Middlesbrough face Wrexham in EFL Cup first round tonight
Middlesbrough’s brand-new season gets underway tonight as they play host to Wrexham at the Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough’s brand-new season gets underway tonight as they play host to Wrexham at the Riverside Stadium in an EFL cup first round fixture and Lincoln City next week in the championship.
After the events of last season Boro fans will be hoping for a calmer one this time around and with a summer to rest fans are starting to get excited once again.
Last season ended with a whirlwind for Middlesbrough; they first finished just 4 points short of second place Ipswich Town missing out on automatic promotion and being left in the playoffs.
Ahead of their Championship playoff first leg clash with Southampton at the Riverside two club photographers spotted someone lurking near the fence behind a tree at their training ground Rockcliffe Park.
After an interrogation that person identified himself as a Southampton analyst before scarpering to the neighbouring golf clubhouse to escape.
Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson then pursued the harshest possible punishment for Southampton.
While awaiting the verdict Middlesbrough played the second leg of the championship playoffs at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton after a 0-0 draw in the first. They lost 2-1.
In that moment Middlesbrough thought their season was over and manager Kim Hellberg delivered an emotionally charged press conference detailing the injustices, but then on the 19th May a verdict was delivered.
Southampton were to be expelled from the Championship Playoff final and Middlesbrough were due to play Hull City at Wembley in their place.
In just two days Middlesbrough fans sold their allocated 38,000 Wembley tickets in an incredible turnaround.
On the Friday night Middlesbrough fans painted Trafalgar Square red.
On the Saturday however, after a gruelling, long and difficult game in the heat in the capital in the 95th minute Hull City striker Oli McBurnie pounced on a spilled cross from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn and broke Middlesbrough hearts.
In that moment, fans knew their season was over. This time there were going to be no second chances.
Whilst the FIFA World Cup captured Football fan’s hearts over the summer, and Spain added their second star; Middlesbrough Owner Steve Gibson had been busy.
In June they brought in Myles Peat Harris on a free transfer from Brentford and then Hull City forward Kyle Jospeh for around 4 million pounds all that followed a deal to bring Ecuadorian forward Jeremey Sarmiento to the club permanently following his loan spell from Brighton in 25/26.
In July the negations started to ramp up, the club brought in impressive former Oxford United loan man Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth potentially up to 20 million pounds.
In August so far, they look certain to be adding Manchester United Goalkeeper Radek Vitek and Tottenham defender Ashley Phillips to their ranks following the additions of American duo Sebastain Berhalter and Max Arfsten.
Boro fans are excited about their business, “Its kind of Exciting” one fan said with another adding “Excellent, very very good, very pleased”.
After a notable draw against Scottish champions Celtic at Celtic Park in Glasgow in pre-season the Riverside played host to Middlesbrough’s final friendly against La Liga club Espanyol.
The game ended in a 3-3 draw with fans picks for the player to watch Leo Castledine adding 2 to his Boro tally and new signing Sebastian Berhalter impressing.
One fan added, “Its Pre-Season been good although the defence made me nervous.”
Boro begin their season on Friday 8th August 2026 under the lights at home to Wrexham in the EFL Cup. Its an 8pm kick off.
Boro fans were contributing with their predictions in the week, “2-1 Middlesbrough” seemed to be the consensus!
Middlesbrough season ticket holder Simon Callaghan was very excited “It’s all that has been on my mind the last few weeks, I’m beyond ready for the Boro to return!”
Boro begin their championship season the following week also at home against newly promoted Lincoln City.
Hopes are high that after an 11-year absence Boro can return to the Premier League.