The first round draw has been made for the EFL Cup, known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons.
This season will be the first in which a preliminary round is made. This is as a result of the recent expansion in European football, with nine Premier League clubs competing across the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Traditionally, Premier League clubs not playing in Europe enter at the second round stage, but with only 11 teams finding themselves in that predicament, changes need to be made. Therefore, the clubs promoted from the National League will face the teams which finished 21st and 22nd in League Two. This sees Oldham Athletic take on Accrington Stanley, whilst Barnet tackle Newport County.
Last season’s edition of the EFL Cup was dominated by those in the top tier, with Newcastle United eventually winning the competition. No clubs from the EFL progressed beyond the fourth round. Championship side Middlesbrough reached the semi final in the 2023/24 season, whilst the last non-Premier League team to reach the final was Bradford City, then of League Two.
The Bantams famous run to Wembley was the first time a fourth tier side had reached the League Cup final since Rochdale in 1962. They beat three Premier League teams on the way, including Wigan Athletic, Arsenal and Aston Villa. They lost 5-0 in the final to Swansea City.
EFL Cup Preliminary Draw
Accrington Stanley vs Oldham Athletic
Barnet vs Newport County
EFL Cup First Round Draw
Southern Section
Coventry City vs Luton Town
Bristol City vs MK Dons
Bromley vs Ipswich Town
Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge United
Leyton Orient vs Wycombe Wanderers
Watford vs Norwich City
Charlton Athletic vs Stevenage
Oxford United vs Colchester United
Barnet or Newport County vs Millwall
Cardiff City vs Swindon Town
Gillingham vs AFC Wimbledon
Northampton Town vs Southampton
Cheltenham Town vs Exeter City
Plymouth Argyle vs Queens Park Rangers
Swansea City vs Crawley Town
Portsmouth vs Reading
Northern Section
Barrow vs Preston North End
Grimsby Town vs Shrewsbury Town
Blackpool vs Port Vale
Salford City vs Rotherham United
Harrogate Town vs Lincoln City
Tranmere Rovers vs Burton Albion
Stockport County vs Crewe Alexandra
Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City
Wrexham vs Hull City
Birmingham City vs Sheffield United
Stoke City vs Walsall
Accrington Stanley or Oldham Athletic vs Peterborough United
Blackburn Rovers vs Bradford City
Middlesbrough vs Doncaster Rovers
West Bromwich Albion vs Derby County
Bolton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday
Chesterfield vs Mansfield Town
Barnsley vs Fleetwood Town
Wigan Athletic vs Notts County
