Hughes: Playing Wrexham ultimate tie
The first major cup draw for the 2023/24 season took place ahead of the new campaign starting, with English Football League clubs finding out how they will start life in this year’s Carabao Cup adventure.
All 72 EFL sides feature in the first round, which is split into north and south sections for purposes of the draw. The victors will be joined by 12 Premier League teams in the second round, before the remaining eight join in at the third-round stage. For now though it’s all about the lower league sides and the start of their journey, on the day they also discovered their league fates with the 23/24 fixture lists revealed.
Manchester United won the competition last term but now another opportunity for silverware arises, with League Cup round one matches starting from week commencing 7 August and the final set for Wembley on 25 February 2024. Follow the Carabao Cup first round draw live below:
Carabao Cup fixtures: First-round draw sends Coventry to AFC Wimbledon as Wrexham face Wigan
The 2023/24 season is already fast approaching and the first major cup draw for the new campaign saw new English Football League entrants Wrexham mark their return with a home tie against Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup.
While the Welsh outfit – now co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – were promoted from the National League last term, the Latics suffered relegation from the Championship and will begin life in League One with minus eight points due to not having paid salaries on time.
With the first round draw for the competition split into Northern and Southern sections, all 72 EFL clubs are included in the draw at this stage – before Premier League clubs enter at the second- and third-round stages.
In the south, QPR face Norwich City in one of the ties of the round, while Millwall play Reading in another enticing encounter. In the north, relegated Leeds host Shrewsbury while Leicester head to Burton.
Here’s the first-round draw in full and the complete schedule for the 23/24 campaign in the Carabao Cup.
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 15:13
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
As a reminder, these games will be played week commencing 7 August 2023 and the final itself is 25 February 2024.
The full schedule for the Carabao Cup this season is as follows:
- Round One – w/c 7 August 2023
- Round Two – w/c 28 August 2023
- Round Three – w/c 25 September 2023
- Round Four – w/c 30 October 2023
- Quarter-Final – w/c 18 December 2023
- Semi-Final (first leg) – w/c 8 January 2024
- Semi-Final (second leg) – w/c 21 January 2024
- Final – Sunday 25 February 2024
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:54
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Full Carabao Cup Northern section first round draw:
Notts County vs Lincoln City
Bolton Wanderers vs Barrow
Hull City vs Doncaster Rovers
Sheffield Wednesday vs Stockport County
Leeds United vs Shrewsbury
Preston North End vs Salford City
Rotherham United vs Morecambe
Harrogate vs Carlisle United
Burton Albion vs Leicester City
Accrington Stanley vs Bradford City
Derby County vs Blackpool
Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town
Barnsley vs Tranmere Rovers
Blackburn Rovers vs Walsall
Huddersfield Town vs Middlesbrough
Wrexham vs Wigan Athletic
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:49
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:47
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Blackburn Rovers vs Walsall
Huddersfield Town vs Middlesbrough
Wrexham vs Wigan Athletic
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:46
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Accrington Stanley vs Bradford City
Derby County vs Blackpool
Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town
Barnsley vs Tranmere Rovers
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:45
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Preston North End vs Salford City
Rotherham United vs Morecambe
Harrogate vs Carlisle United
Burton Albion vs Leicester City
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:44
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Sheffield Wednesday vs Stockport County
Leeds United vs Shrewsbury
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:43
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Into the Northern Section we go!
Notts County vs Lincoln City
Bolton Wanderers vs Barrow
Hull City vs Doncaster Rovers
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:41
Carabao Cup first round draw live updates
Full Carabao Cup Southern section first round draw:
Plymouth Argyle vs Leyton Orient
Forest Green Rovers vs Portsmouth
Swansea City vs Northampton
Ipswich Town vs Bristol Rovers
Newport County vs Charlton Athletic
Cheltenham vs Birmingham City
Sutton United vs Cambridge United
MK Dons vs Wycombe Wanderers
AFC Wimbledon vs Coventry City
Bristol City vs Oxford United
Gillingham vs Southampton
Peterborough United vs Swindon Town
Cardiff City vs Colchester
Karl Matchett22 June 2023 14:40