Carabao Cup 2026-27 Second Round Preview
The Carabao Cup is back for the 2026/27 season, and the second round brings 11 Premier League clubs into the competition alongside the teams that progressed from Round One.
The draw has produced several appealing ties, including Nottingham Forest against Leeds United, Chelsea at home to Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur against Charlton Athletic. There are also a number of potentially unpredictable meetings between Premier League and EFL sides.
The second round is scheduled for the week commencing 24 August, with the competition still split into Northern and Southern sections at this stage.
When Is The Carabao Cup Second Round?
The Carabao Cup Second Round will take place during the week commencing Monday 24 August 2026. The EFL has confirmed the round date, although individual fixtures can be moved within that week for television coverage, scheduling and other logistical reasons.
The original fixture list should therefore not be treated as a set of Tuesday 25 August and Wednesday 26 August kick-offs. Supporters should check the EFL, club websites and official broadcaster listings for confirmed dates and kick-off times as they are announced.
The second round is the first stage at which 11 Premier League clubs enter the 2026/27 Carabao Cup. These are the top-flight sides that are not competing in UEFA competitions this season. The other nine Premier League clubs — Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace — enter in the third round because of their European commitments.
What Are The Fixtures For The Carabao Cup Second Round?
The second-round draw was made on Monday 10 August, ahead of Plymouth Argyle’s first-round tie against Exeter City. The draw remains regionalised, meaning teams were split between Northern and Southern sections before Round Three becomes an open draw.
The confirmed second-round fixtures are:
All ties to be played from 25th-27th August.
Northern Section
- Barnsley vs Crewe Alexandra
- Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
- Blackpool vs Lincoln City
- Bradford City vs Burnley
- Doncaster Rovers vs Middlesbrough
- Fleetwood Town vs Shrewsbury Town
- Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Albion
- Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
- Preston North End vs Everton
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Stoke City vs Hull City
Southern Section
- Birmingham City vs Brentford
- Cambridge United vs Millwall
- Cardiff City vs Norwich City
- Chelsea vs Luton Town
- Fulham vs AFC Wimbledon
- Ipswich Town vs Leicester City
- Plymouth Argyle vs Coventry City
- Southampton vs West Ham United
- Stevenage vs Reading
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic
- Walsall vs Leyton Orient
- Watford vs Peterborough United
The Plymouth Argyle v Coventry City fixture was confirmed after Plymouth defeated Exeter City 2-0 in the final first-round tie.
The standout tie is arguably Nottingham Forest v Leeds United, which is the only all-Premier League meeting in the second-round draw.
What Are The Results For The Carabao Cup Second Round?
The Carabao Cup Second Round has not yet been played, so there are no second-round results to report. The ties are scheduled for the week commencing 24 August 2026.
With 11 Premier League clubs now joining the competition, the second round offers the first opportunity for several top-flight sides to begin their domestic cup campaigns. The winners will progress to Round Three, where the nine Premier League clubs competing in Europe will also enter the competition.
Bet on the Carabao Cup Second Round at Bet442
The Carabao Cup Second Round provides a range of potential betting markets for supporters who choose to wager. Depending on the fixture and market availability, options can include match result, goals markets, both teams to score, correct score and selected player markets.
To find available Carabao Cup markets on Bet442, use the football section and select the relevant fixture. You can then choose an available market, add your selection to the bet slip and review your stake before confirming the bet.
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