Middlesbrough aims to start season with Carabao Cup win over Wrexham

Middlesbrough will host Wrexham in the first‑round Carabao Cup tie at Riverside Stadium on 7 August 2026. Both clubs, fresh from promotion‑chasing Championship campaigns, view the match as a chance to set a positive tone for the upcoming league season.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg stressed the importance of a victory to build early momentum, while also warning that the team must avoid unnecessary risks ahead of a league fixture against Lincoln City a week later. New signings have bolstered the squad, and the club hopes the cup win will give the expanded roster more competitive minutes.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, whose side has just returned from a summer tour of the United States, treats the fixture as an extended pre‑season friendly. He expects his players to use the game to sharpen fitness before the club’s next scheduled match against Wigan Athletic.