Stoke - Swansea
Last updated: Today, at Championship curtain-raiser at Bet365 Stadium
The Championship season begins on Saturday, 15 August 2026, with Stoke City hosting Swansea City at Bet365 Stadium for matchday 1. Both sides will be looking to start their campaign with a positive result, setting the tone for the months ahead. The expected starting XIs suggest a focus on midfield control for the home side, with a blend of attacking options, while Swansea appear to favour a forward-thinking approach with multiple strikers.
In their most recent league encounter on 7 March 2026, Swansea City secured a 2-0 victory over Stoke City. However, Stoke had won two of the three Championship meetings prior to that, including a 2-1 success on 13 December 2025. Both teams come into this fixture having experienced mixed fortunes in their opening EFL Cup ties last weekend, with Stoke winning 2-0 and Swansea losing 0-1, offering little definitive form to go on.
