The Carabao Cup, a prestigious English football competition, is gearing up for its 2025/26 season, and fans are eagerly awaiting the first round draw. This year, the draw holds even more significance due to changes in the competition format. Here's everything you need to know about the Carabao Cup first round draw.
The Carabao Cup first-round draw is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Football enthusiasts can tune in at 4:30 PM BST to watch the draw unfold live. Before the first-round proper draw, the preliminary round draw will take place from 4:20 PM BST.
In the UK, Sky Sports News will broadcast the draw live, offering comprehensive coverage and expert analysis. For those who prefer to stream the event, Sky Sports subscribers can access the draw via the Sky Go app or NOW TV. Alternatively, non-Sky customers can purchase a NOW TV Day Pass to enjoy the live broadcast without a subscription.
Seventy of the 72 EFL clubs will participate in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Due to an increased number of Premier League teams competing in UEFA competitions, a preliminary round has been introduced this season. The Premier League clubs involved in European competitions will enter the cup in the third round. The 11 Premier League teams not participating in European football will enter in the second round.
The preliminary round will feature the two clubs that finished 21st and 22nd in League Two last season, along with the two teams promoted from the National League. These matches, set to take place in the week commencing August 4, will see Accrington Stanley face Oldham Athletic and Barnet play Newport County. The winners of these matches will then proceed to the first round.
For the draw, clubs are divided into North and South sections, maintaining regionalization in the early stages of the competition until Round Three. This approach ensures local rivalries and reduces travel distances for clubs and fans alike.
First-round matches are scheduled to be played during the week commencing August 11, marking the official start of the Carabao Cup journey for many teams.
The structure of the Carabao Cup is designed to be straightforward, with single-leg matches in all rounds, except for the semi-finals. If the score remains level after 90 minutes in Rounds One through Five, no extra time will be played. Instead, the winner will be determined through a penalty shootout. Extra time will only be applied in the second leg of the semi-finals and the Final if the score is level after 90 minutes, followed by a 30-minute period of extra time if necessary.
With Newcastle United having won against Liverpool in the final last year, anticipation is high for another season of thrilling encounters and unforgettable moments as teams vie for the coveted trophy.
