Sport: Carabao Cup 26/27
West Ham will kick off their Carabao Cup campaign against Portsmouth in what was once an all-Premier League thriller as English Football League (EFL) clubs learned their fate in the competition’s first-round draw.
The footballing world may be occupied with more important matters at the World Cup but the start of the new domestic season will feel nearer after ties were decided, with stand-out matchups also including a Devon derby between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City along with a trip to Middlesbrough for Wrexham.
With nine Premier League sides in European competition, that extra round of fixtures will see newly-promoted York City and Rochdale take on Tranmere and Crawley respectively to decide the final two places in the first-round proper.
Carabao Cup round dates 2026/27
A few dates for your diary if you are eyeing a deep Carabao Cup run – the competition will again sprawl from early August to the middle of march:
- Round One: Weekend of 7-9 August 2026
- Round Two: w/c 24 August 2026
- Round Three: w/c 7 September and w/c 14 September 2026
- Round Four: w/c 26 October 2026
- Round Five: w/c 14 December 2026
- Semi-Final first leg: w/c 11 January 2027
- Semi-Final second leg: w/c 1 February 2027
- Final: Sunday 21 March 2027