THE draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Thursday.
All but two sides from the EFL will feature in the opening stage of the competition, with a pair of clubs set to be eliminated in the preliminary round.
The Carabao Cup has undergone a restructuring due to the nine Premier League clubs competing in Europe next season.
Top-flight teams who qualify for European football receive an automatic bye to the third round.
This means the EFL had to reduce the number of teams in rounds one and two in order to accommodate all nine sides playing in Europe, which is why a preliminary round will be held.
The two sides promoted from the National League last season, as well as the clubs who finished 21st and 22nd in League Two, will battle for the two remaining spots in the Carabao Cup proper.
They will be separated regionally, meaning Accrington Stanley will play Oldham and Barnet will take on Newport.
Relegated Premier League sides Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester will all be in the hat for the opening round of the competition, as will Championship new boys Wrexham.
SunSport brings you all you need to know about the Carabao Cup first round draw.
When is the Carabao Cup first round draw?
- The Carabao Cup first round draw will take place on Thursday, June 26.
- The event will begin at 4.20pm BST.
- The draw to determine the home and away sides for the preliminary round will also be held on the same day.
How to watch the Carabao Cup first round draw FREE
The Carabao Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports News.
The show will be FREE to watch on the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog of the draw to find out all the confirmed round one ties.
Carabao Cup 1st round ball numbers
Ball numbers for the first round of the Carabao Cup have not yet been confirmed.
Carabao Cup 2025/26 fixture dates
Preliminary round: week commencing 4 August 2025
Round one: week commencing 11 August 2025
Round two: week commencing 25 August 2025
Round three: split between week commencing 15 September and 22 September 2025 to accommodate clubs participating in Champions League and Europa League
Round four: week commencing 27 October 2025
Round five: week commencing 15 December 2025
Semi-final first leg: week commencing 12 January 2026
Semi-final second leg: week commencing 2 February 2026
Final: Sunday, March 22, 2026
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