The League Cup, known as the Carabao Cup, first round draw has been completed, with Championship, League One and League Two clubs learning their opening opponents in the competition.
The draw took place on Thursday afternoon, with 70 EFL clubs involved across northern and southern sections. Ties are due to be played across the weekend of 7-9 August 2026, although exact fixture dates, kick-off times and broadcast details will be confirmed in due course.
Carabao Cup First Round Draw Completed
The northern section produced several notable early ties, with Middlesbrough drawn at home to Wrexham and Rotherham United handed a home fixture against West Bromwich Albion.
Mansfield Town will host Sheffield United, while Sheffield Wednesday have been paired with Bolton Wanderers. Derby County will take on Lincoln City at Pride Park, with Stockport County hosting Doncaster Rovers and Barnsley drawn against Wigan Athletic.
Stoke City will face Oldham Athletic, Burnley have been paired with Notts County and Wolves will host Port Vale. Elsewhere, Preston North End will meet Huddersfield Town, Grimsby Town will play Blackpool and Salford City have been given a home tie against Shrewsbury Town.
Bradford City will face either Tranmere Rovers or Rochdale, with that opponent to be decided through a preliminary round tie.
Southern Section Produces Several EFL Clashes
The southern section also produced a number of interesting fixtures, including Swansea City against Birmingham City and West Ham United at home to Portsmouth.
Bristol City will face Walsall, Plymouth Argyle have been drawn against Exeter City and Bristol Rovers will take on Peterborough United. Norwich City will host MK Dons, while Watford will face either York City or Crawley Town.
Leicester City will begin their campaign at home to Northampton Town, while QPR have been drawn against Millwall. Colchester United will host Southampton, Leyton Orient will face Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers have been paired with Stevenage.
Other southern ties include Cheltenham Town against Charlton Athletic, Gillingham against Luton Town, Cardiff City against Swindon Town, Cambridge United against Barnet, Bromley against Reading and AFC Wimbledon against Newport County.
The second round is scheduled for the week commencing 24 August, while the third round will be split across the weeks commencing 7 September and 14 September. The fourth round is set for the week commencing 26 October, with the quarter-finals due in the week commencing 14 December.
The semi-final first legs are scheduled for the week commencing 11 January 2027, followed by the second legs in the week commencing 1 February. The final is due to be played on Sunday 21 March 2027.
Carabao Cup First Round Draw In Full
Northern section
Middlesbrough vs Wrexham
Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion
Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic
Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers
Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers
Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield
Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley
Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic
Wolves vs Port Vale
Burnley vs Notts County
Derby County vs Lincoln City
Bradford City vs Tranmere Rovers or Rochdale
Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers
Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town
Grimsby Town vs Blackpool
Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town
Southern section
QPR vs Millwall
Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic
Gillingham vs Luton Town
Cardiff City vs Swindon Town
Bristol City vs Walsall
Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City
Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United
Watford vs York City or Crawley Town
Cambridge United vs Barnet
Norwich City vs MK Dons
Colchester United vs Southampton
Leyton Orient vs Oxford United
Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage
Bromley vs Reading
Swansea City vs Birmingham City
West Ham United vs Portsmouth
AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County
Leicester City vs Northampton Town
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