Carabao Cup first round draw LIVE - TV channel and ball numbers as EFL clubs discover opponents

Hello and welcome to the Manchester Evening News' Carabao Cup 2025/26 first round draw live blog.

It is English Football League fixture release day and the 72 clubs have all learnt the order of things for the upcoming Championship, League One and League Two campaigns. Next up they are set to discover who they are to be pitted against in the opening round of the Carabao Cup.

The competition was won by Newcastle United last season, who beat Liverpool in the final at Wembley Stadium. Now it restarts with 70 of the 72 EFL clubs entered into the first round draw following two preliminary matches - a first in the tournament.

Accrington Stanley are to face Oldham Athletic while Barnet take on Newport County. The two winners will advance and join the rest of the EFL in the hat.

Local clubs looking out for their names in the draw will be Salford City, Stockport County and Wigan Athletic.

Manchester United will enter the competition in the second round while Manchester City will start their journey to Wembley in the third round.

As the draw gets underway from 4.30pm, we bring you live coverage of the event in full.

Blackburn Rovers vs Bradford City

Accrington Stanley/Oldham Athletic vs Peterborough United

Stoke City vs Walsall

Birmingham City vs Sheffield United

Wrexham vs Hull City

Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City

Stockport County vs Crew Alexandra

Tranmere Rovers vs Burton Albion

Harrogate Town vs Lincoln City

Salford City vs Rotherham United

Blackpool vs Port Vale

Grimsby Town vs Shrewsbury Town

Barrow vs Preston North End

After the Southern Section draw has taken place, the Northern Section will take centre stage, with each of our local teams involved. It's coming up now...

Portsmouth vs Reading

Swansea City vs Crawley