West Bromwich Albion fans now have a complete picture of who they'll be facing in the upcoming 2025/26 Championship campaign, with all 23 opponents officially confirmed following the League One play-off final.
The second-tier competition will feature some intriguing matchups for the "Baggies" as three clubs make their way up from League One – Wrexham, Birmingham City, and Charlton Athletic.
Perhaps most intriguing is the prospect of Albion meeting Wrexham in league competition for the very first time. The "Red Dragons" haven't competed at this level since the 1981/82 season – that's over four decades ago! Their only previous encounter with West Brom came in the FA Cup way back in 1930. Talk about a fixture with limited history.
"Facing Wrexham represents a fresh challenge for us, but we're looking forward to writing a new chapter in our competitive history against them," a club spokesperson might suggest.
Meanwhile, local rivalry will be rekindled as Birmingham City bounce straight back to the Championship after just one season in League One. The "Blues" and the "Baggies" last locked horns in the 2023/24 campaign, so this Midlands derby won't have lost any of its edge.
Completing the promoted trio, Charlton Athletic secured their Championship return in dramatic fashion at Wembley on Sunday. The "Addicks" edged past Leyton Orient with a tight 1-0 victory in the play-off final, ending their five-year stint in the third tier.
Interestingly, when Albion last faced Charlton in the 2019/20 season, both matches ended in identical 2-2 draws. Will we see similar goal-fests when these sides meet again?
With these three teams joining the Championship fray, the "Baggies" will be plotting their strategy for what promises to be another fiercely competitive season in England's second tier.
