2025–26 Carabao Cup: Your Complete Guide to Every Draw, Fixture and Result This Season
Ask Newcastle United about the alleged unimportance of the Carabao Cup, following the Magpies' conclusion of their 70-year drought for a significant domestic title in March.
Growing fixture congestion has led to this tournament often being viewed by coaches as an opportunity to provide playing time to squad players and emerging talents. Those who approach the League Cup with proper reverence maximize their chances of enjoying a memorable Wembley experience.
While it lacks the FA Cup's tradition, the appeal of European competition, or the financial rewards that accompany simply participating in the Premier League, this silverware represents the first available prize in the English season. It possesses its own legacy and distinction as well.
In 2025–26, the tournament commenced as early as late July due to the addition of a preliminary stage, with 92 teams competing to perform beneath the famous arch in March.
Here's a comprehensive guide to the 2025–26 Carabao Cup.
Carabao Cup 2025–26 Preliminary Round Results
Northern Section
Date | Result |
|---|---|
5 August 2025 | Accrington Stanley 3–1 Oldham |
Southern Section
Date | Result |
|---|---|
29 July 2025 | Barnet 2–2 (2–4p) Newport County |
Carabao Cup 2025–26 First Round Results
Northern Section
Date | Result |
|---|---|
12 August 2025 | Barrow 0–1 Preston North End |
12 August 2025 | Middlesbrough 0–4 Doncaster Rovers |
12 August 2025 | Stockport County 3–1 Crewe Alexandra |
12 August 2025 | Accrington Stanley 2–1 Peterborough United |
12 August 2025 | Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Bradford City |
12 August 2025 | Blackpool 0–1 Port Vale |
12 August 2025 | Chesterfield 0–2 Mansfield Town |
12 August 2025 | Grimsby Town 3–1 Shrewsbury Town |
12 August 2025 | Harrogate Town 1–3 Lincoln City |
12 August 2025 | Salford City 0–0 (2–3 p) Rotherham United |
12 August 2025 | Stoke City 0–0 (4–3 p) Walsall |
12 August 2025 | West Brom 1–1 (2–3 p) Derby County |
12 August 2025 | Wigan Athletic 1–0 Notts County |
12 August 2025 | Wrexham 3–3 (5–3 p) Hull City |
13 August 2025 | Barnsley 2–2 (5–4 p) Fleetwood Town |
13 August 2025 | Bolton Wanderers 3–3 (2–4 p) Sheffield Wednesday |
13 August 2025 | Huddersfield Town 2–2 (3–2 p) Leicester City |
13 August 2025 | Birmingham City 2–1 Sheffield United |
19 August 2025 | Tranmere Rovers 1–1 (4–5 p) Burton Albion |
Southern Section
Date | Result |
|---|---|
12 August 2025 | Swansea City 3–1 Crawley Town |
12 August 2025 | Newport County 0–1 Millwall |
12 August 2025 | Bristol City 2–0 MK Dons |
12 August 2025 | Bristol Rovers 0–2 Cambridge United |
12 August 2025 | Cardiff City 2–1 Swindon Town |
12 August 2025 | Charlton Athletic 3–1 Stevenage |
12 August 2025 | Coventry City 1–0 Luton Town |
12 August 2025 | Gillingham 1–1 (2–4 p) AFC Wimbledon |
12 August 2025 | Leyton Orient 0–1 Wycombe Wanderers |
12 August 2025 | Northampton Town 0–1 Southampton |
12 August 2025 | Oxford United 1–0 Colchester United |
12 August 2025 | Plymouth Argyle 3–2 QPR |
12 August 2025 | Portsmouth 1–2 Reading |
12 August 2025 | Watford 1–2 Norwich City |
12 August 2025 | Bromley 1–1 (5–4 p) Ipswich Town |
13 August 2025 | Cheltenham Town 2–0 Exeter City |
Carabao Cup 2025–26 Second Round Fixtures
Northern Section
Date | Result |
|---|---|
26 August 2025 | Accrington Stanley vs. Doncaster Rovers |
26 August 2025 | Barnsley vs. Rotherham United |
26 August 2025 | Birmingham City vs. Port Vale |
26 August 2025 | Burnley vs. Derby County |
26 August 2025 | Burton Albion vs. Lincoln City |
26 August 2025 | Preston North End vs. Wrexham |
26 August 2025 | Stoke City vs. Bradford City |
26 August 2025 | Sunderland vs. Huddersfield Town |
26 August 2025 | Wigan Athletic vs. Stockport County |
26 August 2025 | Sheffield Wednesday vs. Leeds United |
27 August 2025 | Everton vs. Mansfield Town |
27 August 2025 | Grimsby Town vs. Manchester United |
Southern Section
Date | Result |
|---|---|
26 August 2025 | Reading vs. AFC Wimbledon |
26 August 2025 | Cambridge United vs. Charlton Athletic |
26 August 2025 | Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Ham United |
26 August 2025 | Bournemouth vs. Brentford |
26 August 2025 | Bromley vs. Wycombe Wanderers |
26 August 2025 | Cardiff City vs. Cheltenham Town |
26 August 2025 | Millwall vs. Coventry City |
26 August 2025 | Norwich City vs. Southampton |
26 August 2025 | Swansea City vs. Plymouth Argyle |
27 August 2025 | Fulham vs. Bristol City |
27 August 2025 | Oxford United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion |
When is the 2026 Carabao Cup Final?
This campaign's Carabao Cup final will take place at Wembley Stadium on 22 March, 2026.
Wembley has hosted the climactic match of this tournament annually since 2008, and we witnessed a momentous occasion in 2025 when Newcastle defeated favorites Liverpool 2–1 to break their 70-year major domestic trophy famine.
Who is the Most Successful Team in Carabao Cup History?
Newcastle became the 24th different club to claim the League Cup this year, with half of the tournament's champions achieving victory just once.
No side has enjoyed greater success than ten-time champions Liverpool, who held the title entering 2024–25 following their victory over Chelsea in the 2024 final, marking their fifth League Cup triumph of the 21st century.
Manchester City previously dominated this tournament, with the squad depth available to Pep Guardiola enabling them to navigate early stages before key players returned for crucial moments in the new year. The Citizens are eight-time champions, with Guardiola supervising four of those victories.
Manchester United have claimed the League Cup six times, while Aston Villa and Chelsea have each succeeded on five occasions.