# 2026–27 Wigan Athletic F.C. season
The 2026–27 season is [Wigan Athletic F.C.](https://www.edgepedia.org/wigan-athletic-f-c)'s campaign in [EFL League One](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-league-one), the third tier of English football, under manager Gary Caldwell, who was appointed on 16 February 2026.[1](https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?teamTabs=managers&team_id=2783) After the first eight league matches the club had one win, one draw, and six defeats, with 5 goals scored and 13 conceded, giving 4 points.[2](https://wiganathletic.com/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Division | Sky Bet League One (third tier)[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) |
| Manager | Gary Caldwell, appointed 16 February 2026[1](https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?teamTabs=managers&team_id=2783) |
| League record (first 8 matches) | Played 8, won 1, drawn 1, lost 6; 5 goals for, 13 against, 4 points[2](https://wiganathletic.com/) |
| Only league win | 3–1 home victory over Milton Keynes Dons on 2 September 2026 (Weir 2, Power)[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) |
| Carabao Cup | Eliminated in the first round, 1–1 at Barnsley on 8 August 2026, losing on penalties[4](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/teams/8528/fixtures/wigan-athletic%2Cteams/teams) |
| Jersey Mike's Trophy | Two wins from two in Northern Group B: 3–2 against Aston Villa U21 and 3–2 against Blackpool[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) |
| First meeting | Wigan had never previously played Bromley; the first league meeting was scheduled for 31 October 2026[5](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/who-are-ya-who-are-ya-the-football-league-teams-your-club-has-never-played-against) |
## League campaign
Wigan opened the league season with a 2–3 defeat at Cambridge United on 15 August 2026, Sonny Perkins and Higgins scoring in front of 7,506 spectators.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) Home defeats to Leyton Orient (0–2) and Stockport County (0–4) followed either side of a 1–0 loss at [AFC Wimbledon](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-wimbledon).[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results)
The single league win came on 2 September 2026, when Jensen Weir scored twice and Max Power once in a 3–1 home victory over Milton Keynes Dons.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) A 0–0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on 12 September, played before a crowd of 30,725, was followed by a 0–1 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results)
**Early October.** On 10 October 2026 Wigan lost 1–0 at [Stevenage](https://www.edgepedia.org/stevenage), Wanya Marcal's second-half header proving decisive after [Josh Magennis](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-magennis) had created the chance; the report described it as Wigan's fourth defeat in succession.[6](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/match-report/5060/2026-2027-stevenage-1-wigan-athletic-0) Connor Barrett had Wigan's best opening of the first half, and goalkeeper Joe Whitworth made an important save to deny [Matt Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-smith) on the stroke of half-time.[6](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/match-report/5060/2026-2027-stevenage-1-wigan-athletic-0)
## Cup competitions
Wigan entered the Carabao Cup at the first round and drew 1–1 away to Barnsley on 8 August 2026, Costelloe scoring, but left the competition on penalties.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/teams/8528/fixtures/wigan-athletic%2Cteams/teams)
In the Jersey Mike's Trophy ([EFL Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-trophy)), Wigan won both of its first two Northern Group B fixtures: 3–2 at home to Aston Villa U21 on 18 August 2026, with goals from Costelloe, a Feeney own goal, and Miller before 2,001 spectators, and 3–2 at home to [Blackpool](https://www.edgepedia.org/blackpool) on 22 September, through Barrett, Hogan, and Murray.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) A third group match at Crewe Alexandra was scheduled for 10 November 2026.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results)
## Pre-season
The build-up included a 0–2 friendly defeat at Manchester City on 11 July 2026, a 1–3 home loss to Port Vale, a 3–0 win at AFC Fylde (Sze scoring twice from the penalty spot), a 0–0 draw at [Southport](https://www.edgepedia.org/southport), and a 0–2 defeat at Grimsby Town.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results) A further behind-closed-doors friendly at Wrexham on 10 August ended 0–1.[3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results)
## Context
The season is the first full campaign under Caldwell, who took charge in February 2026.[1](https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?teamTabs=managers&team_id=2783) [BBC Sport](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-sport)'s club-by-club preview highlighted goalkeeper Sam Tickle, writing that having him in goal had saved Wigan around 10 points a season since he came into the first team.[7](https://bbc.com.im/sport/football/articles/cgewydzqyjyo) The fixture list also contains the club's first competitive meetings with Bromley, a fellow League One side Wigan had never previously played, scheduled for 31 October 2026 at home and 30 January 2027 away.[5](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/who-are-ya-who-are-ya-the-football-league-teams-your-club-has-never-played-against) • [3](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results)
## References
1. [Wigan Manager History, Soccer Base](https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?teamTabs=managers&team_id=2783)
2. [Wigan Athletic FC official site](https://wiganathletic.com/)
3. [2026-2027 First Team Results, Wigan Athletic Heritage Project](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/results)
4. [Wigan Athletic fixtures, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/teams/8528/fixtures/wigan-athletic%2Cteams/teams)
5. [Who Are Ya? The Football League teams your club has NEVER played against, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/who-are-ya-who-are-ya-the-football-league-teams-your-club-has-never-played-against)
6. [Stevenage 1 Wigan Athletic 0, 10 October 2026 match report, Wigan Athletic Heritage Project](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/match-report/5060/2026-2027-stevenage-1-wigan-athletic-0)
7. [League One 2026-27 season preview: Club-by-club guide, BBC Sport](https://bbc.com.im/sport/football/articles/cgewydzqyjyo)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Seasons and editions › Club seasons › English lower league club seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license