Overview

• The match kicks off the new Championship campaign at 8:00 pm BST on August 8 at St Andrew’s, with live coverage on Sky Sports Football in the UK and Paramount+, Fubo and CBS Sports Network in the US.
• Birmingham return to the second tier brimming with momentum after a record-breaking League One title and have bolstered their squad with Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray, Tommy Doyle and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
• Ipswich start as bookmakers’ top pick for an immediate Premier League return, retaining key players such as Omari Hutchinson, Jaden Philogene and Jacob Greaves despite the departures of Liam Delap and Sam Morsy.
• Chris Davies has embraced owner expectations for top-flight ambitions and sees Friday’s match as an early barometer of Birmingham’s ability to adapt to Championship demands.
• Both sides face fitness challenges ahead of kick-off: Birmingham are without Tyler Roberts and Kanya Fujimoto, while Ipswich will be missing Leif Davis and Harry Clarke at left-back.