THE EFL have introduced a preliminary round for the Carabao Cup for the 2025-26 campaign.
Nine Premier League teams competing in Europe mean the cup has to be restructured this season.
A preliminary round will take place before the first round, consisting of four teams for the first time.
They include the two teams promoted from the National League last season, Barnet and Oldham, as well as Accrington Stanley and Newport County, who finished in the lowest two spots in the EFL.
The preliminary draw and the first round draw will be held on the same day – Thursday June 26.
The four League Two sides will face off in the preliminary round week commencing August 4 – a week before the rest of the competition kicks off.
A preliminary round will get rid of two teams from the tournament, thus reducing the number of teams in rounds one and two.
That will allow each Prem club that is competing in Europe to feature in round three.
Round three will also be split across two weeks, commencing September 15 and September 22 – just as it did last season.
Some fans are not happy with the change as they believe it helps the big Premier League teams.
One reacted saying: “What an absolute disgrace.”
Another added: “Helping out the Prem clubs again, what a surprise.”
A third wrote: “EFL Cup pandering to the Premier League says everything about the state of the footballing bodies in this country.”
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