Five fixtures West Brom fans will want first in 2026-27 Championship schedule
West Bromwich Albion will find out their 2026-27 Championship schedule on Thursday 25 June.
And after the disappointment of the previous campaign, Baggies supporters will be hoping that they can get off to a good start.
With three new signings already through the door, albeit three inexperienced players, West Brom have made some positive strides in the market.
Several more additions are expected as the summer goes on, in preparation for the new season.
The season will officially get underway on the weekend of 14 August, with the fixtures due to be released later this week.
But who will Albion be hoping for on the opening day? West Brom News takes a look in no particular order.
Birmingham City - home
A West Midlands derby to start the season? But only on one condition.
Birmingham had the fourth-worst away record in the Championship last season, while West Brom picked up 34 of their 51 points at home.
Granted, the Baggies were one of the three teams with a worse away record, but that is besides the point.
For that to be the opening clash of the season at The Hawthorns, it would be a spectacle, and one that the Baggies would be confident of taking all three points.
Lincoln City - home
Self-explanatory, albeit potentially risky.
Lincoln City had a phenomenal season in League One last time out, accumulating 103 points and losing just five of their 46 encounters.
Away from home, it would be the type of fixture that Albion would want to avoid at all costs given the momentum that they would have, but at home, it would be a different story.
Add to the fact that it has been 78 years since the last league meeting betweren these two sides, it would be a good fixture to get the ball rolling, quite literally.
Blackburn Rovers - away
Blackburn Rovers finished just one point above West Brom last season, showcasing the struggles that they had.
However, unlike the Baggies, most of their points came away from home, with Rovers having finished the campaign with the second-worst home record.
They won just four times there, and while West Brom's away record leaves a lot to be desired, it would be the one away game that they would not mind at all as the opener.
Middlesbrough - home
Hear me out on this one...
Middlesbrough had an excellent season last time out, only narrowly missing out on promotion back to the Premier League.
However, that disappointment will almost definitely linger into the new season, and will certainly impact their nerves.
Add to that the likely departure of Hayden Hackney, and that of Matt Targett and Alan Browne, they may be a far weaker side next season on paper.
Preston North End - home
West Brom had very little success last season, but against Preston, they certainly did.
They were the only team that they managed to do the double over, which will no doubt carry into the minds of the players in the next campaign.
And to start the season with that momentum?
It would be the perfect senario for the Baggies, whose last defeat against Preston was back in 2022.