The English Football League (EFL) has announced a change to the Carabao Cup format ahead of the 2025/26 season, introducing a preliminary round for the first time.
As part of the revised structure, a qualifying round involving four teams will take place before the first round proper, reducing the number of clubs entering the main draw.
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Premier League sides participating in European competitions will now join the tournament in the third round, as part of the updated format.
National League promotion winners Barnet and Oldham Athletic will face the two lowest-ranked League Two sides—Newport County and Accrington Stanley—in the preliminary round. Barnet will play Newport, while Oldham are set to face Accrington.
The EFL also confirmed that the first-round draw for the 2025/26 Carabao Cup will take place on June 26.
