SUNDERLAND
Premier League, Stadium of Light, Saturday 16 August 2025, 3pm BST
West Ham United kick-off the 2025/26 Premier League season with a trip to newly-promoted Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
The Hammers make the 560-mile round trip to the Stadium of Light to face a Black Cats squad and fanbase that will be full of optimism after they defeated Sheffield United in the EFL Championship Play-Off final at Wembley Stadium in May.
Coached by Frenchman Régis Le Bris, Sunderland surprised many by being promoted last season, and will now need to do so again as they return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence. The Wearsiders dropped into League One for four seasons between 2018-22, too, before embarking on their renaissance.
Le Bris has renewed his squad for the challenges to come, selling Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund and spending over £100 million on Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, Ivorian winger Simon Adingra, central midfielders Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki and winger Chemsdine Talbi from Belgian football, Mozambique left-back Reinildo Mandava, Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs and a player West Ham fans know very well, DR Congo left-back Arthur Masuaku.
Tickets...
The first 90% of tickets sold out to Bondholders, Away Scheme Members and Season Ticket Holders with 13+ Loyalty Points. The remaining 10% (308 tickets) were then made available by a ballot process to Season Ticket Holders who had yet to purchase for this fixture. The ballot closed at 9am on Tuesday 5 August.
Advanced search policy...
For this fixture, there will be an advanced search at the away turnstiles in place. For the advanced search the following items cannot be brought into the stadium: coins, vapes, power banks, flares, smoke canisters and/or umbrellas.
Please note that all coins collected will be donated to a charity of West Ham United’s choice following the fixture.
For vapes, power banks, umbrellas and any other larger items, a collection procedure is in place. You can leave your item with the steward team before entry, you will be provided with a collection ticket and can return to the same area to collect your item(s) from the steward team after the game.
How to get there…
Despite the long distance, the Stadium of Light is relatively easy to find, as it towers over the River Wear just across the Wearmouth Bridge from the city centre.
Sunderland is the nearest railway station, located ten minutes’ walk away across the bridge. The Tyne and Wear Metro serves the Stadium via both Stadium of Light and St Peter’s stations. After matches, fans travelling towards South Hylton must board at St Peter’s, while those heading northbound towards Newcastle must use Stadium of Light station.
Bus numbers 3, 4, 13, 35, 35A and 56 all stop nearby. The city’s main bus station, Park Lane Interchange, is within walking distance of the stadium.
If you are driving, park-and-ride services are easily accessibly from the A19 and A1 via Wessington Way (A1231).
Where to stay…
With a population of over 275,000, the City of Sunderland is a sizeable settlement with many of the recognisable hotel chains present in the city centre.
Alternatively, you could opt to stay 12 miles north in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where a wide range of accommodation options are available.
What to do…
Arguably, going to a game at the Stadium of Light is Sunderland’s biggest attraction.
Other distractions for visitors to Sunderland include the 14th century Hylton Castle and the beaches of Roker and Seaburn. The National Glass Centre opened in 1998, reflecting Sunderland's distinguished history of glass-making.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens houses a comprehensive collection of the locally produced Sunderland Lustreware pottery.
What’s happened there before…
It is 98 years since we made our historic first visit to Sunderland, for a goalless draw at Roker Park on 25 August 1923 in what was West Ham United’s first-ever First Division fixture.
Our biggest victory away at Sunderland was a 5-1 First Division win in September 1967, when 1966 FIFA World Cup winners Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters were all on target.
Hurst then scored six goals in a Club record 8-0 First Division win over Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground the following season in October 1968.
Since the Stadium of Light opened in 1997, our best result was a 2-0 win in the Championship in December 2004, while we have also won there twice in the Premier League, in October 2002 and March 2014.
