EFL Championship PREVIEW 17 Aug 2026: Cardiff City Host Wrexham In All-Welsh Championship Opener

Cardiff City open their Championship campaign at home to Wrexham on Monday, the first meeting between the two Welsh clubs since Wrexham's promotion to the second tier — the sides did not play each other in 2025/26, when Wrexham were already in the Championship and Cardiff were still in League One. Brian Barry-Murphy's side return to the second tier as runners-up in League One, while Phil Parkinson's Wrexham begin a second successive Championship season after finishing seventh last time out, two points shy of the play-offs.

Barry-Murphy is expected to freshen his side after the 3-2 EFL Cup win over Swindon Town, with Jack Moylan — who produced 18 goal contributions for Lincoln City last season — pushing for a start having scored off the bench in that victory. Yousef Salech, who scored twice against Swindon, a penalty followed by a composed finish, and also set up Moylan's winner, is set to lead the line again; the 1.95m forward top-scored with 14 league goals as Cardiff won promotion.

Wrexham arrive off the back of a first competitive defeat, having been eliminated from the EFL Cup by Middlesbrough, and head into the new Championship season having spent around £16 million strengthening Phil Parkinson's squad over the summer, with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, right-back Danny Imray and midfielder Benjamin Whiteman among the arrivals. Their pre-season also brought wins over Manchester United and Leeds United, a draw with Wisła Kraków, and defeats to Liverpool and Sunderland.

Historically the fixture has favoured the hosts: Cardiff have won 20 of their meetings with Wrexham against nine defeats, with eight draws completing the record.