Watford - Southampton
Last updated: Today, at Championship curtain-raiser at Vicarage Road
The new Championship season begins on Sunday, 16 August 2026, with Watford hosting Southampton at Vicarage Road Stadium for matchday 1. Both sides have begun their competitive campaigns in the EFL Cup, with Watford overcoming Crawley Town 1-0 and Southampton securing a 2-0 away win against Colchester United. This fixture sees two teams looking to make an early statement in the league.
Southampton have had the better of recent encounters, notably winning 2-3 at Watford in the Championship on 13 April 2024. However, Watford did manage a 2-2 draw at home against the Saints on 30 August 2025. The expected starting lineups suggest a focus on attacking talent from both teams, hinting at a potentially open contest as they aim to kick off their league campaigns with three points.
