The 2025/26 Championship season kicks off under the lights at St Andrew’s on Friday night as newly-promoted Birmingham City take on recently-relegated Ipswich Town (20:00 BST).
Birmingham enter the campaign with momentum after a record-breaking League One season that saw them rack up 111 points and finish 19 clear of second placed Wrexham.
How to watch the Birmingham City v Ipswich Town game online
Where to watch (TV Channel): You can watch the game live on Sky Sports Football tonight although a subscription will be required.
What time is kick off? Birmingham City v Ipswich will kick off at 8.00pm from St Andrews Stadium BST on 8th August 2025.
You can watch Birmingham City v Ipswich Town LIVE with Bet365 here
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Unbeaten at home in the league, the Blues recorded 19 wins and four draws at St Andrew’s, scoring 47 and conceding just 11.
With ambitious American owners backing the project, including NFL icon Tom Brady, expectations are high.
The club has strengthened significantly over the summer. Demarai Gray and Kyogo Furuhashi have joined a frontline already featuring £15m striker Jay Stansfield, who netted 23 goals last season.
Shrewd loan moves for England U21 goalkeeper James Beadle and Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle, along with additions like Marvin Ducksch and Bright Osayi-Samuel, highlight Birmingham’s intent to compete at the top end of the table.
A 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest added further optimism, and with the club unveiling stadium upgrades and future plans for a 62,000-seater ground, the mood around St Andrew’s is buoyant.
Ipswich face the challenge of bouncing back from Premier League relegation. Key players including Liam Delap, Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess have departed, but Dutch midfielder Azor Matusiwa and veteran Ashley Young bring quality and leadership.
Retaining manager Kieran McKenna is seen as a crucial step, with the Tractor Boys still among the favourites for promotion.
The Tractor Boys arrive in Birmingham with a few injury concerns, and the pressure is on to settle quickly.
Ipswich Town, having narrowly missed out on Premier League survival last season, will be determined to bounce straight back to the top flight and manager Kieran McKenna will be aiming for a strong start to set the tone.
Tipped by many as serious promotion contenders, the Tractor Boys are currently favourites for the Championship. Much of the squad that earned their previous promotion remains in place, bringing proven Championship quality and valuable experience.
McKenna, one of the most promising young coaches in the country, remains a key asset.
This opening fixture is a compelling one, matching up two sides who were two divisions apart last season but now share the same ambition a return to the Premier League.
