Match Overview

Sunderland will face Ipswich Town on Saturday, 22 August 2026, at Portman Road. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 BST. The referee will be Farai Hallam with VAR Nicholas Hopton. The last Premier League encounter between the sides ended 2-1 in favour of Ipswich in the Championship.

Managerial Changes

Sunderland’s new manager, Régis Le Bris, is in his first full season after guiding the club to a seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification - the second time Sunderland has reached European competition. Le Bris has kept the squad largely intact, confident in the group that over-performed last season. Ipswich’s new boss, Gary O'Neil, takes charge of his first competitive match since replacing Kieran McKenna, who oversaw back-to-back promotions before a disappointing end to his four-year spell.

Squad News

Ipswich

O'Neil has two midfield fitness concerns: Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor, the latter nursing a pre-season knee issue. The squad is otherwise healthy after a summer rebuild that brought in Julio Enciso, Emersonn, Abdul Fatawu, Abdoul Ouattara and Sasa Lukic. Jack Clarke, who scored 16 goals last season, remains central to the attack.

Sunderland

Le Bris reports a significant fitness boost: Thomas Meunier, Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele are all available, though the manager cautions they may not start due to limited match sharpness. Simon Adingra is the only confirmed absentee, sidelined with an ankle injury sustained against Wrexham and is roughly halfway through an estimated six-week recovery.

Financial Context

Ipswich spent more than £100m on the summer transfer window, learning from an immediate relegation the previous time they were promoted. Sunderland, by contrast, spent almost nothing, relying on the core group that secured automatic promotion with a 3-0 win over QPR.

Predicted Lineups

Ipswich (4-3-3): Scherpen; Ouattara, O'Shea, Diop, Davis; Nunez, Lukic, Egeli; Fatawu, Emersonn, Maeda

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Meunier, Ballard, O'Nien, Reinildo; Sadiki, Xhaka; Hume, Le Fee, Angulo; Brobbey

Broadcast

The match is not expected to be broadcast live on television in the United Kingdom, in line with the traditional Saturday 3 pm blackout.

Final Note

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League will be tested against a newly-relegated Ipswich side that has invested heavily to avoid the fate of the previous season. The outcome will hinge on whether Le Bris can keep his squad sharp amid Europa League commitments and whether O'Neil can manage his midfield fitness concerns. The match will be played at Portman Road, with the first Premier League game for both clubs after their respective promotions.