Opening Round Overview
The 2026/27 Carabao Cup commences this week, featuring clubs from the Championship, League One, and League Two. Sky Sports has confirmed live broadcast coverage for every first-round fixture, accessible via Sky Sports+ and the official app.
Key Fixtures and Schedule
The competition structure follows a multi-day opening phase:
- Thursday: Bristol City vs. Walsall.
- Friday: Wolves vs. Port Vale; Middlesbrough vs. Wrexham; Wycombe vs. Stevenage.
- Saturday: A high-volume schedule featuring Burnley vs. Notts County, West Ham vs. Portsmouth, and Leicester vs. Northampton Town.
- Sunday: Mansfield Town vs. Sheffield United.
- Monday: Plymouth Argyle vs. Exeter City.
Tournament Progression
The second round is scheduled for the week commencing August 24. Nine Premier League clubs—Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace—are exempt from the opening rounds and will enter the competition in the third round, scheduled for the weeks of September 7 and September 14.
Operational Data
Matches are broadcast via the Sky Sports platform. Real-time updates and goal tracking are provided through the Soccer Saturday program and the Sky Sports digital interface. The final is slated for March 21, 2027.