Birmingham City kick off their 2026/27 Championship campaign at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United this evening (5:30pm kick-off). Blues and the Blades have watched a bunch of Championship teams begin the season in the last 24 hours and now get their chance to show what they are about in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Team news and early exchanges
Chris Davies' Blues finished 10th in the Championship last season, three places and four points ahead of Chris Wilder's Sheffield United. Both will be looking to challenge the play-off positions at the very least this time around now that the teams finishing seventh and eighth will also be granted passage to the end of season lottery.
Blues have signed six players during the summer transfer window, bringing back last season's loanees James Beadle and Jhon Solis whilst adding Dael Fry, Kristoffer Lund, Luis Vazquez and Max Bird in the hope of improving their league position.
Match action and key moments
Alex Dicken is at Bramall Lane to see if Blues can make the perfect start. The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, with updates flowing in from the ground.
Both teams are expected to field strong line-ups as they aim to set the tone for the season. The new play-off format, which now includes teams finishing seventh and eighth, adds extra incentive for both sides to push for a top-eight finish.
Impact and next steps
The result of this opener could have early implications for momentum and confidence. With six new signings, Birmingham City will be hoping to improve on last season's 10th-place finish, while Sheffield United will look to close the gap on their rivals. The match promises to be a competitive start to the Championship campaign for both clubs.
