The English Football League, EFL, has confirmed that the Carabao Cup will feature a preliminary round for the 2025/2026 season, with some fixtures already decided.
In what represents a tweak to the competition’s format, a qualifying round involving four teams will be introduced.
This will lead to a reduction in the number of teams in the first proper round.
It also means Premier League teams that will playing in European competitions, will enter in the third round.
National League promotion winners Barnet and Oldham Athletic take on the two lowest finishers in League Two, Accrington Stanley and Newport County in the preliminary round.
Barnet will face Newport, while Oldham will play Accrington.
The EFL have also announced that the Carabao Cup first round draw will be conducted on June 26.
