Wrexham kick-off at Saints as Welsh clubs learn fixtures

Wrexham will play their first game since 43 years’ worth of second-tier English football at Southampton.

A 12:30 BST kick-off will take place on Saturday, August 9th, when they travel to St Mary’s Stadium to face a team that was dropped from the Premier League last season.

Wrexham, a North Wales club, joins Swansea City in the championship with a 15:00 BST Middlesbrough kick-off on the same day. Alan Sheehan’s side kicks off their eighth consecutive season at this level with Swansea City.

On Saturday, August 2 at home against Peterborough United (12:30 BST), Cardiff City begin their first third-tier campaign in 22 years.

Phil Parkinson’s side travel to Sheffield United on December 26 and Preston North End on December 3rd, followed by a New Year’s Day trip to Blackburn Rovers, according to their festive fixture lists.

A Welsh derby will also be rekindled on Saturday, December 20 with a trip to Swansea, before a return to the Stok Cae Ras on March 14.

Swansea host Nathan Jones’ promoted Charlton Athletic on Saturday, May 2, to wrap up Wrexham’s season at Middlesbrough.

Sheffield United will play their first home game of the new campaign on Saturday, August 16 at 5:00 BST, followed by Christmas away trips to Oxford United and Coventry City on December 26 and West Brom on the opening day of 2026.

For the first time in seven years, Cardiff will travel to Port Vale for their first League One home game on Saturday, August 9th. They will have no league Welsh derby to look forward to.

Before wrapping up the festive season with a trip to Wycombe Wanderers on January 26, Brian Barry-Murphy’s side will host Exeter City on December 26 and travel to Stevenage three days later.

On Saturday, May 2, Mansfield Town will bring their 2025-26 regular season to a close.

Crawley Town is Newport’s first away game of the season.

The Exiles will play at Barnet on Friday, December 26; a home match will be played at Crewe Alexandra on Monday, followed by a welcome visit to Bromley.

A lengthy trip north to Barrow on Saturday, May 2 marks the end of their League Two campaign.

Changes to kick-off dates and times are possible.