**Wrexham’s Championship Debut to be Broadcast Live and Free on ITV in Landmark TV Deal**
Football fans across the UK will have the chance to watch Wrexham AFC’s highly-anticipated opening home game in the Championship live on terrestrial television. ITV has announced it will provide free-to-air coverage of the match against West Bromwich Albion on 16 August, marking a significant moment in the club’s remarkable resurgence.
The North Wales-based side, under the high-profile ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has experienced a meteoric rise. Not only have they climbed the footballing ladder with three consecutive promotions, but they have also amassed a huge and enthusiastic following around the globe, thanks in large part to the popular documentary series *Welcome to Wrexham*.
Wrexham’s return to the English second tier is their first in 43 years and represents an extraordinary turnaround in fortunes. Their season will begin with a daunting away trip to Southampton, recently relegated from the Premier League, on 9 August. The subsequent home fixture against established Championship side West Brom at the Racecourse Ground, scheduled for a 12:30pm kick-off, has been selected for dual broadcast—appearing both on Sky Sports and ITV.
This television coverage comes as part of an innovative partnership between Sky Sports and ITV, announced earlier this year, which allows certain Championship and Carabao Cup matches to be aired across both platforms. The move is seen as an effort to expand the reach of top English football beyond paywall restrictions, bringing the game to millions more viewers and fans.
Behind the scenes, Wrexham have been busy in the transfer window following their League One triumph. Six new faces have already been added to the squad, including striker Ryan Hardie from Plymouth, seasoned Wales international goalkeeper Danny Ward, and New Zealand international left-back Liberato Cacace from Empoli. Other notable additions include Bolton Wanderers captain George Thomason, Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass, and Lewis O’Brien, who joins from Nottingham Forest.
In addition, reports have emerged that Wrexham are pursuing a record-breaking transfer deal for Ipswich Town and Wales winger Nathan Broadhead, believed to be in the region of £7.5 million. If successful, this would not only represent a statement of intent but also underscore the ambition to consolidate their place in the Championship.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has been candid about the challenges faced in recruiting new players while the team toured Australia and New Zealand during pre-season. Speaking to BBC Sport Wales, Parkinson explained, “It made little sense to fly new signings half-way around the world given the impact of jet lag, so we concentrated on finalising deals once we returned. The new arrivals have settled in well and put in a promising week of training.”
Despite the positive developments, there have been early-season injury setbacks. Midfielder Ollie Rathbone is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during a friendly in Sydney, and striker Jay Rodriguez is also expected to miss the opening fixture due to a similar problem. Parkinson remains optimistic both could return in time for the much-anticipated televised clash against West Brom.
Looking ahead, ITV is scheduled to broadcast a total of 20 matches during the 2025/26 season—10 EFL fixtures and 10 Carabao Cup ties. Their coverage commences on 13 August with Birmingham City facing Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup first round. The rights-sharing agreement with Sky is secured until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, and ITV will continue to air EFL highlights throughout the year on ITV4 and their streaming service ITVX.
This increased exposure, fuelled by a blend of footballing romance and savvy commercial strategy, seems set to make Wrexham’s Championship adventure one of the stories of the coming season. Football enthusiasts, local supporters and global viewers alike will be watching closely as the next chapter unfolds live and free to all.