The Carabao Cup is back for the 2026/27 season, and the first round is almost here. If you want a simple, clear guide to how the competition works this year, here is everything you need to know.
What is the Carabao Cup?
The Carabao Cup is England's League Cup. Every club in the top four English divisions can take part. It is one of the first trophies up for grabs each season, and it gives smaller clubs a real chance to test themselves against bigger teams.
When did the draw happen?
The first round draw took place on Thursday 25 June. It was shown live on Sky Sports News. Two former players, Kevin Nolan and Luke Chambers, pulled the balls out live on air.
How many teams are in the first round?
This year, 70 clubs are involved in the first round. That includes all 68 clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two, plus two winners from a small preliminary round.
The preliminary round happened because nine Premier League clubs are playing in Europe this season. Those nine clubs get extra rest, so two more lower-league teams had to play an early match to make the numbers work.
- Tranmere Rovers hosted Rochdale on 1 August
- York City hosted Crawley Town on 3 August
The winners of those two games joined the main first-round draw.
When is the first round played?
First round matches take place across three days: 9, 10 and 11 August. Some games will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Some of the big ties to watch
The draw threw up some really interesting matches. Here are five worth knowing about:
Leicester City vs Northampton Town Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season. This is their first competitive game back in the lower tiers of English cup football, and fans will want to see how the new-look squad performs. Read our full match preview and prediction here.
West Ham United vs Portsmouth West Ham were also relegated last season. This is a big early test to see how the club responds after a difficult year. Full team news and our score prediction are in our match preview.
Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall This is a proper London derby. These two clubs have a long rivalry, so expect a feisty atmosphere even this early in the season. Check our derby preview for the full story.
Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City Known as the Devon derby. Local fans take this one very seriously, even though it's only round one. See our full Devon derby preview and prediction.
Swansea City vs Birmingham City Both clubs are aiming for promotion this season, so neither will want to go out early. Expect strong teams from both sides — our match preview has the full team news.
Once every round-one score is in, we'll also publish a full Premier League 2026/27 predictions hub piece, since several of these clubs are now shaping up for their top-flight campaigns too.
Full list of key dates this season
- Preliminary round: 1 and 3 August 2026
- Round One: 9–11 August 2026
- Round Two: week of 24 August 2026
- Round Three: weeks of 7 and 14 September 2026
- Round Four: week of 26 October 2026
- Round Five: week of 14 December 2026
- Semi-final, first leg: week of 11 January 2027
- Semi-final, second leg: week of 1 February 2027
- Final: Sunday 21 March 2027, Wembley Stadium
Why the first round matters
Early rounds of the Carabao Cup don't get much attention from the big football websites. But for fans of smaller clubs, these games matter a lot. A cup run can mean bigger crowds, extra prize money, and a famous night against a much bigger club later in the competition.
This is exactly why it's worth following closely from round one. The upsets and best stories often start right here, weeks before anyone is talking about the competition again.
FAQs
What happens if a Carabao Cup first round game finishes level? First round matches are single games, not two-legged ties. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the match goes straight to a penalty shootout. There is no extra time in the early rounds.
When do Premier League clubs join the Carabao Cup? Most Premier League clubs enter in round two, which takes place the week starting 24 August. The nine Premier League clubs playing in Europe this season enter even later, in round three.
How many rounds are there before the Carabao Cup final? There are five main rounds, followed by a two-legged semi-final, before the final at Wembley Stadium.
When is the Carabao Cup final? The 2026/27 final is scheduled for Sunday 21 March 2027 at Wembley Stadium.
How many teams entered the 2026/27 Carabao Cup first round? 70 clubs took part — all 68 Championship, League One and League Two clubs, plus two winners from a preliminary round involving Tranmere Rovers, Rochdale, York City and Crawley Town.
What's next
Over the next few days, we'll be covering every big first-round tie in detail, with team news, form, and a prediction for each match. This will cover Leicester vs Northampton and West Ham vs Portsmouth previews. Check back before kick-off on 9 August for our full match-by-match guide.
Sources
EFL / Carabao Cup official competition pages — draw results and round dates