Carabao Cup 2025/26: First Round Draw Sets Stage For New Season

Carabao Cup 2025/26: First Round Draw Sets Stage For New Season.
Coventry to face Luton, Leicester travels to Huddersfield Town.
Newcastle, Premier League teams to join in later rounds.

The first-round draw for the 2025-2026 Carabao Cup was conducted on Thursday evening, officially setting the stage for the new domestic cup campaign in England.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that at this stage, Premier League clubs are not involved, as the draw exclusively featured teams from the English Football League (EFL), including clubs from the Championship, League One, and League Two.

Newcastle United, the defending champions after defeating Liverpool 1-0 in March, will join the competition in the later rounds alongside other top-flight teams.

One of the standout fixtures in the Southern section is Coventry City’s home clash against Luton Town, rekindling memories of their thrilling 2023 Championship play-off final.

Another key matchup will see recently relegated Leicester City travel to Huddersfield Town in the Northern section, in what promises to be a closely contested tie.

In other notable pairings, Birmingham City will face Sheffield United, while Watford and Norwich City, two Championship heavyweights, will battle for a place in the next round.

The first-round fixtures also include several exciting regional derbies and lower-league matchups that add to the tournament’s early drama.

Below is the full Carabao Cup First Round Draw:

Southern Section:

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

Northern Section:

Barrow vs Preston North End
Grimsby Town vs Shrewsbury Town
Blackpool vs Port Vale
Salford City vs Rotherham United
Harrogate Town vs Lincoln City
Tranmere Rovers vs Burton Albion
Stockport County vs Crewe Alexandra
Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City
Wrexham vs Hull City
Birmingham City vs Sheffield United
Stoke City vs Walsall
Accrington Stanley/Oldham Athletic vs Peterborough United
Blackburn Rovers vs Bradford City
Middlesbrough vs Doncaster Rovers
West Bromwich Albion vs Derby County
Bolton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday
Chesterfield vs Mansfield Town
Barnsley vs Fleetwood Town
Wigan Athletic vs Notts County

Carabao Cup 2025/26: First Round Draw

The opening round promises thrilling contests as teams from England’s lower divisions vie for a chance to progress and potentially face Premier League opposition in the subsequent stages.