Wolverhampton Wanderers will host Stoke City in the third round of the 2026/27 Championship season, with opposing supporter bases.

Wolves and Stoke City will meet in a competitive football match for the first time in nearly six years, with the Potters winning 1-0 in their most recent meeting, as Jacob Brown’s single goal advanced Michael O’Neill’s team to the League Cup third round.

The most recent league meeting between these two famous sides was in April 2012, when Stoke defeated the Old Gold 2-1 at the then-dubbed Britannia Stadium, back when both sides were in the Premier League.

Though Stoke have won five of the last six meetings between the two, Wolves go into this one as clear favourites, having won three of their first four games, only drawing 2-2 at home to Blackburn Rovers in the Championship season opener.

Stoke, on the other hand, have lost all three of their most recent games, remaining one of four clubs without a point in the league after losses to Swansea City and Southampton, and were eliminated from the League Cup on penalties by Hull City.

It’s already shaping up to be an interesting matchup, with Cesar Peixoto hoping to pour the misery on Mark Robins, while FLW looks at all six players who will miss this game.

Kieran Trippier

Following his release from Newcastle United, Kieran Trippier became Wolves’ first summer acquisition, signing a two-year contract in the Black Country.

However, after suffering a knee injury in Wolves’ opening-day tie with Blackburn, the 54-cap former England international is expected to miss up to six weeks, extending his stint in the treatment room beyond the first international break.

The 35-year-old’s defensive experience and talent will be sorely missed by Wolves, as the former Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético Madrid right-back will not feature in this match.

Yerson Mosquera.

Colombian center-back Yerson Mosquera, like Trippier, suffered an injury in the Old Gold’s opening-day draw with Blackburn and is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

The 25-year-old will be a significant loss for Wolves at the back, with Nasser Djiga, Santiago Bueno, and Toti Gomes ready to step in if necessary.

Rafiki Said

Rafiki Said, Peixoto’s first signing of the summer, suffered an MCL injury during pre-season, putting the Comoros international out of action for a while as Wolves fans wait for his competitive debut.

Said, who was signed for roughly £7.7 million from Belgian side Standard Liege, had thrived in France with Nîmes and Troyes before succeeding in Belgium, but will miss Wolves’ home game against Stoke this weekend while he recovers.

Aaron Cresswell

Aaron Cresswell joined Stoke on a free transfer last summer after being released by West Ham United, and he made 25 Championship appearances for the Potters in his first year, with injuries limiting his minutes and tough competition from Eric Bocat.

The 36-year-old signed a one-year extension this summer, but sustained a knee injury during pre-season, leaving him out for the foreseeable future, with Bocat expected to keep his job at left-back for this one.

Ato Ampah.

Ato Ampah joined Stoke from Chelsea in January 2026 for about £3 million, but even the most ardent Potters fans could easily forget about him.

The 20-year-old has made only one senior appearance in his career, in the Conference League for Chelsea, and since joining the Potteries about eight months ago, he has been out injured the majority of the time and is yet to make his debut for the club.

Stoke fans will be hoping to see him soon as he works his way into first-team contention, but this Wolves match may be too early for the winger.

Junior Tchamadeu

Junior Tchamadeu, a right-back, limped out of Stoke’s pre-season game against Crewe Alexandra and has not returned since.

The Cameroonian was sidelined for much of the second half of last season due to an injury sustained while representing his country at AFCON, and while he has returned to the field subsequently, his appearances have been irregular.

The 22-year-old is on his way back to full fitness, but this game may come too soon for the fullback.