EFL League One Matchday 1 Preview
The wait is finally over — the 2026/27 League One season gets underway on Saturday, 15 August, with a full programme of 12 fixtures. The opening weekend brings together established League One sides, newly promoted clubs and teams relegated from the Championship, giving supporters an early look at how the new campaign could develop.
The first round is an opportunity for clubs to put their summer recruitment and pre-season preparations into practice. With promotion contenders, newly promoted sides and relegated clubs all looking to make a positive start, there are plenty of storylines to follow from the opening whistle.
What Are The EFL League One Matchday 1 Fixtures?
The opening round of League One takes place on Saturday, 15 August 2026. Three matches have a 12:30pm kick-off, while the other nine are scheduled for 3:00pm.
The confirmed Matchday 1 fixtures are:
Saturday, 15 August 2026
Notts County vs Leicester City — 12:30pm
Oxford United vs MK Dons — 12:30pm
Reading vs Luton Town — 12:30pm
Saturday, 15 August 2026
Barnsley vs Bromley — 3:00pm
Blackpool vs Wycombe Wanderers — 3:00pm
Bradford City vs Peterborough United — 3:00pm
Burton Albion vs Stevenage — 3:00pm
Cambridge United vs Wigan Athletic — 3:00pm
Huddersfield Town vs AFC Wimbledon — 3:00pm
Leyton Orient vs Sheffield Wednesday — 3:00pm
Mansfield Town vs Doncaster Rovers — 3:00pm
Plymouth Argyle vs Stockport County — 3:00pm
All times are UK time. The opening weekend’s three early kick-offs include Notts County’s meeting with Leicester City, Oxford United’s clash with MK Dons and Reading’s home game against Luton Town.
The fixtures contain several notable subplots. Leicester City, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday begin the season after relegation from the Championship, while MK Dons and Bromley are among the clubs entering League One after promotion. Cambridge United have also returned to the division following promotion from League Two.
EFL League One Matchday 1: Game of the Week Preview
Notts County versus Leicester City at Meadow Lane is a standout choice for Game of the Week. The fixture brings together a newly promoted side and one of the biggest clubs to have dropped into League One for the 2026/27 campaign.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026, with a 12:30pm kick-off and will be played at Meadow Lane. The fixture has also been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports.
Leicester begin the season after relegation from the Championship. The club’s recent history, including its Premier League title success in 2016 and subsequent European football, makes its arrival in the third tier one of the major stories of the new League One campaign.
Notts County, meanwhile, return to League One after earning promotion from League Two. The opening-day meeting therefore gives County an immediate test against a club expected to compete near the top of the division.
The contrast makes this an intriguing opening-day contest. Leicester will be under pressure to demonstrate their quality quickly, while Notts County will hope home advantage and the momentum of promotion can help them produce a statement result.
What Were The EFL League One Matchday 1 Results?
There are no Matchday 1 results yet. The 2026/27 League One season has not started, with the opening fixtures scheduled for Saturday, 15 August.
Once the matches have been played, the results can be added to provide the first completed League One table of the campaign. However, one round of fixtures will only offer an early indication of form rather than determining the course of a 46-match season.
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