Vincent Kompany's Burnley will start life back in the Championship with a visit to last season's play-off finalists Huddersfield in the opening fixture of the 2022-23 season on Friday, July 29.

The Clarets were relegated from the Premier League on the final day last term and will be eager to seal three points against Carlos Corberan's Terriers.

Sheffield United travel to Watford in another standout fixture of the first weekend.

The Blades make the trip to Vicarage Road on Monday, August 1, to round off an exciting first set of games.

Two promotion hopefuls in Middlesbrough and West Brom will clash at the Riverside, while Norwich face a long trip to Cardiff to face ex-Canaries striker Steve Morison’s Bluebirds.

Sunderland are back in the second tier after four years in League One and welcome Coventry to the Stadium of Light to get their campaign under way.

Matchday 1 fixtures

Friday, July 29

8pm: Huddersfield vs Burnley (Sky Sports)

Saturday, July 30

12pm: Sunderland vs Coventry (Sky Sports)

3pm: Blackburn vs QPR, Blackpool vs Reading, Cardiff vs Norwich, Hull vs Bristol City, Luton vs Birmingham, Millwall vs Stoke, Rotherham vs Swansea, Wigan vs Preston

5.30pm: Middlesbrough vs West Brom (Sky Sports)

Monday, August 1

8pm: Watford vs Sheffield United (Sky Sports)

Championship key dates

The Championship kicks off on Friday, July 29 when Huddersfield host Burnley at the John Smith's Stadium.

That earlier start is due to the mid-season break that is needed to accommodate the World Cup in Qatar.

After the November 12 fixtures, there will be a three-week gap, with the Championship resuming on December 10.

The regular season ends on May 6 with the play-off final scheduled for Monday, May 29 at Wembley Stadium.