The initial fixtures of the 2026-27 EFL Cup season have been announced, featuring an exciting lineup for the preliminary round. This year, newly-promoted National League teams York City and Rochdale will compete alongside Tranmere Rovers and Crawley Town, who finished 21st and 22nd in League Two last season.
EFL Cup Preliminary Round Matches
The draw for the preliminary round took place recently, conducted by former goalkeeper Lee Camp. The matches will see:
- York City hosting Crawley Town
- Tranmere Rovers welcoming Rochdale
The winners of these matches will advance to different sections of the first round draw. The victor of the York City vs. Crawley Town match will move to the Southern section. Conversely, the winner between Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale will join the Northern section.
Key Dates and Details
Fixture release day is set for June 25. Although specific match dates and times are yet to be confirmed, the preliminary ties are expected to occur during the weekend of August 1-2.
As nine Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace, enter the EFL Cup in round three due to their involvement in European competitions, the preliminary round remains crucial to create a solid pool of 32 teams moving forward.
Fans are keenly anticipating these matchups as the competition begins, marking an exciting start to the new season.
