Carabao Cup 2026/27 First‑Round Draw: Wrexham, West Ham, Leicester Learn Opponents

Carabao Cup 2026/27 First‑Round Draw Confirmed

The draw for the opening round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup was held on Thursday, giving clubs across England their first opponents in the competition.

Reigning champions Manchester City will begin their title defence in a later round after defeating Arsenal 2‑0 at Wembley in March, thanks to a brace from Nico O’Reilly. Other top Premier League teams will also join the tournament at a later stage.

Preliminary Ties

Two preliminary matches will complete the first‑round line‑up:

• Tranmere Rovers vs Rochdale (winner travels to Bradford City)

• York City vs Crawley Town (winner earns a trip to Watford)

Northern Section Fixtures

• Middlesbrough vs Wrexham

• Rotherham vs West Bromwich Albion

• Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic

• Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United

• Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers

• Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers

• Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield

• Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley

• Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic

• Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Port Vale

• Burnley vs Notts County

• Derby County vs Lincoln City

• Bradford City vs (winner of Tranmere Rovers vs Rochdale)

• Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers

• Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town

• Grimsby Town vs Blackpool

• Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town

Southern Section Fixtures

• Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall

• Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic

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• Gillingham vs Luton Town

• Cardiff City vs Swindon Town

• Bristol City vs Walsall

• Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City

• Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United

• Watford vs (winner of York City vs Crawley Town)

• Cambridge United vs Barnet

• Norwich City vs MK Dons

• Colchester United vs Southampton

• Leyton Orient vs Oxford United

• Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage

• Bromley vs Reading

• Swansea City vs Birmingham City

• West Ham United vs Portsmouth

• AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County

• Leicester City vs Northampton Town

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Chima Longy

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