National League Cup trophy
National League Cup trophy
West Ham United U21s will participate in the National League Cup again in 2025/26.
The competition was contested for the first time in 2024/25, pitting 16 National League clubs - the fifth tier of senior men’s football - against 16 Premier League 2 sides, with the twin aims of giving National League clubs the chance to host the best U21 teams in England in their own stadia, while also offering young players from Premier League and EFL clubs the opportunity to test themselves against senior opposition.
The inaugural National League Cup was won by Leeds United U21s, who defeated Sutton United in the final. West Ham’s development team finished fourth in Group D, having defeated Sutton United and Ebbsfleet United and lost at Braintree Town and Dagenham & Redbridge.
The participants will again be split into four groups of eight - four from the National League and four from Premier League 2 - with the National League teams hosting a group-stage tie against each of the four Premier League 2 sides in their group. The top two finishers in each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals.
West Ham have been drawn in Group C alongside National League clubs Aldershot Town, Sutton United, Truro City and Woking, as well as fellow Premier League 2 sides Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham and Southampton.
The young Hammers kick-off their campaign at Woking’s Kingfield Stadium on either Tuesday 12 or Wednesday 13 August, before travelling to The EBB Stadium at The Recreation Ground to tackle Aldershot on either Tuesday 16 or Wednesday 17 September.
Mark Robson’s young professionals will return to the VBS Community Stadium to face Sutton again on either Tuesday 21 or Wednesday 22 October, before making the 600-mile round trip to Cornwall to face the newly-promoted Tinners at Truro Sports Hub on either Tuesday 25 or Wednesday 26 November.
Dates, kick-off times and ticketing details will all be confirmed in due course.
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