The inaugural round of the 2026-27 EFL Cup officially kicked off on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
Out of the 35 first-round matchups, 34 are scheduled to occur between Friday and Monday of this weekend.
This competition, popularly referred to as the Carabao Cup because of its sponsorship, is typically held midweek, with the notable exception being the final, which takes place on a Sunday at Wembley.
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Usually, the tournament commences on a midweek date following the first round of fixtures in the Championship, League One, and League Two.
However, this season, the EFL Cup will start on the weekend prior to the EFL league seasons’ kickoff.
After discussions with EFL clubs regarding the schedule, it was decided that the first round of the EFL Cup would occur a week ahead of the league’s commencement.
Initially, the competition was scheduled to begin in full on Friday, August 7. Still, an early matchup between Bristol City and Walsall on Thursday, August 6, resulted in the competition starting a day earlier.
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This adjustment allows for an extended rest period for players compared to previous seasons, where teams might face three matches in quick succession due to the opening round being wedged between two league games.
While some weekend games took place in 2020 and 2021, as well as 14 matches in 2012, a complete round of weekend fixtures has not occurred this century, apart from the final.
The first round consists exclusively of teams from the Championship, League One, and League Two, with Premier League teams joining from the second round onward.
This article is brought to you by BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.
Earlier this year, Manchester City was crowned the 2025-26 EFL Cup champions. [Getty Images]