Opening the new season at home

Football is back this Friday as the 2025/26 EFL season kicks off when we host AFC Wimbledon under the Kenilworth Road lights.

Live on Sky Sports football in the UK and available worldwide on LTFC+, Matt Bloomfield’s Hatters have some fresh faces and a fresh mentality following relegation at the end of last season.

Wimbledon return to League One for the first time since 2022 after winning the play-off final at Wembley against Walsall at the end of last season.

Please join us for a minute’s applause in the 28th minute in memory of Luton supporter Alex Eves who sadly passed away in June.

Where to watch/follow

Not with us at Kenilworth Road? You can watch the game in the UK and Ireland live on Sky Sports Football.

If you are located abroad, you can watch the game live on LTFC+ by either purchasing a Global Hatters membership or an individual match pass. type: entry-hyperlink id: 67TzbxxIsepBrJwRPVAAmq

Our dedicated match centre will be providing written coverage on Friday night, with the match centre starting on our website around two hours before kick-off.

What the managers said

Matt Bloomfield

“We’re going to be going into these 46 league games and all the cup games full of enthusiasm. We’re really excited to take on the challenge, the task, the expectation and getting going on Friday.”

Johnnie Jackson

“Friday’s game is one to lick your lips over. I can’t wait for it.

“We’re going to turn up at Luton and it’ll be a difficult game, but we’ll have a full away end, supporting and getting behind us and the boys will need to step on the pitch and be the team that we know we can be.”

The opposition

Wimbledon secured promotion back to League One at the third time of asking under boss Jackson when the Dons overcame Notts County and Walsall in the play-offs last season.

After defeats to Sutton United, Millwall and Southend during pre-season, Wimbledon have had a very busy few days in the transfer market building up to Friday night.

Our visitors have added Danilo Orsi, Antwoine Hackford and Nathan Asiimwe to their ranks this week, all with good experience in League One and League Two.

Team news

There are plenty of fresh faces at Kenilworth Road, with eight signings acquired by Bloomfield in this summer transfer window.

New signings Kal Naismith, George Saville, Jake Richards, Nahki Wells, Nigel Lonwijk, Josh Keeley and Gideon Kodua are all available, while Hakeem Odoffin is unavailable for selection after an MRI scan in his medical flagged an unexpected non-musculoskeletal issue.

Lamine Fanne has recovered from his concussion injury and will be available for selection on Friday night, while Mark McGuinness, Tom Holmes and Kodua all played 45 minutes with the under-21s on Tuesday in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Northampton Town.

Defender Teden Mengi will be out for a “small period of time” according to Bloomfield after a positive MRI scan on his ankle confirmed that his injury is “nowhere near the length [of time out injured] that we feared at one point”.

The news was not as positive for Joe Johnson, who will unfortunately spend the next few months out after needing hamstring surgery this week.

Matchday timetable

6.00pm: Stadium shop opens

6.00pm: Community Trust speed ball

6.30pm: Turnstiles open

6.30pm: Meet Happy Harry and Hatty on the Kenilworth Apron

6.30pm: Hatters Hideout opens

6.45pm: Teams announced

7.15pm: Warm-up begins

7.45pm: Pre-match build up

8.00pm: Kick-off

Catering options

We are the first stadium in the UK to offer wagyu burgers in general admission areas! Those in the Kenilworth Stand and in Bobbers Stand blocks J, K and L can visit the Kenny Smokehouse, which will have wagyu burgers, gourmet hot dogs, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, snacks and water.

There is also a brand-new Pukka kiosk, also located under the Kenilworth Stand, which will sell hot drinks, pies, sausage rolls, snacks, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and water.

League One opening day fixtures

Saturday 2nd August

Cardiff City vs Peterborough (12.30pm BST)

Blackpool vs Stevenage

Bradford City vs Wycombe Wanderers

Burton Albion vs Mansfield Town

Doncaster Rovers vs Exeter City

Huddersfield Town vs Leyton Orient

Lincoln City vs Reading

Plymouth Argyle vs Barnsley

Rotherham United vs Port Vale

Wigan Athletic vs Northampton Town