​The countdown to the new season is underway for Wales’ quartet of EFL clubs, with three set to contend in the Championship and one hoping for a smoother journey in League Two. Cardiff City are the side preparing to begin life in a fresh division—though they haven’t been away long—having bounced straight back from relegation in 2024-25 by clinching promotion from League One last season. Cardiff’s return to the Championship means that, for the first time since 1980-81, Wales will have three teams competing in England’s second tier.
Wrexham, after three successive promotions halted by last season’s campaign, head into the new season with aims to reach the play-offs at the very least. The north Wales club finished seventh in May and, if they replicate that result next spring, their campaign will extend into overtime under the new format that places teams finishing from third to eighth into the play-offs.
Swansea City also plan to keep their sights on the top eight as they seek to sustain the momentum built under Vitor Matos, who took charge following the dismissal of Alan Sheehan late last year. The Swans ended last season in 11th place—a solid achievement considering that a relegation scrap loomed in the early days of the Matos era.
Newport County, meanwhile, approach the season with the goal of avoiding another fight against relegation. Last term was a difficult one for the Exiles, who only secured their EFL status on the final day, and their progress for 2026-27 has been unsettled by another managerial shift with Christian Fuchs departing.
All four Welsh clubs will go on pre-season tours, with Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham each traveling, and prominent European clubs such as Roma from Italy and Leganes from Spain lined up to visit Wales as everyone gears up for competitive football’s return in August.
BBC Sport Wales breaks down the friendly fixtures for the four Welsh clubs, though several games—mostly behind closed doors—are still to be confirmed. The schedule for Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County features a mix of domestic and international opposition as the sides ramp up towards the new campaign.
On Saturday July 4, Newport County opened their pre-season with a 3-0 win at The Creek Community Stadium, thanks to a brace from Lewis Jamieson and a goal from Wales international Matt Smith under interim boss Chris Todd. Midweek on July 8, Newport beat Newport City 5-0 at Spytty Park, with Shaquille Gwengwe scoring a second-half hat-trick on the Exiles’ return to the venue, as Yahya Bamba and Cole Jarvis had already contributed by halftime. By Saturday July 11, Cardiff City suffered a heavy 0-6 loss to Midtjylland at Cardiff City Stadium, with Brian Barry-Murphy rotating entirely different squads for each half of the friendly. Earlier, Gloucester City had edged past Newport 2-1 in another warm-up match.
As the clubs gear up for the new season, the focus remains on translation of pre-season form into league results, with supporters hoping for competitive, successful campaigns across all four Welsh sides.