The 8 biggest EFL Championship rivalries ranked ahead of 2026/27 | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at some of the biggest rivalry games that will be played in the 2026/27 Championship season.

The fixtures for the 2026/27 Championship season will be released in less than a month, and it’s fair to say that it could be a memorable campaign.

The unpredictability of the second tier of English football means it is always a great watch, whilst there is a raw atmosphere at many games - and no VAR!

However, next season is shaping up to be particularly exciting, because some of the fiercest rivalries in the country will be taking place throughout the campaign.

That will add another dimension to the league, and whether it’s the battle for promotion, or the fight to stay up, there could be a lot on the line for all clubs, to go with the tension that these games bring anyway.

With that in mind, we rank the EIGHT biggest rivalries to look forward to going into the 2026/27 season…

8 ? ? Sheffield United vs West Ham

With Sheffield Wednesday no longer in the Championship, Sheffield United will have to look elsewhere for their big game next season, and whilst it’s nowhere near the same level, West Ham are likely to be the ones that Blades fans look for first.

This is a relatively recent rivalry, as it dates back to 2006 when West Ham controversially signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

The duo would play a key role in their ‘Great Escape’, which came at the expense of Sheffield United, who were relegated to the Championship.

West Ham were fined £5.5m for breaching transfer rules over the deals to sign the Argentine pair, and they also paid up to £20m in compensation to Sheffield United. But, they crucially avoided a points deduction, and the Blades would spend the next 12 years outside the top flight.

So, it understandably angered the Yorkshire outfit, who will still wonder what might have been if West Ham were docked points and relegated, so these games will be interesting next season.

7 ? ? Wolves vs Birmingham

There are several Lancashire and London derbies that are on a similar level to this, but Wolves and Birmingham is a West Midlands rivalry that could be very tasty next season.

Of course, Blues’ biggest rivals are Aston Villa, but as they’re in the Premier League, the game against Wolves will be the big one. Even though Wanderers’ hate West Brom more than any other team, the Birmingham fixture is one that has also historically had an edge to it on and off the pitch.

With the two teams having not played since 2018, the lack of familiarity with each other means there will be a spark to these games that can sometimes be lost if you meet regularly.

Plus, there is a very real chance that the two teams are competing for promotion next season, which would just heighten the importance of the fixture.

6 ? ? Southampton vs Middlesbrough

This has to make the list for obvious reasons. The fallout from ‘Spygate’ in the play-off semi-final has been massive, with the fixture having made headlines across the world in the past few weeks.

There’s no historical animosity between the two clubs, but the actions of Tonda Eckert and his coaching staff have ensured that will change moving forward.

As we know, Southampton were expelled from the play-offs after admitting to spying, but there will be some connected to the club who are bitter about that punishment. Meanwhile, Boro will still be unhappy that Saints were cheating in the build-up to the game.

So, the next time they met was always going to be feisty, and after Boro’s defeat to Hull at Wembley, it will be next season.

In truth, the top five games on this list are among the best derby games in the country, so they could go in any order.

Blackburn and Burnley’s rivalry is one of the oldest in English football, with the two founding members having first played in 1884, so it’s a game steeped in history, but the hatred between the two hasn’t eased off.

A major policing operation will be required to keep the fans apart on the day of the game, and it’s certain to be an early kick-off.

Perhaps the only criticism of the derby is that Burnley have dominated recently, having won seven of the last eight, and they’re unbeaten in 11. So, Rovers will be desperate to change that record, but it looks a long shot, as the Clarets will be among the promotion favourites, and they would love to win the title at their rivals again - as they did under Vincent Kompany - which is still sung about to this day.

Wrexham may officially be the best Welsh team now after finishing above the Swans, but the major rivalry in the country comes with Cardiff and Swansea.

Again, it needs no introduction to EFL fans, who have seen this fixture provide plenty of fireworks over the years, and it’s another that is certain to have strict police measures.

Cardiff’s relegation means the derby wasn’t played this season, but they’re back in the Championship now, and that little break could just add a bit more spice to the fixture.

Despite going down, the Bluebirds had the bragging rights after winning 3-0 the last time the clubs met, and with plenty of local lads in the team, they will be desperate to repeat that next time.

The South Coast derby is fierce, and the two clubs met in the league for the first time in over a decade this season, with both ending in draws.

Even though the games, perhaps understandably, lacked quality, they were played in front of ferocious atmospheres, and both will be keen to get one over their rivals next season.

Portsmouth fans took great delight at Saints’ expulsion from the play-offs, with the social media team at Fratton Park also happy to rub their noses in it - and it would be no surprise if 'Spygate' is referenced when the two clubs play next.

The two cities are separated by around 15 miles, and if there is a first winner in a league fixture between the two clubs since 2005 (Portsmouth won 4-1 in the Premier League), it will mean so much to those on the terraces.

2 ? ? Wolves vs West Brom

When the Black Country rivals last met in January 2024, the game, which kicked off at 11:45, was halted for almost 40 minutes, and Albion were charged by the FA for crowd disorder, which says it all about this fixture.

The two clubs hadn’t played in front of fans for over a decade, so there was a lot of hype going into the clash, and it certainly delivered in terms of the atmosphere.

That meeting has only increased the anticipation for the next time the clubs meet, and, after Wolves were relegated and Albion survived, it will be played in the 2026/27 campaign.

This is another derby game that dates back to the 19th century, but the animosity remains, and both Wolves and West Brom fans will be desperate to get one over the other next season.

1 ? ? Millwall vs West Ham

The next fixture between the two London clubs will be the 100th time they have met, and with the last game having come in 2012, it’s fair to say that many are expecting it to be wild.

This is a derby game that has been marred by crowd trouble over generations, from the 1972 Harry Cripps testimonial to the 2009 League Cup fixture at Upton Park, and there will be a fear that off-field issues could dominate the headlines next season.

On the pitch, Millwall’s third-placed finish this season means they will see themselves as promotion rivals to the Hammers, and that could just add another layer to this fixture.

Like the top five games on this list, a major policing operation will be in place to try and keep the fans apart, but given the history of the clubs, and the time since they last played, West Ham vs Millwall promises to be a cracker.