Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterIt is less than a month since Manchester City beat Arsenal at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup for the ninth time, and the fifth time under Pep Guardiola.But attention has already turned to next seasons competition, which gets underway for Championship, League One and League Two clubs in early August.The first round of the Carabao Cup will have a different feel to it in 2026/27, though. You may like When is the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City? Carabao Cup TV guide: How to watch the EFL Cup final live around the world How to watch the Carabao Cup final: Streams and TV info The reason for the Carabao Cup schedule changeInstead of the usual midweek matches on a Tuesday and Wednesday, the first-round games will be played on the weekend of August 7.That is a week before the Championship, League One and League Two seasons get underway.The reason for the change to the schedule - which usually sees the first round played in the midweek after the opening league fixtures - is because of this summers World Cup.The tournament in North America means the EFL season will start slightly later than normal, so the Carabao Cup has been moved back in an attempt to alleviate fixture congestion.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.While the first round will be played on a weekend, further rounds will be in midweek.This will be just the second time that the Carabao Cup has begun on a weekendPremier League clubs enter the competition in the second round, with teams playing in Europe entering in the third round.There have been calls to get rid of the two-legged semi-finals to further reduce fixture congestion, but they will remain for 2026/27.EFL clubs will still be hoping for a run deep into the latter stages of the competition, with the quarter-finals played before Christmas.Cardiff City were the only non-Premier League side to reach the last eight in 2025/26, losing to Chelsea.Get VIP Premier League tickets HERE with Seat UniqueFor a die-hard fan, Seat Unique is a shortcut to those sold-out, high-stakes Premier League matches that usually feel out of reach without years of loyalty points. By partnering directly with clubs like Manchester United, Spurs, and Everton, they provide 100% official, guaranteed entry without the red tape of memberships or ballots. Its a secure way to bypass the resale lottery and walk straight into the ground with a prime view, making those "once-in-a-lifetime" derbies actually doable.View DealTOPICSCarabao CupLeague CupCallum Rice-CoatesCallum is a football writer who has had work published by the likes of BBC Sport, the Independent, BT Sport and the Blizzard, amongst various others. A lifelong Wrexham fan, he is hoping Ryan Reynolds can lead his hometown club to the promised land.
