The first round draw for the 2026/27 EFL Cup is scheduled to take place on Thursday as part of the EFL's wider fixture release day.
All 72 clubs from the Championship and Leagues One and Two will feature, although just 70 teams will actually feature in the opening round of the competition in August.
This is because four teams, Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale together with York City and Crawley Town, will undertake preliminary round matches given there are nine Premier League representatives in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League during the 2026/27 campaign.
Clubs that are competing in Europe do not enter the EFL Cup until the third round, which means a preliminary round must take place to ensure that the total numbers of teams in the pot at that stage of the competition is 32 (the nine aforementioned Premier League teams and 23 winners from the second round).
Ahead of the draw taking place, here are all of the details you need to know to watch the ceremony live.
EFL Cup First Round Draw, live stream and TV channel
The EFL Cup First Round draw is being screened live on Sky Sports News.
Sky subscribers will also be able to live-stream the draw on Sky Go, as will NOW TV customers.
EFL Cup First Round Draw, Date, start time & venue
The draw for the first round of the 2026/27 EFL Cup will take place on Thursday 25th June, 2026.
The ceremony, which is featuring as part of the EFL's fixture release day, is advertised for a 16:30 (BST) start time and is being hosted at Sky's headquarters in Isleworth, Middlesex.
Who is conducting the EFL Cup First Round Draw?
Sky Sports broadcaster Dharmesh Sheth is hosting the EFL Cup first round draw, whilst the draw itself is being conducted by former West Ham United midfielder Kevin Nolan and ex-Nottingham Forest man Luke Chambers.
