EFL Trophy 2026-27: Draw and Results
The 2026-27 EFL Trophy brings together all 48 League One and League Two clubs with 16 invited Under-21 sides from Premier League clubs with Category One academies.
The competition begins with a regionalised group stage before progressing to the knockout rounds and, ultimately, the final at Wembley Stadium.
The 16 invited Under-21 teams for 2026-27 are Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur.
This page covers the confirmed draw, competition format, key dates and results as they become available.
When Does The EFL Trophy Start?
The 2026-27 EFL Trophy group stage begins in early September 2026. The EFL has not designated 1 September as the official start date, so it should not be described as the confirmed opening date of the competition.
The group stage consists of 16 groups of four teams, split equally between the Northern and Southern sections. Each group contains three EFL clubs and one invited Under-21 side.
Every team plays three group matches, facing each of the other teams in its group once. The top two teams in each group progress to the Round of 32, meaning 32 clubs advance to the knockout stage.
The confirmed round dates for the 2026-27 competition are:
- Group Stage: From early September 2026
- Round of 32: Week commencing 7 December 2026
- Round of 16: Week commencing 11 January 2027
- Quarter-finals: Week commencing 15 February 2027
- Semi-finals: Week commencing 8 March 2027
- Final: Sunday, 11 April 2027
The knockout rounds remain regionalised until the quarter-final stage. Matches level after 90 minutes are decided by penalties up to and including the semi-finals. The final will use 30 minutes of extra time if necessary, followed by penalties if the scores remain level.
When Is The EFL Trophy Final?
The 2026-27 EFL Trophy final is scheduled for Sunday, 11 April 2027 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The route to the final consists of:
- Group stage
- Round of 32
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
- Final at Wembley Stadium
The group stage features 64 teams in total, with 48 League One and League Two clubs joined by 16 invited Under-21 teams.
The top two sides in each of the 16 groups qualify for the Round of 32. From that point, teams must continue winning through the knockout stages to reach Wembley.
The competition also provides valuable competitive experience for the invited Under-21 teams, while EFL clubs have the opportunity to compete for a Wembley final.
When Is The EFL Trophy Draw?
The EFL Trophy group-stage draw took place on Thursday, 25 June 2026, from 2:30pm on Sky Sports News.
Unlike a completely open draw, the 48 League One and League Two clubs were placed into predetermined regional groups before the televised draw. The 16 invited Under-21 teams were then allocated to their respective groups.
The competition is divided into:
- Eight Northern groups
- Eight Southern groups
The regional structure is intended to reduce travelling distances and maximise recovery time for players.
The confirmed group-stage draw is listed below.
EFL Trophy Draw
Northern Section
Group A
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Salford City
- Accrington Stanley
- Sunderland U21
Group B
- Blackpool
- Wigan Athletic
- Crewe Alexandra
- Aston Villa U21
Group C
- Bradford City
- York City
- Rotherham United
- Newcastle United U21
Group D
- Mansfield Town
- Chesterfield
- Port Vale
- Manchester City U21
Group E
- Stockport County
- Tranmere Rovers
- Shrewsbury Town
- Everton U21
Group F
- Burton Albion
- Notts County
- Grimsby Town
- Nottingham Forest U21
Group G
- Barnsley
- Oldham Athletic
- Fleetwood Town
- Leeds United U21
Group H
- Huddersfield Town
- Doncaster Rovers
- Rochdale
- Liverpool U21
Southern Section
Group A
- Oxford United
- Cheltenham Town
- Exeter City
- Tottenham Hotspur U21
Group B
- Leicester City
- Walsall
- Stevenage
- Fulham U21
Group C
- Reading
- Bristol Rovers
- Wycombe Wanderers
- Chelsea U21
Group D
- Luton Town
- Peterborough United
- Colchester United
- Ipswich Town U21
Group E
- Plymouth Argyle
- Swindon Town
- Newport County
- Crystal Palace U21
Group F
- AFC Wimbledon
- Leyton Orient
- Barnet
- Arsenal U21
Group G
- Cambridge United
- Gillingham
- Northampton Town
- Brighton and Hove Albion U21
Group H
- Bromley
- Crawley Town
- Milton Keynes Dons
- Brentford U21
The EFL confirmed that the 48 EFL clubs were placed into predetermined groups before the draw, while the 16 invited Under-21 teams were allocated to the Northern and Southern sections.
The top two teams in every group will qualify for the Round of 32. The competition then remains regionalised through to the quarter-finals.
EFL Trophy Results
Once the group stage begins, results can be added to this section as matches are completed. Any game that finishes level after 90 minutes will be decided by penalties, with the shootout determining the outcome of the fixture for competition purposes.
The group stage will determine the 32 clubs that progress to the Round of 32. Those teams will then compete through the Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals before the final at Wembley on 11 April 2027.
Bet on the EFL Trophy at Bet442
Betting markets at Bet442 for the EFL Trophy may be available during the season, but odds and markets can change and should be checked directly.
Whether you’re following the early rounds or the race to Wembley, you’ll find a broad set of betting options across the tournament, with prices updated as fixtures are confirmed.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.