2026 Carabao Cup early rounds

In late July 2026 the English Football League released the opening Carabao Cup fixtures, pairing Tranmere Rovers with Rochdale in a preliminary tie on 1 August and confirming a first‑round clash between Championship side Middlesbrough and newly promoted Wrexham at the Riverside Stadium. The match, scheduled for 7 August, will serve as the first competitive game of the 2026/27 season for both clubs. Middlesbrough, fresh from a fifth‑place finish and reinstatement after Southampton’s disqualification, view the tie as a chance to build early momentum ahead of a league fixture against Lincoln City. Wrexham, managed by Phil Parkinson after a US summer tour, treat the cup tie as an extended pre‑season, hoping to sharpen fitness before their next league game with Wigan Athletic. The early‑round pairings illustrate the cup’s blend of lower‑league sides and recently promoted clubs, while the experimental goalkeeper‑time‑out rule will be trialled from the outset.