Sports

When is the EFL Cup first-round draw?

The draw for the first round of the 2025-26 EFL Cup takes place on Thursday, 26 June.

Proceedings will start at 16:20 BST with the preliminary round draw, which will be followed immediately by the first-round draw.

Only 70 of the 72 English Football League clubs will enter the first round, following two preliminary matches.

Nine top-flight sides are set to participate in European competitions next season, prompting the change to help reduce the number of clubs in the first two rounds.

The preliminary round features the two sides promoted from the National League and the clubs who finished 21st and 22nd in League Two.

Accrington Stanley will face Oldham Athletic, while Barnet take on Newport County. The two winners will advance into the first round.

The home sides for the two preliminary round matches will be decided before the first-round draw.

The first-round fixtures will take place in the week commencing Monday, 11 August – a week after the two preliminary round matches.

The 11 Premier League sides not competing in Europe enter the second round, with the other nine teams who are competing in Europe join in the third round.

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