Carabao Cup first round fixtures and TV coverage announced

The 2026‑27 Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) first round begins on Thursday 6 August and runs through Sunday 9 August, featuring clubs from the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and ITV, with the marquee Middlesbrough vs Wrexham tie shown on both channels. Other highlighted fixtures include West Ham United hosting Portsmouth at the London Stadium, Rotherham United facing West Bromwich Albion at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, and Colchester United taking on Southampton at the JobServe Community Stadium. Additional first‑round ties such as Bradford City vs Rochdale and several regional match‑ups complete the schedule.

The second‑round draw is slated for Monday 10 August during the live broadcast of the Plymouth vs Exeter game on Sky Sports Main Event. Eight Premier League clubs – including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and others – will enter at that stage. The comprehensive TV schedule and streaming options ensure fans can follow every game across the opening weekend of the competition.