Ipswich host Sunderland at Portman Road on 22 August 2026, with both clubs returning to the Premier League after promotion. Ipswich begin life under Gary O'Neil, who replaced Kieran McKenna in June, whereas Sunderland arrive with Regis Le Bris already into his second year in the dugout. Both sides need points early to settle in, though the pressure sits heavier on Ipswich: O'Neil inherited a squad that McKenna built to press high and play out from the back, which is not the style O'Neil has typically asked teams to play.
O'Neil and Le Bris have never met as managers. Le Bris has been in place since replacing Michael Beale on 1 July 2024, giving him a full year's advantage in knowing his squad, while O'Neil only took charge on 23 June 2026 and arrives with no competitive games behind him in this role. One coaches a team to press from the front and win the ball in the final third, the other is still deciding what his team will look like, which means the opening exchanges should be frantic, with Sunderland hunting the ball and Ipswich trying to play through them.
Neither side brings competitive league form into this game, so pre-season results are all we have. Ipswich went 3-2 across six friendlies, beating Wycombe, Le Havre and Rayo Vallecano while losing to Osasuna and Oxford, with a 4-2 win over Union Berlin on 15 August. Sunderland's preparations look more mixed: a 5-1 thrashing of York City was followed by a 2-4 loss to Liverpool and a 0-1 defeat to Leeds, before a 1-0 win over Wrexham closed things out. Both sides conceded freely in pre-season, which may tell you more than the goals they scored.
Azor Matusiwa (knee surgery) and Jack Taylor (knee injury) are both uncertain in midfield for Ipswich, while Issahaku Fatawu is also doubtful with a knock that would leave O'Neil short of width and dribbling threat on the right. Sunderland have concerns of their own: Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele are both doubtful with minor issues, which could affect how compact Le Bris can keep his back four when Ipswich push forward.
O'Neil is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 while holding onto the possession habits Ipswich developed under McKenna, with Leif Davis busy at left back pushing forward frequently. Jack Clarke is the player Ipswich will look to most, drifting inside from the left to combine with George Hirst and Jaden Philogene, though that trio will be asked to do a lot in a first competitive game together if they are to pull Sunderland's defence out of shape.
Le Bris runs a compact, high energy pressing system designed to win the ball high up the pitch and break quickly. Without Alderete and Mukiele, Le Bris may have to start players who weren't his first choice pairing in pre-season but the midfield and wide players are drilled to squeeze space and force turnovers regardless. The main duel is Clarke versus Sunderland's right sided defenders: if the winger finds space behind the press, Ipswich have the pace in behind to punish Sunderland if they push too high, while Philogene and Hirst will need to cope with a Sunderland press that targets full backs and punishes any hesitation in possession.
The injuries reshape both sides more than either would like and the impact on Ipswich looks the more severe. Without Matusiwa and Taylor, they lose their most natural screeners in front of the back four, which gives Sunderland more reason to press aggressively knowing there is less protection in front of Ipswich's back four. Fatawu's absence cuts further width and directness on the right. For Sunderland, the doubts over Alderete and Mukiele may force Le Bris to drop a midfielder into defence or tweak his pressing triggers, leaving gaps that O'Neil's attackers could exploit on the break.
The last five meetings between these sides split evenly at two wins each and one draw, with no strong pattern pointing either way. Set pieces could matter more than anyone plans for, given both squads have had limited time together: Ipswich's attacking full backs and taller forwards give them aerial options, while Sunderland's organised structure should help them defend set pieces efficiently.
Ipswich Town 1-2 Sunderland. Sunderland's more settled structure under Le Bris is what tips this. Losing Matusiwa, Taylor and potentially Fatawu makes it hard for Ipswich to control midfield and play through Sunderland's press without giving the ball away in dangerous areas and even if Clarke cuts inside and tests Sunderland's centre backs, Sunderland have the organisation and the running legs to find space when Ipswich lose possession in midfield. The defensive doubts are real but the settled system wins out. 1-2 Sunderland.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
