West Ham must play unwanted fixture before next season starts after Premier League relegation

West Ham must play an additional fixture before the 2026/27 Championship season starts after being relegated from the Premier League.

The Hammers defeated Leeds 3-0 on the final day of the season, but Spurs' 1-0 victory over Everton means that Nuno Espirito Santo's side will play second-tier football for the first time since 2012.

It has been a nightmare season for the club, who sacked manager Graham Potter after just five Premier League matches.

Nuno's appointment did spark an upturn in form, and West Ham would have finished five points clear of safety had the season started when he took over, but it ultimately wasn't enough to keep them in the top flight.

Their relegation will impact West Ham on and off the pitch, with The Athletic reporting that they will need to raise up to £150 million in player sales to cover for expected financial losses in the second tier.

And the British taxpayer could lose up to £2.5 million per year, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who blamed previous Mayor Boris Johnson for agreeing to a deal whereby the Greater London Authority (GLA) covers stadium operating costs during a 99-year agreement.

West Ham have played at the London Stadium - formerly the Olympic Stadium - since 2016 (Image: Getty)

The London Stadium will host at least four more fixtures - including cup matches - next season, with the Championship season being played over 46 matches compared to the Premier League's 38.

READ MORE: Why West Ham's relegation from the Premier League could cost the UK millions

But it may be forced to host another the week before the Championship season gets underway on August 14.

Why West Ham will need to play another fixture

BBC Sport's Dale Johnson reports that, because at least eight English teams are playing European football next season, the Carabao Cup has to be restructured to enable eight spots to remain open for those teams to enter the competition from round three onwards.

That means West Ham and Burnley, who finished in 18th and 19th in the Premier League, must enter in round one as opposed to getting a bye through to round two as in other seasons.

The Carabao Cup is regionalised in the opening rounds, meaning that the Hammers at least would not face the prospect of significant travel for the fixture if they were drawn away.

But they could face a host of teams from the southern section, ranging from fellow relegated side Wolves to Crawley Town, who finished in 22nd place in League Two this season.

That will likely be the least of their worries at this stage, though, with a summer of chaos likely to unfold off the field as the Hammers attempt to prepare themselves for life back in the second tier of English football.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the 3-0 win over Leeds, Nuno said: "A tough day for us, especially for our fans.

"We knew that it was going to be difficult. We did our part - we expected for the best, but it didn't happen.

"The moment is to just feel this sadness. Like I said, we had a tough mission, the boys tried it.

"Today we showed again that things could be different for our future. It didn't happen, but at least we finished with dignity at our home. We played a good game, a win, but it doesn't take away the sadness.

"We did many things good. We did things bad, and they punished it. I've just spoken to the boys, and they are all sad to go through this period. They understand we have to go through this sadness, and then think about the rest of it."