The 2025/2026 Carabao Cup season is officially underway, with a packed schedule of First Round fixtures taking place this week. Clubs from the Championship, League One, and League Two are all vying for a spot in the next round and a chance to face off against some of the Premier League's top teams.
The First Round draw, which took place in late June, delivered several intriguing matchups. Among the most anticipated is the clash between former Premier League sides Coventry City and Luton Town, a repeat of the dramatic 2023 Championship play-off final. The two teams will meet in a highly anticipated contest that promises to be a thrilling start to their respective cup campaigns.
Relegated Leicester City also begins its Carabao Cup journey with an away trip to Huddersfield Town, while Birmingham City and Sheffield United, two other recently relegated clubs, are set to face off in another high-profile tie.
With a preliminary round already completed, a total of 70 clubs are participating in this first stage. The winners will advance to the Second Round, where they will be joined by 11 Premier League clubs not involved in European competition. The remaining Premier League teams, those playing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, will enter the competition in the Third Round.
Matches are being played across Tuesday, August 12 and Wednesday, August 13. Here is a look at some of the key fixtures from the First Round:
Tuesday, August 12 (Selected Fixtures)
Coventry City vs Luton Town
Newport County vs Millwall
Watford vs Norwich City
West Bromwich Albion vs Derby County
Wednesday, August 13 (Selected Fixtures)
Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City
Birmingham City vs Sheffield United
Bolton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley vs Fleetwood Town
The draw for the Second Round will take place on Wednesday, August 13, following the conclusion of the Birmingham City vs Sheffield United match. With upsets always a possibility in the Carabao Cup, these early matches are a crucial and exciting part of the English football calendar.