Carabao Cup round one draw for 2026/27 season confirmed with full fixtures across Northern and Southern sections ahead of new campaign

The English Football League has confirmed the full draw for the 2026/2027 Carabao Cup first round, setting the stage for the opening fixtures of one of England’s most closely followed domestic competitions.

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The Carabao Cup round one draw was conducted on Thursday, with clubs across the Northern and Southern sections discovering their opponents ahead of the start of the new season. The draw includes a mix of League One and League Two sides, alongside select Championship clubs entering the competition at this stage.

Manchester City remain the reigning champions after defeating Arsenal in last season’s final at Wembley Stadium, with midfielder Nico O’Reilly scoring twice to secure the trophy in March.

The opening round also comes ahead of preliminary fixtures involving Tranmere Rovers against Rochdale on 1 August, and York City against Crawley Town on 3 August, which will determine final entries into the main draw.

In the Northern section, Middlesbrough will face Wrexham in one of the standout ties, while Sheffield United travel to Mansfield Town. West Brom face Rotherham United, and Stoke City take on Oldham Athletic in another notable encounter.

Other fixtures include Barnsley against Wigan Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday versus Bolton Wanderers, Wolves meeting Port Vale, and Burnley hosting Notts County. Derby County will play Lincoln City, while Bradford City await the winner of Tranmere Rovers or Rochdale.

In the Southern section, West Ham United have been drawn against Portsmouth in a fixture expected to attract significant attention. Leicester City will face Northampton Town, while Queens Park Rangers take on Millwall in a London derby.

Other notable ties include Swansea City against Birmingham City, Norwich City versus MK Dons, and Watford facing either York City or Crawley Town. Southampton travel to Colchester United, while Charlton Athletic meet Cheltenham Town.

The Carabao Cup round one draw continues to generate early excitement among supporters, with several derby fixtures and evenly matched contests expected to produce competitive early-round action.

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Further updates on kick-off dates and broadcast selections are expected to be released by the English Football League in the coming weeks as clubs begin preparations for the new season.