The major EFL decision that has made the Football League calendar look very different this season

The first round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup is set to take place across the weekend, due to a major change was made by the EFL.

Usually, the Carabao Cup would begin shortly after the league campaigns had begun for the EFL sides in their respective division; however, the competition is set to kick off the domestic 2026/27 season.

The beginning of the Championship, League One and League Two will all commence next weekend, with the first game of these respective divisions being between Wolverhampton Wanders and Blackburn Rovers at Molineux Stadium on Friday, August 14.

While this is a change to the footballing calendar for the EFL clubs, it is one that is overwhelmingly welcomed by them.

Why is the Carabao Cup first round being played over the weekend?

In January, last season, it was confirmed by the EFL that after consultation with clubs through the divisions that the Carabao Cup first round would officially commence on August 7 with fixtures taking place across that weekend.

Previously, the first round of the Carabao Cup would take place midweek following the open fixture across the EFL divisions, but after consultation with clubs, it was moved to the weekend before league fixtures begin.

A key reason behind the switch was for the welfare of players, as it gives them time to rest at the start of the campaign instead of playing three games across the first week of the season.

The EFL’s statement regarding the change to the competition said: “The EFL start dates for the 2026/27 season have been confirmed, with Round One of the Carabao Cup set to kick off the new campaign, before the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two begin the following weekend.

“The 2026/27 season will see Round One of the Carabao Cup take place over the weekend of 7-9 August, with the League action set to start a week later over the weekend of 14-16 August."

While it was stated in January that the competition would commence on August 7, it actually began a day earlier with the Bristol City and Walsall fixture for a bizarre reason.

The fixture at Ashton Gate was set for August 7, but it had been moved for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, with over 500,000 expected to attend the spectacle between Friday and Sunday.

So, the Robins were advised that the fixture could not take place over the weekend and so having taken the disruption into consideration, the two teams played on Thursday, August 6, with Walsall emerging as 1-0 winners.