Match Preview: West Ham United vs Portsmouth

West Ham United will kick off their Championship campaign against Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup. This match is particularly significant for West Ham, who were relegated from the Premier League last season after finishing 18th with 39 points, just two points shy of safety. Despite this setback, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo retains the trust of the club's management.

During the summer transfer window, West Ham parted ways with key players Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville but successfully retained their captain, Jarrod Bowen. They also strengthened their squad by signing Keiber Lamadrid permanently and bringing in experienced defender Joel Veltman from Brighton.

West Ham's preparations for the new season have been encouraging, as they remain unbeaten in their five pre-season friendlies, recording two wins and three draws. Their most recent match ended in a 0-0 draw against Magdeburg, which has boosted their confidence ahead of the Championship opener.

Historically, West Ham has had the upper hand against Portsmouth, remaining unbeaten in their last six encounters. This trend adds to the optimism surrounding the London club as they aim for a successful start.

On the other hand, Portsmouth enters this season aiming to improve upon their previous campaign, where they finished 18th in the Championship. The club has made several new signings, including Odin Bailey, Rocco Shein, Eion Kenny, Luke Brooke-Smith, Marko Milovanovic, and Daniel Bielica, to enhance their squad.

Portsmouth's pre-season saw them play seven friendlies, achieving two wins, three draws, and two losses. They ended their preparations with a 0-0 draw against Darmstadt in Germany and a 2-0 victory over Kuwait SC in a closed-door match. Their immediate objective is to advance past the first round of the Carabao Cup after being eliminated in the opening round for the past two seasons.

In terms of player availability, West Ham will be without midfielder Tomas Soucek, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the 2026 World Cup. Keiber Lamadrid is also sidelined for two to three weeks due to an injury from the friendly against Magdeburg. However, new signing Joel Veltman is expected to make his debut.

Portsmouth faces its own injury challenges, with several players, including Josef Bursik, Conor Ogilvie, Jacob Farrell, Marlon Pack, Mark Kosznovszky, Harvey Blair, and Josh Murphy, unavailable. Franco Umeh will undergo further assessment after leaving the field early in a recent match. Colby Bishop is anticipated to lead the attack, while Marko Milovanovic continues to regain fitness.

The match between West Ham and Portsmouth is scheduled for 21:00 on August 8 (Vietnam time).