English Football Pre‑season and EFL Cup Round 1 Begin

The English football calendar opens with a slate of pre‑season friendlies across the Premier League, the English Football League and non‑league clubs, followed by the first round of the EFL Cup. Fixtures include Middlesbrough versus Wrexham, Sheffield Wednesday versus Bolton, and West Ham United versus Portsmouth, among others. The matches serve as preparation for the upcoming season and provide opportunities for managers to test new players and tactics.

A detailed review lists scores from dozens of friendlies, such as Chelsea 1‑2 Tottenham, Manchester City 1‑1 (1‑3 p), Aston Villa 1‑3 Liga 1 All‑Stars, and many lower‑division results. The coverage highlights the competitive balance of the early cup ties and the form displayed in the warm‑up games.