Manchester United v Newcastle United - Carabao Cup Final
Man Utd are in the second round because they have no European football this term (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United face a trip to League Two side Grimsby Town in the second round of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup after the draw was made on Wednesday.
A number of other Premier League clubs – including West Ham, Everton, Fulham and Leeds United – have also learnt their fates for round two.
Wrexham AFC, owned by Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, take on Preston after beating Hull City in the first round.
The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and current champions Newcastle United will not enter until round three.
But you can scroll down to find out who is playing who in the second round, with the games set to get underway on the week commencing August 25…
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Carabao Cup second round draw for 2025
Wrexham v Hull City - Carabao Cup First Round
Wrexham will take on Preston after beating Hull in the first round (Picture: Getty)
Southern section
Fulham vs Bristol City
Norwich City vs Southampton
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Reading vs AFC Wimbledon
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
Millwall vs Coventry City
Wolves vs West Ham United
Swansea City vs Plymouth Argyle
Bromley vs Wycombe Wanderers
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town or Exeter City
Cambridge United vs Charlton Athletic
Grimsby Town v Hartlepool United - Sky Bet League 2
Grimsby will host Man Utd at their 8,550-capacity Blundell Park stadium (Picture: Getty)
Northern section
Tranmere Rovers or Burton Albion vs Lincoln City
Accrington Stanley vs Doncaster Rovers
Wigan Athletic vs Stockport County
Stoke City vs Bradford City
Burnley vs Derby County
Sunderland AFC vs Huddersfield Town or Leicester City
Birmingham City or Sheffield United vs Port Vale
Preston North End vs Wrexham AFC
Barnsley or Fleetwood Town vs Rotherham United
Bolton Wanderers or Sheffield Wednesday vs Leeds United
Everton vs Mansfield Town
Grimsby Town vs Manchester United
Who won the Carabao Cup last season?
Newcastle United Trophy Parade & Celebration
Newcastle won the Carabao Cup under Eddie Howe last season (Picture: Getty)
Newcastle won the Carabao Cup last season, defeating Liverpool in the final to clinch their first major domestic trophy since the 1954-55 FA Cup.
How many teams play in the Carabao Cup in total?
The Carabao Cup is open to all 92 members of the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) with a total of seven rounds.
Non-league teams do not play in the Carabao Cup – it is only clubs from the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two.
When did Man Utd last win the Carabao Cup?
Manchester United v Newcastle United - Carabao Cup Final
Man Utd last won the Carabao Cup two years ago (Picture: Getty)
The Red Devils last won the Carabao Cup in 2023 under the management of Erik ten Hag.
United have won the competition a total of six times – making them the third-most successful team in Carabao Cup history – behind Manchester City’s tally of eight and Liverpool’s tally of 10.
Last season, United reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they lost 4-3 to Spurs.
Why are the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool not playing in the second round?
Top Six Club Badges on Football Shirts
Man Utd are the only ‘big six’ club playing in the second round (Picture: Getty)
Teams who are participating in Europe don’t play their first Carabao Cup game of the season until the third round.
That means Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham have not yet entered the competition for 2025-26.
Previous names of the Carabao Cup
The official name of the competition is the English Football League Cup – or EFL Cup for short.
It is currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, which has been the case since 2017.
It has previously been known as the Milk Cup, the Littlewoods Challenge Cup, the Rumbelows Cup, the Coca-Cola Cup, the Worthington Cup, the Carling Cup and the Capital One Cup.
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