The EFL have today announced that the first league meeting between Portsmouth and Southampton in over 13 years will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports.
The highly-anticipated meeting at St Mary's will now kick-off at 12pm on Sunday the 14th of September.
Portsmouth FC have also today confirmed that the meeting at Fratton Park later in the season will be played at 12pm on Sunday the 25th of January, however that may also change if Sky Sports decide to move it to fit within their broadcast schedule for that weekend.
It was April 2012 the last time the two sides met for a league fixture with David Norris scoring a dramatic late equaliser at St Mary's to tie the game at 2 apiece. Southampton would go on to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League that season while the Blues were relegated to League One amidst financial trouble off the pitch.
Another one of Pompey's early season fixtures has also been moved - The first home fixture of the campaign against Norwich City on Saturday the 16th of August will now kick-off at 12:30pm instead of 3pm.
Last season's Fratton Park opener against Luton Town was also subject to the same kick-off time.
How much notice will be provided for the selection of live TV games this season?
The EFL have confirmed:
- By 3rd of July 2025, selections shall be announced in respect of all live broadcast matches to be played before the end of September
- By 31st of July 2025, selections shall be announced in respect of all matches scheduled to be played prior to the end of the Third Round of The FA Cup (January 2026)
- By 7th of November 2025, selections shall be announced in respect of all matches to be played between the end of the Third Round of The FA Cup and the last weekend of February
This is up to 5 months' notice provided to fans and clubs, a significant increase on the previous deal, which had seen 5 week' notice given across the majority of the season. By selecting TV picks early and giving much more notice, fans will be able to plan with certainty when making travel and hotel arrangements.
- Selections for matches scheduled after the first weekend in March will be announced on a 4-week rolling basis staring from 1st of February 2026 (e.g. a selection for the first weekend in April will be selected in the first weekend in March)
- Selections for matches scheduled for the penultimate weekend of the regular season will be announced 3 weeks in advance
- Selections for matches scheduled for the final weekend of the regular season will be announced the week prior
Stay tuned across Express FM’s website, app and social media channels (@ExpressFM & @PompeyOnExpress on X) for more Pompey news and be sure to listen in to The Football Hour when it returns with Jake Smith on Monday the 28th of July!
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