Birmingham's Boxing Day Opponent Revealed: Who Will They Battle?
Birmingham City faces an thrilling journey ahead as they make their comeback to the Championship after a short stint in League One.
The Blues experienced relegation to the third tier during the 2023–24 season but dominated their way back to the second division by claiming the League One championship with ease. The Midlands outfit crushed their rivals and established a new EFL milestone for the highest points total in a single campaign, amassing an incredible 111 points.
Following the release of their 2025–26 Championship schedule, anticipation is growing among Birmingham supporters. Fans will be carefully examining the fixture list for crucial matches, particularly their traditional Boxing Day encounter.
Here's Birmingham's Boxing Day matchup details.
Birmingham's 2025–26 Boxing Day Matchup
Birmingham will engage in a regional derby on Boxing Day this year when they welcome Derby County for the holiday fixture. This marks the 129th encounter between these clubs and their first meeting since January 2022, with kickoff scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
Derby barely escaped relegation to League One in the previous campaign, finishing 19th with just a single point separating them from the relegation zone. Birmingham will be seeking a festive victory against the Rams, who brought in former Blues manager John Eustace as their head coach in February 2025.
Birmingham 2025–26 Important Fixtures
The demanding 46-game Championship campaign lies ahead, but Birmingham will be delighted to return to the second tier. They'll look to carry their previous season's momentum into the new term, beginning with a clash against recently relegated Premier League side Ipswich Town.
Following their home opener against the Tractor Boys on the Championship's inaugural Friday evening, Birmingham will embark on their first road trip to face Blackburn Rovers. The journey to Ewood Park presents a significant test, considering Rovers secured seventh place and missed the playoffs by merely two points last season.
One month prior to their Boxing Day meeting with Derby, Birmingham will face local rivals West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. The reverse fixture at St Andrew's is scheduled for Valentine's Day.
Birmingham will visit Watford on New Year's Day for their opening match of 2026, with their final regular season game—unless they qualify for playoffs—taking place away at Portsmouth on May 2.