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
