West Ham United and Millwall will renew their fierce rivalry in the Championship next season after a 14-year gap, following the release of the 2026-27 fixture list. The Hammers, relegated on the final day after Tottenham Hotspur's win over Everton, will face the Lions for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
Historic Rivalry Renewed
The last meeting between the East London clubs came on February 4, 2012, when West Ham secured a 2-1 victory at Upton Park. Goals from Carlton Cole and Winston Reid sealed the win, with Liam Trotter netting for Millwall. Earlier that season, the two sides played out a goalless draw at the Den. Millwall have been a constant presence in the Championship since 2010, aside from two seasons in League One, and narrowly missed automatic promotion to the Premier League last season by a single point. They entered the play-offs but lost to eventual winners Hull City in the semi-finals.
Derby Dates Confirmed
The first derby of the new season is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at the Den, with a 3pm kick-off that could change due to television scheduling. This fixture comes after West Ham's challenging home match against promotion hopefuls Wrexham, owned by Ryan Reynolds. On the same day, AFC Wimbledon will host fierce rivals MK Dons in their League One derby. The return fixture at the London Stadium is set for February 20, 2027, by which time West Ham hope to be firmly in the automatic promotion places as they target an instant return to the Premier League.
Manager and Player Movements
Following West Ham's relegation, manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed he would stay with the Hammers, aiming to replicate the automatic promotion he achieved with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018. However, the club faces potential departures, with captain Jarrod Bowen attracting Premier League interest and Mateus Fernandes reportedly in talks with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Millwall, after narrowly missing promotion last year, will look to go one step further under former Norwich City manager Alex Neil, who secured promotion with the Canaries in 2016.
