Every first-round tie in the 2026/27 Carabao Cup will be shown live on Sky Sports, giving the opening stage of the competition full coverage across the weekend and beyond.
The first round is scheduled to begin on Friday August 9, with matches continuing on Saturday August 10. The round includes clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two, while the nine Premier League sides in Europe enter later, in the third round.
Opening-round coverage
The live coverage means supporters will be able to follow the competition from the start, including ties involving clubs from across the EFL. One fixture already set for Sunday August 11 is Mansfield Town against Sheffield United, which will kick off at 4pm.
The wider schedule also maps out the next stages of the tournament. Round two is due to take place in the week commencing August 24, while round three is scheduled for the week commencing September 7 and also the week commencing September 14.
For managers and players, the early rounds offer an immediate chance to build momentum. Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough said early League Cup ties will boost the competition, underlining the value of having the opening rounds shown live and given a clear spotlight.
That matters because the Carabao Cup often moves quickly from a summer return into a busy run of fixtures. Full live coverage of the first round should help give the early ties a stronger profile, especially for clubs outside the Premier League.
With the first round split across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sky Sports will have live coverage from the moment the competition begins, while the Premier League clubs in Europe wait for their entry point later in the draw.
