image via - Official Webiste/ EFL

EFL Clubs Learn Their Fate in Carabao Cup First Round Draw

Ipswich will face League Two’s Bromley for the first time in history, while Leicester head to Huddersfield.

image via - Official Webiste/ EFL

EFL clubs discovered their first opponents in the Carabao Cup first-round draw for the 2025/26 season. The draw was made on Thursday evening and set up some intriguing clashes across the EFL. Relegated Premier League sides Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton all face away trips as they begin their cup campaigns.

In a notable change this season, the Carabao Cup introduced a preliminary round due to the increased number of Premier League clubs competing in Europe, with nine top-flight teams earning byes to the third round. This adjustment means only 70 clubs from the Championship, League One, and League Two entered the first round, with two preliminary matches narrowing the field.

Four All-Championship Ties in Carabao Cup First Round Draw

Ipswich will face League Two’s Bromley for the first time in history, while Leicester head to Huddersfield and Southampton travel to Northampton. The draw is regionalised into northern and southern sections until the third round. It will see four all-Championship ties: Watford hosting Norwich, Hull travelling to Wrexham, Birmingham City welcoming Sheffield United, and West Brom facing Derby County at The Hawthorns.

1⃣3⃣ previous winners in Round One 💪

🏆🏆🏆 @LCFC

🏆🏆 @NorwichCityFC, @BCFC

🏆 @WBA, @QPR, @Official_STFC, @stokecity, @OUFCOfficial, @LutonTown, @swfc, @Rovers, @Boro, @SwansOfficial #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/kPXPwO4cok
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) June 27, 2025

Elsewhere, Oxford United will welcome Colchester United, while Accrington Stanley take on Oldham Athletic and Barnet face Newport County in the preliminary round. The winners will join the rest of the EFL in the first round, with ties scheduled for the week commencing August 11.

Newcastle United won last season’s Carabao Cup trophy after they ended their long trophy drought by beating Liverpool at Wembley. The reigning champions will enter in the third round alongside other European participants, while other Premier League clubs will join in round two. Notably, Carabao Cup will be the first opportunity for silverware in the upcoming campaign.

Carabao Cup draw

Preliminary round (to be played in w/c 4 August)

Accrington v Oldham Athletic

Barnet v Newport County

First round (to be played in w/c 11 August)

Southern section

Coventry City v Luton Town

Bristol City v Milton Keynes Dons

Bromley v Ipswich Town

Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United

Leyton Orient v Wycombe Wanderers

Watford v Norwich City

Charlton Athletic v Stevenage

Oxford United v Colchester United

Barnet or Newport v Millwall

Cardiff City v Swindon Town

Gillingham v AFC Wimbledon

Northampton Town v Southampton

Cheltenham Town v Exeter City

Plymouth Argyle v Queens Park Rangers

Swansea City v Crawley Town

Portsmouth v Reading

Northern section

Barrow v Preston North End

Grimsby Town v Shrewsbury Town

Blackpool v Port Vale

Salford City v Rotherham United

Harrogate Town v Lincoln City

Tranmere Rovers v Burton Albion

Stockport County v Crewe Alexandra

Huddersfield Town v Leicester City

Wrexham v Hull City

Birmingham City v Sheffield United

Stoke City v Walsall

Accrington or Oldham v Peterborough United

Blackburn Rovers v Bradford City

Middlesbrough v Doncaster Rovers

West Bromwich Albion v Derby County

Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday

Chesterfield v Mansfield Town

Barnsley v Fleetwood Town

Wigan Athletic v Notts County

EFL Cup

Ipswich Town

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.