The Carabao Cup 2025-26 will contain an extra round after nine Premier League teams qualified for the European competition, the EFL has confirmed.
Last season was the most successful ever of England ever in terms of securing European berths. Six clubs reached the Champions League, including Carabao Cup holders Newcastle, while Crystal Palace qualified for the Europa League after hoisting the FA Cup and their first appearance in the European competition.
But the continental success of the Premier League has complicated things for the EFL.
While parties in Europe participate in the third round, the EFL has introduced a provisional qualifying round to reduce the number of teams that compete in round one and two.
The luminaires for the provisional round have already been set. Barnet and Oldham Athletic, promoted from the National League to League Two last season, will participate in addition to Accrington Stanley and Newport County, the worst performing non-related parties in last year’s fourth layer.
The tires are shared by the region, which means that Barnet Newport will play, and Oldham will be confronted with Accrington. These will be formally announced prior to the round one draw on 26 June.
A provisional round is introduced for the first time since 2011-12, when Birmingham City and Fulham were both unlikely qualifications for the Europa League.
Reigning: Newcastle defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the 2024-25 Carabao Cup final
Getty images
Which Premier League teams have qualified for European competition?
Champions League: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur
Europa League: Aston Villa, Crystal Palace
Conference League: Nottingham Forest
Carabao Cup 2025/26 Dates Fully
Provisional round: W/C 4 August 2025
Round one: W/C 11 August 2025
Round two: W/C 25 August 2025
Round three: W/C 15 September and W/C 22 September 2025 (split to accommodate the parties that play in Europe)
Round four: W/C 27 October 2025
Round five: W/C 15 December 2025
Semi-final first leg: w/c January 12, 2026
Semi-final second stage: W/C 2 February 2026
Final: Sunday March 22, 2026
#EFL #update #Carabao #Cup #classification #sides #top #flight #Europe