Carabao Cup 2025/26 first round draw: Championship, League One and League Two teams discover opponents

The Carabao Cup first round draw is complete following the preliminary round, with Championship sides Birmingham and Sheffield United one of 35 opening ties live on Sky Sports.

The pair clash at St Andrew's in the northern section, while in the southern section, League Two Bromley host Championship Ipswich, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.

The Carabao Cup remains regionalised until the third round, with the 11 Premier League sides not in Europe entering at the second-round stage.

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The nine Premier League sides in Europe - Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle (Carabao Cup holders), Tottenham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest - come in for the third round.

This season's Carabao Cup included a preliminary round to accommodate the increased number of top-flight teams in Europe. Newport beat Barnet on penalties to reach the first round proper, while Accrington saw off Oldham in the northern section.

The round-one ties will take place the week commencing August 11.

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Full draw for Carabao Cup Round One

Southern Section

Coventry vs Luton
Bristol City vs MK Dons
Bromley vs Ipswich
Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge
Leyton Orient vs Wycombe
Watford vs Norwich
Charlton vs Stevenage
Oxford vs Colchester
Newport vs Millwall
Cardiff vs Swindon
Gillingham vs AFC Wimbledon
Northampton vs Southampton
Cheltenham vs Exeter
Plymouth vs QPR
Swansea vs Crawley
Portsmouth vs Reading

Northern Section

Barrow vs Preston
Grimsby vs Shrewsbury
Blackpool vs Port Vale
Salford vs Rotherham
Harrogate vs Lincoln
Tranmere vs Burton
Stockport vs Crewe
Huddersfield vs Leicester
Wrexham vs Hull
Birmingham vs Sheffield United
Stoke vs Walsall
Accrington vs Peterborough
Blackburn vs Bradford
Middlesbrough vs Doncaster
West Brom vs Derby
Bolton vs Sheffield Wednesday
Chesterfield vs Mansfield
Barnsley vs Fleetwood
Wigan vs Notts County

Carabao Cup 2025/26 round dates

Round one: w/c August 11

Round two: w/c August 25

Round three: w/c September 15 and w/c September 22

Round four: w/c 27 October 2025

Round five: w/c 15 December 2025

Semi-final first leg: w/c January 12 2026

Semi-final second leg: w/c February 2 2026

Final: Sunday, March 22 2026

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