Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a decisive 3–0 home victory over West Ham United on the opening Saturday of the 2025-26 season. Forward Eliezer Mayenda put the hosts ahead midway through the first half, registering the club’s first top-flight goal in more than eight years. Centre-back Daniel Ballard doubled the lead before the break, rising unchallenged to head past visiting goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. French striker Wilson Isidor completed the scoring soon after half-time, sealing a result that delighted the Stadium of Light and handed new head coach Regis Le Bris an ideal league debut.