A total of 11 Premier League sides entered the draw for the second round of the 2026–27 Carabao Cup on Monday, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur among the biggest names.
Chelsea landed a tie with League One’s Luton Town, led by former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, in what will be Xabi Alonso’s first competitive home match as Blues boss.
As for Tottenham, an all-London affair against Charlton Athletic is on the cards for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
2026–27 Carabao Cup Second Round Draw in Full
North Draw
- Stoke City vs. Hull City
- Newcastle vs. West Brom
- Blackburn vs. Sheffield Utd
- Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds
- Doncaster vs. Middlesbrough
- Barnsley vs. Crewe
- Preston vs. Everton
- Blackpool vs. Lincoln
- Sheffield Wednesday vs. Wolves
- Bradford vs. Burnley
- Fleetwood vs. Shrewsbury
South Draw
- Walsall vs. Leyton Orient
- Ipswich vs. Leicester
- Cardiff vs. Norwich
- Stevenage vs. Reading
- Cambridge vs. Millwall
- Birmingham City vs. Brentford
- Southampton vs. West Ham
- Watford vs. Peterborough
- Fulham vs. AFC Wimbledon
- Plymouth vs. Coventry
- Chelsea vs. Luton
- Tottenham vs. Charlton
When Is the Second Round of the 2026–27 Carabao Cup?
The specific dates for the Carabao Cup second round fixtures have not yet been finalized, but all have been scheduled for the week beginning Aug. 24. With the Premier League starting just days earlier, the games will occupy a midweek spot.
That poses a possible complication for Chelsea, whose Premier League opener away at Fulham is already scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24. The Blues’ battle with Luton will, therefore, be pushed to Thursday, when Fulham’s own tie against AFC Wimbledon will have to be held for the same reason.
However, policing regulations usually block both Chelsea and Fulham from playing at home on the same day, given how close the two sides are geographically. Organizers will have to find a way to make the schedule work around the Premier League’s hectic calendar.
When Do the Remaining Premier League Teams Join the Carabao Cup?
Being part of the Carabao Cup at this early stage is far from a compliment for either Chelsea or Tottenham.
Indeed, the only Premier League teams that join in the second round are those that failed to qualify for any form of European competition for this season.
A total of nine English sides made it into either the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League, with those teams kept out of the Carabao Cup until the third round.
English Clubs in Europe This Season
| Team | Competition |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | Champions League |
| Man City | Champions League |
| Man Utd | Champions League |
| Liverpool | Champions League |
| Aston Villa | Champions League |
| Bournemouth | Europa League |
| Sunderland | Europa League |
| Crystal Palace | Europa League |
| Brighton | Conference League |
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