlesbrough v Swansea |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Millwall v Watford |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Oxford v Norwich |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | QPR v West Bromich Albion |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Stoke v Coventry |
| Sat. Aug 10 | 12.30 p.m. | Cardiff v Sunderland |
| Sun. Aug 11 | 4 p.m. | Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth |
| Mon. Aug 12 | 8 p.m. | Luton v Burnley |
Where can I watch the EFL Championship?
Sky Sports have an exclusive deal in the UK, with top pick live games on Sky Sports across Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The remaining games will also be available on their new platform Sky Sports+.
