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The Carabao Cup (or EFL Cup if you prefer the formal name) gets properly underway this week with the second round. This is the stage when all the Premier League sides without European football finally enter the fray. That means we’ve got some big names making an early-season trip to unfancied grounds, including Manchester United, Everton, West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United.
It might still be August, but the Carabao Cup games already have a lot riding on them. For some clubs, this is their best chance of silverware. For others, it’s a distraction they’ll pretend to take seriously until the third-choice goalkeeper is named captain (usually just before they crash out to lower-league opposition).
So what exactly is the Carabao Cup, when is the next Carabao Cup draw, and which fixtures are worth keeping an eye on in round two?
What is the Carabao Cup?
The Carabao Cup is England’s second knockout competition, sitting behind the FA Cup in prestige but in front when it comes to chaos. It’s open to all 92 league clubs, from Premier League giants to League Two battlers. Unlike the FA Cup, there are no replays here — ties go straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes. Cue wild shootouts in front of half-empty stadiums on a Tuesday night.
For the Premier League’s elite, it’s often treated as a proving ground for squad players and youth prospects. For everyone else, it’s a golden opportunity. (Just ask Swansea fans, still living off their 2013 win.)
When is the Carabao Cup Draw?
The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup will take place immediately after the round two games finish on Wednesday night. In the UK, you’ll be able to see it live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports News. That’s when the remaining Premier League sides (including Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool) finally enter the competition.
So if you’re a lower-league side dreaming of a big payday, that’s the moment you’ll be hoping for a glamorous home tie. And if you’re Manchester United fans, you’ll just be hoping the ball doesn’t say “away at Newport.”
Where to Watch the Carabao Cup
Carabao Cup fixtures are broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK. You’ll find selected games shown live across Sky Sports channels, while highlights are picked up later by both Sky Sports News and official club channels. If you’re looking for Carabao Cup highlights or the full Carabao Cup on TV schedule, Sky is your best bet.
Carabao Cup Round 2 Fixtures
Here’s the full Carabao Cup draw for round two:
Game | W1 | DRAW | W2 |
Reading vs AFC Wimbledon | 5/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 |
Cambridge United vs Charlton Athletic | 14/5 | 12/5 | 20/21 |
Wolves vs West Ham | 13/10 | 12/5 | 2/1 |
Accrington Stanley vs Doncaster Rovers | 4/1 | 29/10 | 4/6 |
Barnsley vs Rotherham United | 77/100 | 14/5 | 16/5 |
Birmingham City vs Port Vale | 42/100 | 4/1 | 11/2 |
Bournemouth vs Brentford | 3/4 | 29/10 | 16/5 |
Bromley FC vs Wycombe Wanderers | 5/2 | 13/5 | 1/1 |
Burnley vs Derby County | 4/11 | 4/1 | 15/2 |
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town | 4/11 | 21/5 | 6/1 |
Millwall vs Coventry City | 2/1 | 23/10 | 27/20 |
Norwich vs Southampton | 9/5 | 5/2 | 7/5 |
Preston North End vs Wrexham FC | 1/1 | 9/4 | 14/5 |
Stoke City vs Bradford | 8/11 | 29/10 | 10/3 |
Sunderland vs Huddersfield Town | 52/100 | 10/3 | 5/1 |
Swansea City vs Plymouth Argyle | 4/7 | 16/5 | 9/2 |
Wigan Athletic vs Stockport County | 2/1 | 5/2 | 5/4 |
Burton Albion vs Lincoln City | 11/5 | 23/10 | 5/4 |
Sheffield Wednesday vs Leeds United | 13/1 | 13/2 | 1/6 |
Everton vs Mansfield Town | 1/4 | 9/2 | 11/1 |
Fulham vs Bristol City | 4/9 | 10/3 | 6/1 |
Oxford United vs Brighton | 11/2 | 15/4 | 4/9 |
Grimsby Town vs Manchester United | 14/1 | 7/1 | 2/13 |
Odds updated as of 26/08/25. Please check our lobby for the most up-to-date odds.
Carabao Cup Round 2 Preview
This year’s Carabao Cup second round is shaping up nicely, with a mix of all-Premier League ties, banana-skin away days and a few tasty Championship head-to-heads.
Manchester United vs Grimsby Town
The pick of the fixtures? It has to be Manchester United’s trip to Grimsby. The Red Devils haven’t played at Blundell Park since 1948, and the contrast could hardly be sharper: United with their global fanbase and Grimsby with their fish-based nicknames. Amorim will desperately want a win here, especially with Manchester United sack rumours swirling already. A Carabao Cup defeat to League Two opposition would be a headline-writer’s dream (and probably Amorim’s nightmare).
Wolves vs West Ham
The tie of the round in Premier League terms comes at Molineux, where Wolves take on West Ham. Both sides have struggled to find early momentum in the league, which makes this Carabao Cup game all the more important. A cup run could buy either manager some breathing space. And let’s be honest, if you’re a fan, there’s nothing better than a midweek away day when the stakes feel bigger than they should.
Bournemouth vs Brentford
The other all-Premier League tie features Bournemouth hosting Brentford. Both teams sit mid-table after mixed starts in the Premier League 2025/26 season, so this looks like a proper 50-50 contest. Brentford will back their attacking style, but Bournemouth at home can be tough to break down. Expect goals, and maybe a few defensive lapses to keep it lively.
Championship Clashes
Among the Championship teams, while Millwall against Coventry looks like it’ll be full-blooded. Stoke City will fancy their chances at home against Bradford, while Leeds United travel to Sheffield Wednesday in a tie that already looks like a mismatch on paper (then again, the EFL Cup loves an upset). Hollywood club Wrexham travels to fellow Championship side Preston North End to hopefully get a win under their belt.
Lower-League Dreams
Stockport County heading to Wigan is a reminder of how far they’ve come in recent years, while Bromley FC (making a rare cup appearance) host Wycombe in what could be one of the ties of the round for neutrals. Barnsley vs Rotherham United has the feel of a feisty Yorkshire derby Burton Albion against Lincoln City also has that old-school cup feels, the kind of tie you’ll find hidden away on a highlights reel but with a cracking atmosphere for those in attendance.
Final Thoughts: Carabao Cup Round 2
The Carabao Cup second round is packed with intriguing storylines: Manchester United risking embarrassment against Grimsby, West Ham and Wolves both desperate for momentum, and Bournemouth vs Brentford offering top-flight balance. With the Carabao Cup draw for round three coming immediately afterwards, fans will already be dreaming of big ties and bigger scalps.
Whether you’re watching for the drama, the upsets, or just because your club desperately needs something to cheer about, the Carabao Cup round 2 fixtures won’t disappoint. Keep an eye on Sky Sports for all the Carabao Cup on TV action, and expect highlights, late goals, and at least one headline-grabbing giant-killing.
Because that’s what the EFL Cup does best.
